Vinopolis has existed since the summer of 1999. Located under the superb Victorian arches of London Bridge, it is only a step away from Borough Market, which is considered to be the gourmet center of London. To date, Vinopolis is the only attraction dedicated to the pleasures of wine throughout the world. Each arch is devoted to a wine-growing country or region. The tasting tables offer 100 wines ranging from £5.99 to £11.99, and 30 wines priced between £12.99 and £25 a bottle. (*) Every year over 250,000 people visit Vinopolis, take part in the events organized there and benefit from the recommendations and advice of the « tasting guides ».
We asked Nicolas Kowalski, who holds the essential role of wine-buyer, what place is imparted to the wines dear to this blog.
Nicolas Kowalski: Among the 130 different wines offered by Vinopolis, France accounts for 30 references. Lagrézette appears twice in the circuit. First of all, with a 30m2 space which is totally dedicated to it, as well as to its history and to the Malbec grapevine variety.
And then, at our fine wines table, our customers can taste the Lagrézette 2003 vintage.
What led you yourself to put forward just those wines?
NK: Lagrézette has a very good understanding of the Anglo-Saxon markets, and its communication insists mainly on the grapevine variety. Cahors enjoys very little recognition on the part of the average consumer. The concept of soil is not very well understood here in the United Kingdom. So the Lagrézette message helps us develop a platform to enable the discovery of this special wine, so full of history.
How do your customers and visitors perceive these distinctly typical wines?
NK: They taste the wines on the spot. Their response is very positive. The fact of discovering that the Malbec variety originated in France is fantastic. Our wines are tasted without food and our guides clearly explain that this wine is a “table wine”, “a food wine”. Besides, we will be holding a Malbec event in November: we will present Lagrezette, as well as an Argentinean Malbec, with foods from each region and country of production.
Precisely, in the personality of the French Malbec’s (especially Lagrézette), do you find anything that differentiates them strongly from the “New World” ones?
NK: The French Malbec’s have a fresh quality that is not found in most of the New World wines. And also a better storage potential, thanks to the tannins and acidity. They are more thought-out wines, perhaps more complex ones. This has advantages... and disadvantages. Let’s say that the French Malbec requires more maturity and patience, in order to give the tannins time to fuse and let the wine gain body.
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