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Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

FAMILY VINEYARD WINE TASTING AT VEENO, LEICESTER

21st March 2019

Last Updated on 25th March 2024 by Bejal

Veeno was our latest sunny Sunday, date-afternoon jaunt to supplement our knowledge on wine tasting and food pairings!

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

We have visited the vineyards of Chianti many times and even had a photo shoot there however never actually tried a wine tasting experience closer to home and we both loved the idea of the Family Wine Tasting experience at Leicester’s Veeno branch.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

VEENO

 The wine bar located in the very desirable St Martin’s Square is rustic yet contemporary and as well as having an international list of bottled alcoholic beverages, also pays homage to an array of house wines from their own Vineyards in Sicily.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

Veeno’s wines are labelled under Caruso (a third generation wine-maker) and Minini (owner of a marketing company and together built the foundations of Caruso and Minini, a winery in Marsala, on the most Western point of Sicily.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester
Veeno, Leicester
Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester
Veeno, Leicester
Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester
Veeno, Leicester

THE FAMILY WINES PAIRING EXPERIENCE

We started our date afternoon with an aperitif of limoncello spritz, which geared us up ready for an afternoon of concentration on the pairing process.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester
Limoncello Spritz

 Our wine aficionado for the experience, was the very knowledgeable, Celso Plácido, who also is general manager at Veeno Leicester.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

Following swift introductions, a platter containing meats, cheeses, olives and an assortment of breads was presented before us. Each food item was to be eaten with a different wine and the Family wine tasting experience comprises five wines ( two glasses of white, a rosé and two glasses of red).

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

The idea is to sip the wine, try the recommended food item from the platter and continue to sample the wine to experience how the food pairing changes the flavours of the wine.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

All the wines in this experience are house wines and come from the owners Sicilian Vineyard, Caruso Minini in Marsala. Additionally, the pairing platters contain imported cheeses and meats form Sicily and are all certificated.

WINE 1: TASARI

GRAPE: Catattatto

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

This is a wine that can be compared with a classic Pinot Grigio, albeit a lot drier and smoother. It’s a wine that’s perfect for a summer’s day with accents of fruits such as apricots and works perfectly as a starter wine. We paired this with the bread and olive oil with a balsamic glaze from our sharing platter.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester
Olive oil glaze
Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester
Sip of white
Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester
Olive oil glaze

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester
Wine pairings

WINE 2: GIUMARA INZOLIA

GRAPE: INZOLIA

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

Undertones of Pear and apples, the Inzolia white grapes provide a flavour that is richer and fruitier. It’s a white wine, fermented at 15 degrees,  which fits perfectly with the British weather, reminiscent of a cosy comforting feel. I’d call it a hug in a bottle. Due to the richness, Celso explained that we would be pairing it with olives and olive paté to compensate with the salty flavours of these foods.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

This wine was most definitely a drier white so no sweetness but the fruitiness most definitely coming through with the pairing of olives.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

If you’re familiar with the locality of taste buds on the palette, you’ll be aware that salty tastes are detected at the tip and middle of the tongue and sweet is prominent on the back and sides of the tongue. This is an interesting wine in terms of its salty to sweet adjustment post food.

WINE 3: ROSA DI MORODER

GRAPE: blend of local red-berry grapes.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

An organic Rosé wine is basically red grapes, which in this case have been fermented for about a month in order to preserve the red colour from the grape skin. Usually a red wine is fermented for about a month however for this particular Rose, the wine is fermented for 20 hours, after which the skin is removed and tannins exposed. Thus, providing an end-product, packed with tones of cherry and strawberry.  This wine, while smelt as sweet as strawberries on a summer’s day, had all the dryness of a dry white wine.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

An organic wine much like this will always come with an earthy, mineral like texture due to the omission of no fertilisers or chemicals. The almost bitter notes at the back of the palette will keep you wanting to sip more.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

Dr C paired this Rosé with Smoked Prosciuttos as the saltiness balances well with the flavour and I had the Bruscetta con Pomodori.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

WINE 4: TERRE DI GIUMARA

GRAPE: NERO D’AVOLA

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

This is a wine that both Dr C and I are familiar with and is most definitely fruity, crisp and full-bodied. It’s of a beautiful ruby red colour and serves as a good summer wine.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

Celso explained that Caruso Minini has five different Nero D’avola’s in their winery, however this particular one has 30% placed in a wooden barrel to give it the light woody flavour. The aim of this kind of wine is to pair it with something that can smooth it down providing a gentler sensation on the palate, such as Bruscetta con peperoni and Bruscetta alle Melanzale. Their lack of acidity worked very well with this wine.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

WINE 5: TASARI

GRAPE: NERO D’AVOLA, MERLOT

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

A more restored, full-bodied and smoother red wine than the Nero D’avola. This particular wine undergoes a maturing process in wooden barrels for four – five months, which gives it the smoothness and woody, even spicy flavour. This is a great everyday red that can literally be paired with everything. Veeno actually sell this as their house red label and goes very well with some smoked cows milk cheese.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

MARSALA

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

Our experience ended with a slice of Sicilian lemon tart (this is usually Tiramisu) with cream. The Marsala is aged in an oak barrel for five years to give it the sweet, fruity, almond, almost marzipan flavour, which marries with Italian desserts so well.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

The wood maturation process brings out the colour, thickness and a raisin sweet taste. A stunning fortified dessert wine to round off a fabulous experience.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno, Leicester

If you’ve visited Veeno, you will be aware that no outing here comes without one last shot of limoncello, the wine bars signature digestif.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

FINAL VERDICT

Having done a number of wine tastings, this hands down has to be one of my favourites. I have dined at numerous fine dining and Michelin starred restaurants, where the  Sommeliers did pair the wines with our food well but didn’t quite explain the reasoning behind this. Celso was patient, extremely knowledgeable and used language and terminology that we could relate to easily. There was plenty of time for questions and the experience was very interactive.

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

 SHEER UNADULTERATED PERFECTION FOR

Most definitely over 18s, Date Nights, Special occasions, Group jaunts

Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester
Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester
Family Wine Tasting Experience at Veeno , Leicester

 

Just to note, this post isn’t sponsored in any way however, Veeno is somewhere I frequent due to the quality of the wines, platters and service.

 

VEENO

Units 19 & 20

9 St Martins

Leicester

LE1 5DE

Tel. 0116 262 8719

More information available at  https://www.theveenocompany.com.

The Family Vineyard wine tasting experience is priced at £24.99 per person.

Wines can also be purchased online through their website as well as more Veeno location in the UK.

 

Have you ever experienced a wine tasting or pairing? If not then I’d recommend Veeno as a great educational introduction.

 

Á Bientôt…

 

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Family tasting experience at Veeno, Leicester

8 Comments
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Bejal

I’m Bejal aka Be, an ex-scientist turned travel writer and digital content creator. I have travelled to 6 continents, visited 70 plus countries, including an around the world trip, making me quite the expert in crafting intricate itineraries. I love to discover some of the world's more remote destinations and stay in some incredible hidden location eco-hotels. My aim is to transport you, my audience, to inspirational and cultural global spots that are less visited and allow you to see the 'real' and authentic side of destinations through detailed guides with a sprinkling of luxury. The spotlight is on eco-friendly responsible experiential travel with lifelong memories.

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  • Binita Shah-Patel
    21st March 2019

    What Fab experience!!

    Reply
    • Bejal
      Binita Shah-Patel
      21st March 2019

      Thanks Binny and yes it really was a fantastic experience

      Reply
  • Neha
    21st March 2019

    Bejal that plate of food is just making me so hungry! What a great write up. I would have to swap wines for some of their limencello cocktails but would happily eat the whole anitipasti board. Yum!

    Reply
    • Bejal
      Neha
      22nd March 2019

      Sorry about that but it really is so so good! The pics just don’t do it justice! Veeno have a cocktail menu too so you can order the platter with whatever you like!

      Reply
  • Simply Rasha
    22nd March 2019

    I don’t drink, but I’ve been told by friends that if I did, they would picture me as a red wine person…looks like you enjoyed the experience 🙂

    Reply
    • Bejal
      Simply Rasha
      22nd March 2019

      Wow that’s interesting, wonder how they figured you’d be a red wine drinker! I prefer red too myself and yes you’re right it was a very enjoyable experience and thoroughly recommend to wine drinkers!

      Reply
  • thetravelsofmrsb
    27th March 2019

    I love Veeno, I’ve had their wine pairings so many times and it never disappoints!

    Reply
    • Bejal
      thetravelsofmrsb
      27th March 2019

      They are so good and so different from a vineyard experience.

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Bejal aka Be
Lets get acquainted

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Hello, I'm Be, an ex-scientist turned travel writer and digital content creator having travelled to 70 plus countries, all over the globe. My aim is to transport you to less visited inspirational and cultural global spots showing off the 'real' authentic side of destinations through detailed guides with a sprinkling of luxury. The spotlight is on eco-friendly responsible travel with lots of coffee spots and veggie food thrown in!

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