Festivals / Wine
‘It’s just fermented grape juice at the end of the day’
Many people can be intimidated by wine. Anything with such history, variety and cultural capital can be daunting when viewed from the outside but it really needn’t be so. Charlie Jones, co-founder of Bristol’s new wine festival, Crush, thinks wine is fascinating and is inviting people to come and share in his fascination.
Crush is a weekend-long event taking place from May 4 to 6, spread across venues throughout the city. Wine will be explored in all its forms and varieties through talks, tasting events and specially-created pairing menus, with Charlie promising that there will be something for wine novices to experts.
Charlie says that he likes to think of Crush as a “collaborative project”, and with almost 20 venues taking part as well as another ten importers or producers, it is most certainly a team effort.
is needed now More than ever
Festival organisers hope that Crush will be the perfect starting point for many on their journey into the world of wine. “It’s just fermented grape juice at the end of the day,” Charlie says. “You don’t have to spend a fortune to get really good fermented grape juice.”
Charlie is working hard to remove some of the preconceptions that may cloud people’s view of wine, and is adamant to show that wine can be lots of fun and is a great way to bring people together.
“You don’t have to be a chef to enjoy eating great food,” he says.
Charlie Jones is inviting people to join in his love of wine
Bristol’s craft beer scene is already blossoming and Charlie is optimistic that wine can follow suit. “Wine is great with food and interesting bottle can be nice to share or give as a present,” he says.
Highlighting the small-scale producers of characterful wine is high on the agenda. There isn’t a name for it as such – craft wine is a bit clunky – but most of the wine featured at Crush is made by small-scale producers who practice clean and often organic farming with little to no additives.
“I think craft beer is popular because it offers more diverse flavours. The same can be found in wine,” Charlie says.
Put on the spot to name his favourite wine, Charlie struggles for a moment. “That’s hard,” he says. “I do actually have a favourite that I often return to. It was the first wine that made me really excited.”
The winning tipple? Fosc, a blend of Sumoll, Grenache, Tempranillo and Syrah grapes, from Penedès in Spain. “It’s silky, fruity and gamey. Just fantastic,” says Charlie.
Crush includes events throughout the weekend for those just starting on their wine odyssey as well as those looking for something a little more adventurous. Find out more at www.crushweekend.com.
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