SYMPOSIUM WINE EMPORIUM IN LEWES
- Adress: 32 Lansdown Pl, Lewes BN7 2JU, UK
- Open Hours: From tusday to sunday 10:00–23:00
- Phone: +44 1273 478933
- Email: info@symposium-finewine.co.uk
- Web: www.symposium-finewine.co.uk
Symposium Wine Emporium is an Independent Wine Merchant & Wine Bar based in Lewes, East Sussex. Henry and Robert are the founders and they love finding and taste interesting wines to expand their knowledge and share with their customers. They offer an impressive selection of very good and reasonably priced wines, as well as spirits and beers. You can also enjoy tapas style platters while samplig the wines. If your a fan of good wine, this is the place for you. Their empasis is to provide a relaxed and unpretentious place to be able to enjoy some great wines. Sharing a bottle of wine, good friends, plate of superb local cheese, in this relaxed and convivial atmosphere is one of life's great little pleasures.
Apart from one-on-one service, this independent wine merchant can offer a range where the bigger players cannot. We´re no simply talking bout the number of wines stocked, but we´re talking about a mixture of small-scale, off-the-beaten track, artisan producers alongside low-volume, super-premium classics from those with established and well-earned reputations. The range of wines and spirits in Symposium has expanded significantly during the years. While they stock wines from all over the world (from the usual suspects to places like Japan), they are particular fans of Italy, which offers such a diverse assortment of indigenous grape varieties that makes the world of wine so exciting.
THE TEAM OF PASIOANTE WINE LOVERS
The great thing about a good independent wine shop, is that they have people who know more than just a little standing behind de counter, which often will mean the owners. A team of passionate, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable staff. Founders Henry and Robert met while doing the Wine Business degree at Plumpton College. At the end of the course, both wanted to open a wine shop so decided to go into business together and Symposium was born. Whether you’re looking to buy a bottle to take home with you or sit in and enjoy a glass or share a bottle with friends, perhaps while enjoying some local charcuterie and cheeses, they will have your needs covered.
They have patience and they will help you find the perfect bottle or glass. The more information that you can give them about what you like to drink, including price, variety, country, style, loves, and hates, the closer they´re likely to get to finding you something that really stacks up. From here the trick is letting them lead you. Allow them to show you new things, and so the road to better dkinking begins.
- Robert Poole: Rob always had a passion for wine, and after a 17 year career in the city he felt that it was time for a new challenge. So with this in mind, Rob embarked on a degree in Wine Business at Plumpton College. This was an interesting time for Rob, going back to the classroom, getting used to casual wear (Rob spent most days in a suit and tie)... Oh, and discovering his wife was unexpectedly pregnant with their first child... so no pressure to make this wine hobby a success! Along with his business partner Henry, Rob built (literally) and developed Symposium, creating the vision of his daydreams. Rob is always looking for a new wine to rave about. But mostly enjoys Italian reds and Pinot Noir from Felton Road. He has more recently developed a palate for Gin. In rare moments away from Symposium Rob has 1 wife, 2 children and 5 hungry chickens.
- Henry Breeze: After graduating with a History degree in Canada, Henry worked in sports journalism. He decided to change tack and headed back from London to do a Wine Business degree at Plumpton College which included taking WSET qualifications. He crossed paths with Robert on the course and after honing their wine knowledge, they decided to go into business together. After a lengthy renovation of a neglected building, Symposium was born. Henry is a keen traveller and discovering Chateau Musar in Lebanon was certainly a key moment in awakening his palate. He is a particular fan of Italian wines with Puglian reds being a current favourite. From his time across the pond, Henry has developed a keen interest in American sports, but will happily converse about football and cricket as well!
WINES BY THE GLASS URBINA TASTING
Large and varied selection of drinks. A handful of reds and whites available by the glass (£3-£6), include some you won't have heard of (a good thing) and they are more than happy to help out with flavour notes and food pairings. The ‘guest wine’ by the glass is a lovely opportunity to try something different. From small and quirky through to ultra premium, this is often where you´ll find the best combination of hard-to-get products and expert service. The other great advantage to buying wine here is that they have a maling list, which I´d strongly recommend you join. Mailing list are a great way to find out about a range of regular customer events such as weekly tanstings, if you´re looking to expand your drinking repertoire, these offer the perfect opportunity to try before you buy.
- Guest Wine Urbina 1999 Rioja Selection: Urbina Seleccion Rioja is a “selection” of the very best Tempranillo grapes from vines over 20 years old that are normally used for the production of the Reserva and Gran Reserva wines. The grapes undergo 28 days maceration. The wine is aged for 15 months in new American oak casks, a little bit too early for it to be a Reserva wine. It is bottled as a Crianza but, in fact, bears all the hallmarks of Urbina’s Reserva wines. It has an intense, dark ruby colour with a very concentrated berry / vanilla nose and flavours. Full-bodied, rich fruit cake, vanilla, well-structured, mellow, with the fine elegance of the Urbina marque.
- Bodegas Urbina: The Urbina family have four generations as vignerons in Rioja. They own around 75 hectares, all in the heart of the renowned sub-region of Rioja Alta which is known to produce grapes with fine structure and elegance. The vineyards, mostly planted to tempranillo, are located around the village of Cuzcurrita which is at the north-west point of Rioja and therefore at the limit of vine production. Here the climate is influenced by the cooler Atlantic weather systems which results in a longer, more gradual ripening period and grapes that tend to show freshness, structure and intensity. The magic of this area is that it makes wines that are amongst some of the longest lived in Rioja.
Everything about this bodega centres around ageing. After picking, the grapes are fermented slowly in stainless steel, then aged extensively in a mixture of American (75%) and French (25%) barrels. After ageing in oak, the wines are held in tank which retains a lift and freshness in the wines (rarely seen for this traditional style of Rioja). Pedro Benito Urbina makes a range of wines, mostly red, right across the quality spectrum from crianza to gran reserva. He releases his wines when they are ready to drink and fully mature. They represent the essence of classic Rioja: stylistically they rest their quality on finesse, complexity and savoury flavours, rather than power.