Throughout the month of October, Côtes du Rhône wines will host its first Guilty Pleasures Festival. The festival will be a nationwide celebration for all retailers, restaurants and wine bars, to showcase the best of Côtes du Rhône wines. Marrying pitch-perfect wines with gastronomic excellence (and plenty more!), this festival is not to be missed. Read below to learn all about some of the festival’s highlights, as well as to see how you can get involved.
The festival
As the name suggests, the festival focuses on the indulgent pleasures of life, highlighting how Côtes du Rhône wines are the perfect partners to transform everyday moments into special and long-lasting memories. Whether it’s a sophisticated dinner, or just a cosy night in at home, Côtes du Rhône wines can make your evening extra special, and Guilty Pleasure celebrates that in every way imaginable. While food and wine pairings are an essential part of Guilty Pleasures (more on that below), the festival goes beyond gourmet pleasures. You can also expect exciting events, along with Côtes du Rhône tastings. Information on all of these exciting events can be found at the Guilty Pleasures website here.
The restaurants
Of course, as you’re reading this on SquareMeal, we just have to talk about the foodie element of Guilty Pleasures, and how truly impressive it is. Check out some of the events we’re most looking forward to below.
Frenchie, Covent Garden
At Gregory Marchand’s modern French bistrot, diners can enjoy a special selection of Côtes du Rhône wines. Guests at the restaurant will be able to choose from a specially created list of Côtes du Rhône wines by the glass, carafe or bottle as part of its festival menu.
16 Henrietta Street, WC2E 8QH
La Dame de Pic, City
La Dame de Pic, the brainchild of Michelin-starred French chef Ann-Sophie Pic, is introducing an extended selection of Côtes du Rhône wines by the glass, as well as special Côtes du Rhône wine flights available with the set lunch menu (two/three glasses £19/25) and the six-course tasting menu (six glasses, £85).
Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square, EC3N 4AJ
The Harrow, Wiltshire
Enjoy fine dining at Michelin starred restaurant The Harrow in Little Bedwyn, Wiltshire. Guests here will be able to choose from a unique selection of Côtes du Rhône wine by the glass, as well as a complimentary glass of Côtes du Rhône with the menu.
Little Bedwyn, SN8 3JP
Humble Grape, Fleet Street
On 31 October, Humble Grape’s Fleet Street venue is running The Rh’Ône and Only Supper Club. The evening will kick off with a generous fizz reception followed by a three-course meal which will include Côte de boeuf accompanied by a selection of sides and four specially selected wines from the beautiful Côtes du Rhône.
1 St Bride's Passage, EC4Y 8EJ
Sager + Wilde, Bethnal Green
On 21 October, wine bar and restaurant Sager and Wilde will host a cheese and Côtes du Rhône wines evening. In partnership with renowned cheese makers Neal’s Yard Dairy, guests will be able to enjoy a selection of Rhône wines paired with various specially chosen cheeses.
193 Hackney Road, E2 8JL
Bedales of Borough and BOB’s Lobster Bar & Restaurant, Borough
If you want to tour London’s most vibrant markets this October, embark on a market safari with Bedales Wine Bar, which is offering a specially selected tasting of Côtes du Rhône wines at Bedales of Borough, Bedales at Spitalfields and Bedales at Leadenhall. At the Borough site, you can also enjoy the wine tasting menu from BOB's Lobster, which shares its home with Bedales.
55 Leadenhall Market, EC3V 1LT
The Don, City
As part of the Guilty Pleasures festival celebrations, the Don Bistro and Restaurant in the City is offering customers a specially selected range of Côtes du Rhône wines by the glass from its Enomatic machine. The knowledgeable staff are happy to offer recommendations too.
The Courtyard, 20 St Swithins Lane, EC4N 8AD
StreetXO, Mayfair
At this high-octane basement joint from celebrated Spanish chef David Muñoz, you'll find an imaginative mix of Asian and European dishes, which will both challenge and please the taste buds. Throughout the festival, StreetXO will be serving a special offering of Côtes du Rhône wines by the glass, to enjoy alongside the daring food.
15 Old Burlington Street, W1S 2JL
Bleeding Heart, Clerkenwell
This gloriously romantic cellar restaurant takes its name from the yard where it is located, and is marking the festival by offering a limited-edition Côtes du Rhône wine pairing with the set menu, alongside a selection of wines by the glass.
Bleeding Heart Yard, EC1N 8SJ
Chelsea Crêperie, Chelsea
Celebrating its first birthday, Chelsea Crêperie will be handing out a free glass of Côtes du Rhône wine to diners. The dessert hotspot will also host an evening of art in partnership with celebrity artist Anne-Louise Felstead, where guests will sip on a selection of wines while inspecting the art.
240 Fulham Road, SW10 9NA
The retailers
The interiors at Theatre of Wine
Where to buy Côtes du Rhône wines:
- Booths is hosting a number of tastings across its 28 stores
- Carrington Wine Shops
- Luvians is hosting a daily in-store Côtes du Rhône bottle promotion, alongside free in-store tastings on Saturdays. They will be showcasing a top selection of Côtes du Rhône wines at the Luvians Wine Fair on 6 October
Ocado will be offering Côtes du Rhône promotions throughout the entire festival
- The Oxford Wine Company will host a one-off evening of alternative food and wine pairings on 30 October at the Oxford Wine Company Shop, hosted by certified Sommelier Matthew Whitaker
- Slurp will be offering a Côtes du Rhône Villages promotion in both its Banbury and Leamington Spa stores, as well as online from 5-25 October
- Tanners Wines is hosting The Rhône Room, where guests can find out more about Côtes du Rhône, while enjoying cheese pairings and locally produced fudge
- Theatre of Wine is hosting a wine tasting featuring food from Greenwich Market and drag race wig party later in the month, details TBC
- Waitrose is offering six prizes each worth £500, including a fabulous wine tasting experience with Côtes du Rhône Wines to host in your own home this October
To learn more about Côtes du Rhône Wines and the Guilty Pleasures Festival, visit gprhone.com