Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival 2009

Interested in wine? Join us at the festival, the free sessions are informal in style, and hosted by leading experts within the industry. The tutor's will give background information and introduce each wine and encourage discussion. These sessions are free, but we advise you to be early. Note this is for adults over 18 years of age only. drinkaware.co.uk

11.00 - 11.45 - Life in one English Vineyard
Across England and Wales there has been a resurgence in vineyards over the last 25 years. Herefordshire has been fruit growing country for more than 1000 years, and now in Herefordshire alone there are six commercial vineyards. In our vineyard in the Frome Valley, people are free to come and have a look and taste the wine in our winery. Join me while I take you through the vineyard's year from the pruning to the harvest and then to the tasting! www.fromewine.co.uk

12.15 - 1.00 - Cheltenham Regency Hotel Wine Club in association with Bablake Wines
Pippa Hayward from The Cheltenham Regency Hotel shares the opportunity to taste and compare two selected reds and white wines. Pippa will outline where the wine has come from, how the process in which it is made is reflected in the taste, as well as an insight into the 'gardening and cooking bits' – as Pippa affectionately calls them! Pippa teaches for The Wine Education Service. www.cheltenhamregency.co.uk www.bablakewines.co.uk

1.30 - 2.15 - Cono Sur Vineyards

Cono Sur will be presenting their Chilean wines to visitors at the Cheltenham food and drink festival. Cono Sur brings the most expressive and innovative wines from the New World to the UK. The name Cono Sur comes from the geographical nickname given to the cone-shaped tip of South America. Cono Sur wines are all about expressing the fruit from this amazing land. Intensely fruity yet elegant in style, Cono Sur is the perfect accompaniment for all occasions. www.conosur.com

2.45 - 3.30 - Around the New World in 45 minutes!
Come and join Master of Wine Simon Thorpe from Constellation Europe for a whistle-stop tour of premium wines from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa & California. Constellation Europe is a leading producer and marketer with a broad portfolio of wines, ciders and wine fusions. Well known brands include Hardys, Banrock Station, Stowells, Kumala and Echo Falls. www.cbrands.com

4.00 - 4.45 - Ken Sheather Wines
Did you know that there are over 200 indigenous grape varieties in Portugal! There are many prizewinning wines from this country that most of us have never had the opportunity to taste. Why not come along to this friendly and informative tasting and discover what Portugal has to offer from Cheltenham's award-winning wine merchant, Ken Sheather. www.sheathers.co.uk

Sunday 21 June

11.00 - 11.45 - Around the New World in 45 minutes!
Come and join Jason Froman from Constellation Europe for a whistle-stop tour of premium wines from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa & California. Constellation Europe is a leading producer and marketer with a broad portfolio of wines, ciders and wine fusions. Well known brands include Hardys, Banrock Station, Stowells, Kumala and Echo Falls. www.cbrands.com

12.00 - 12.45 - Ken Sheather Wines
Portugal produces exciting wines in all its regions! Some grape varieties are common throughout the country, while others are specialities of certain areas. Ken's passion and enthusiasm for the wines of this country makes this an opportunity not to be missed. Explore and enjoy the diversity of wine styles that are available from Portugal at this tutored tasting. www.sheathers.co.uk

1.30 - 2.15 - Cono Sur Vineyards

Cono Sur will be presenting their wines to visitors at the Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival and we invite you to come along and sample some of our award winning wines. Cono Sur brings the most expressive and innovative wines from the New World to the UK. The name Cono Sur comes from the geographical nickname given to the cone-shaped tip of South America. Go west of the cone and you'll find Chile, narrow, long and lying between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Cono Sur wines are all about expressing the fruit from this amazing land. Intensely fruity yet elegant in style, Cono Sur is the perfect accompaniment for all occasions, and with bottles ranging from £5- £30, you'll be spoilt for choice! www.conosur.com

2.45 - 3.30 - Around the New World in 45 minutes!
Join Jason Froman from Constellation Europe for a whistle-stop tour of premium wines from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa & California. Constellation Europe is a leading producer and marketer with a broad portfolio of wines, ciders and wine fusions. Well known brands include Hardys, Banrock Station, Stowells, Kumala and Echo Falls. www.cbrands.com