WINE STORE AT NO.4 - AEON WINES IN CARDIFF (WALES)
Wine Store at No.4 is a leading independent wine merchant in Rhwbina, Cardiff (Wales). Established by three friends in 2010 who share a passion for wines of character and typicity of origin, with affordability always in mind. The shop is friendly, helpful and hosts a variety of events too.
Is a wine store, but they also host and are involved in a number of events, from tastings to dinners, Pop-uP Wine Bars to Festivals. So, besides selling you a bottle (or more) of wine, you can come in and try wines or join them in one of their events.
They are open from 10.30am to 8pm everyday excluding Sunday. They are located in the heart of Rhiwbina Village, north Cardiff, where you will find a growing number of independent businesses. Pop into the store at 4 Beulah Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff, CF14 6LX.
The nearest rail station is Rhiwbina, a very short walk from their store, which runs a regular daytime service to Cardiff Central.
They offer a free delivery service throughout Cardiff and the surrounding area and also provide a national gift dispatch service.
- Name: Wine Store at No.4 (Aeon Wines Limited)
- Address: 4 Beulah Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff, CF14 6LX.
- Phone: +44 29 2061 1139
- E-mail: info@winestorefour.co.uk
- Web: www.winestorefour.co.uk
- Team: They are Carl, Dave and Shon, three men passionate about wine, and the odd craft ale. They are an independent merchant offering amazing wine with a friendly, personal service. Wine geeks yes, wine snobs no, although they may come out with the occasional pretentious wine term now and then. Together they have several decades of wine experience and how to find one. They don't sell branded wines or offer bogus deals, just great wines from lovely families and estates around Europe and beyond.
- Pop-uP Wine Bar on Friday Night's: Every Friday night, they organise a Pop Up Wine Bar in the store from 5pm to 10.30pm. Each week they change the wine menu, it's a good way to discover different wines at an affordable price. All wines are available by the glass or the bottle and they also have a selection of craft bottle beers if you prefer.
From 5pm. They offer a different menu of wines each week: A sparkling, 2 whites and 3 reds, available by the glass or bottle. Also craft beers, ales, ciders and some nibbles are available.
- Saturday Night, Flight Night: Come along and try a flight of wines (A 'flight' is a selection of small glasses of wine, giving you the opportunity to taste, compare and make your own notes about different wines.) Our Saturday Night Flight Night will be a casual, friendly affair, with a, ever-changing blackboard of wines to choose from. You can sample a lovely variety in a comfortable, easy going atmosphere, make notes, ask questions, or simply sit back and let the tastes mellow in your mouth. No tickets necessary simply come to the shop and try a Flight.
- World of Wine Dinners (WOW): Wine Store at No.4 hosts World of Wine Dinners regularly in conjunction with Snail's Deli (next door), with a different theme each time. Each dinner consists of a set menu, of several courses, served (of course) with carefully selected wines to match. Early booking is advisable.
They also have Gift Certificates available for their World of Wine Dinners for 2015. The perfect Gift for someone.
- Tasting Events: Throughout the year they hold a number of Wine Tastings. Their tastings are themed, sometimes around a specific region or country, or maybe we will look at the different styles a grape variety can produce due to its location and climate, or the touch of the winemaker’s hand.
- Private Group Tastings: From corporate entertainment to hen/stag parties, interactive quiz events to team-building. All their Private Wine Tastings are bespoke and tailored to your requirements and budget. Tastings are available from 5 to 50 people, conditions apply dependent on numbers. Prices range from £20pp - £100pp depending on the type of event. Give them a ring or stop in the store to discuss your idea or requirements and they will arrange a fun, informative event for you.
- Products: They focus our buying from smaller wineries in Europe, although they do have a good selection from the New World too. And, many of their wines are from family-owned estates. They support wines that are more about quality, than quantity, made with passion and respect for the environment. They also have a large range of wines classified as, or converting to, organic and biodynamic status. Many are low sulphur wines.
They do not list their entire offer on the website, and maybe they never will as they constantly tasting, evaluating and getting in new wines.
- Great everyday brand-beating wines from £5.95.
- Largest selection of Languedoc & Roussillon wines in Wales.
- Wide range of biodynamic, organic and low sulphur wines.
- Rare cask whiskies.
- Great locally produced ales
INTRODUCTION TO RIOJA WINES
Located in the gastronomic heart of northern Spain, Rioja is the country’s most renowned wine region, producing top class red, white and rosé wines, which are considered to be among the world’s most food-friendly wines.
Visiting Rioja: With opportunities to explore picturesque vineyards, sample delicious wines, take stunning photographs of the region’s incredible architecture, and sample regional gastronomic fare, Rioja is the perfect destination for a wine break.
A guide to the classic grape varieties of Rioja:
Rioja´s red grapes:
- Tempranillo: Is the classic red grape variety of Rioja, producing soft, supple wines, with aromas of summer fruits, which are well suited to ageing, developing depth, character and elegance.
- Mazuelo: Can be blended with Tempranillo to add colour, weight and tannins to help the wines age gracefully.
- Garnacha: Adds warmth and spice to a number of different styles of Rioja. Can be found as a single varietal, with old vines producing refined, highly prized wines.
- Graciano: Brings extra fruit flavours and elegance to blends with Tempranillo. Also found in single varietal wines with great character and finesse.
Rioja’s white grapes:
- Viura: This produces clean, fresh, zesty, young white wines.
- Garnacha Blanca: Can be blended with Viura to add weight and body to aged wines.
- Malvasia: Adds a musky, savoury character, to the fresh crispness of the Viura producing oak-aged wines of great individuality and style.
New Varietals:
In 2007, Rioja regulators approved the use of 9 new varieties of grapes, enabling greater complexity in its white wines while maintaining its identity and heritage.
These include three non-native varieties: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo as well as three native ones Maturana Blanca, Tempranillo Blanco and Turruntés. Another three native minority grape varieties, these red, were also approved: Maturana Tinta, Maturano and Monastrell.
Styles of Rioja Wines:
From fruity young reds to aged, complex Grandes Reservas, there is a Rioja style for everyone. Here is a brief guide to help you discover your favourite style plus the perfect food pairing.
Whites:
- Unaged White Rioja: Young, fresh, and fruity. Think citrus aromas and zingy acidity. Perfect with seared scallops.
- Barrel Fermented White Rioja: Traditional white wines with creamy, buttery flavours that go excellently with a variety of different foods, including richer fish and mushroom based dishes.
Rosé:
- Rosado: Rosé wines are typically made from Tempranillo or Garnacha in a dry style, with plenty of red fruit flavours. Ideal with Asian spiced prawns.
Reds:
- Garantee of origin: Typically young fruity and approachable reds. Great partner to chicken tagine or vegetable curry.
- Crianza: Fresh and juicy with just a hint of creamy vanilla from time spent in oak. Drink with roast chicken or lasagne.
- Reserva: Aged for at least three years, these are serious wines with concentrated fruit flavours and complex hints of spice. Drink alongside a rack of lamb.
- Gran Reserva: With at least five years ageing, these rank among the world’s finest wines, with intense depth, silky texture, and savoury flavours. Try with rich winter stews and game.
Rioja Sub-Regions:
The Rioja wine region is divided into three sub-regions (Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Baja). Each zone has a unique climate and terroir, allowing for the incredible diversity of wines. This diversity explains how wines made from the same grape or blend of grapes can be so unique and different from each other.
- Rioja Alta: On the western edge of the region and at a high elevation, produces wines that are typically full-bodied with medium alcohol content.
- Rioja Alavesa: With the highest elevation of the region, has the coolest climate and is typically known for producing wines that are lighter and aromatic.
- Rioja Baja: On the southern edge of the region and at a lower elevation than Alta and Alavesa has a warmer, drier climate and produces wines that are deep in colour and fruiter in taste.
RIOJA TASTING WITH BODEGAS URBINA
Pedro Urbina, 4th generation family-owner of Bodegas Urbina in Rioja Alta, presented at the Wine Store at No.4 a tasting of his fabulous Rioja, from his youngest 2014 to the oldest 1994 Gran Reserva Especial.
Pedro Benito Urbina is a prestigious oenologist with great experienced and impresive academic training in Spain and France. His brother Jesus Angel is a skilful vine grower, who is in charge of the vineyards management. In the last few years their sons are taking over the winemaking and vine growing as well.
The Urbina family has been growers in Rioja for generations, but it was Pedro who first took the initiative of building a new winery, in 1986, and started making his own wine instead of selling the grapes or wine in bulk. He also improved the vineyards (90 per cent Tempranillo), by recovering a small panoply of varieties with massal selection form a few vines planted by his ancestors.
The attitude, taste, and winemaking philosophy of this endearing, down-to-earth family is so Burgundian. The wines come from their own vineyards 70ha, on different soil types, the great majority of vines head-pruned, with an average age of 40 years, an average yield of 30-35hl/ha, and an average altitude of 520m.
The Urbina family is a firm believer in the idea that wine is made in the vineyard. The main focus is on the terroir, since they aim to produce wines that express the former’s characteristics of the place were they come from. For them wine should be a liquid expression of a particular place. They take pride in the fact that their style of wine derives from three factors: The vineyard’s terroir with fantastic weather, the right choice of grapes, and the winemaker’s intentions.
All this makes Bodegas Urbina one of the main guardians of traditional Rioja and is loyalty to the classic profile of its wines. This does not mean it has avoided change or innovation (viticulture, vilification, and aging have all been updated through the years), but the basic remain the same, and their identity is scrupulously protected, a philosophy that sometimes means returning to the old practices.
They are located in the North West part of Rioja Alta, considered by many to be the greatest area for wine growing and potential for wines of aging capacity. The facilities are located in Cuzcurrita del Río Tirón, in a very beautiful medieval town.
- Urbina 2013 Blanco: Pale golden yellow colour with green glints. Aromatic, floral nose (acacia) with white fruit, melon and ripe citrus notes. Good body and structure, flavours of apricot, peach and some pear notes with a subtle, elegant, slightly and lingering finish. £10,95
- Urbina 2014 Rosado: Bright, delicate, pale, salmon pink colour. Dominated by aromas of red fruits including strawberry, cherry and cranberry with delicate floral notes. Excellent weight packed with summer berry fruits, strawberry, hints of grapefruit and crisp Granny Smith apples. The finish is creamy yet crisp, dry and long. A great Rioja Rosado. £9,49
- Urbina 2008 Crianza: Ruby colour with garnet hues. On the nose, good intensity with elegant, mature and cherries, vanilla, coconut and spice on the nose. On the palate, well-balanced and complex, creamy smooth, velvety texture of red berries, nuts and spice flavours with firm tannins and background, good structure, long lasting, with persistent aftertaste. Pleasant and easy-drinking. £13,95
- Urbina 1999 Selección: Intense, dark ruby red colour. Very concentrated nose of berries, damsons, and figs. On the palate, full-bodied, rich fruit cake and savoury vanilla flavours, well-structured, mellow, firm tannins with the fine elegance of the Urbina marque. £18.95
- Urbina 1998 Reserva Especial (Blue label): Dark ruby red colour with amber glints. On the nose, good intensity. It has a very pronounced nose of seductive figs, apricots, nuts, savoury vanilla oak bouquet. On the palate, voluptuous, sweet middle palate with delicious, concentrated ripe berry, mature fruit broadening out. Wonderful length, classy and complex wine. £21.95
- Urbina 1996 Gran Reserva: Colour reddish garnet. On the nose, powerful, complex and elegant. Rich vegetable and tobacco aromas, a perfect harmony of oak and glorious fruit. On the palate, intense rich fruit, prunes, dates and sweet raisin flavours, silky and creamy. A wine with great finesse and velvet smoothness, wondrous length and full finish. £25.95
- Urbina 1994 Gran Reserva: Colour reddish garnet. On the nose, powerful, complex and elegant. Rich vegetable and tobacco aromas, a perfect harmony of oak and glorious fruit. On the palate, intense rich fruit, prunes, dates and sweet raisin flavours, silky and creamy. A wine with great finesse and velvet smoothness, wondrous length and full finish. £29.95