It only seems a matter of weeks since we were ushering the great and good of Burgundy out of Manicomio into a freezing cold night after our tasting in March. But the next Goedhuis extravaganza is approaching and this time the world is looking distinctly pink.
It feels slightly sacrilegious to say, but this is a cross between a tasting and a party. You are not going to work your way through room after room of tannic barrel samples – there are far fewer wines to taste. But do not fear we have never yet run dry at a Goedhuis tasting and we are not planning to make this a first.
You will also not go hungry as we will have not only the usual delicious Parma ham from Manicomio (who are also fantastically generously donating an auction prize) and cheese from Maitre Philippe Olivier, but breads from Flour Power City Bakery and Paul, crostini from Jinger Jar, canapés from Upton Smokery with cupcakes and strawberries to finish. For a proper carnival feel a steel band will be raising the roof and with, the private view not until early June, we don’t yet know whether the exhibition of Charles Saatchi’s next generation of young British Artists will shock or delight.
Spread over two floors of the Saatchi Gallery our favourite rosé producers are coming to town.
Château St Baillon, Domaines Ott and Château d’Esclans from Provence
Château de Sours from Bordeaux
Domaine Reverdy from Sancerre
De Bruyne, Billecart Salmon and Laurent Perrier from Champagne
In addition to generous quantities of their wines to pour, the producers have all been incredibly generous in providing wine and auction prizes to help us raise money for Starlight.
Pledge Prize Draw
We are still confirming the final details but everybody who makes a pledge to Starlight will be entered into a Prize Draw for a Summer Cellar of Wine consisting of:
A jeroboam of Ch St Baillon Réserve du Château Côtes de Provence Rosé 2009
A magnum Clos Mireille Côtes de Provence Rosé 2009
A mixed case from Ch d’Esclans containing 1 x Whispering Angel 08, 2 x Ch d’Esclans 08, 1 x Les Clans 08, 1 x Garrus 08, 1 x Déesse Rouge 07
A case of Sancerre Rosé Domaine Reverdy 2008
6 bottles of La Source Rosé 2008 and a Double Magnum of Château de Sours Rosé 2009
6 bottles Champagne de Bruyne Blanc NV & 6 bottles Champagne de Bruyne Rosé N
6 bottles Billecart Salmon Brut Rosé NV
6 bottles Laurent Perrier Cuvée Rosé Brut NV
We have already raised nearly £2,000 from a few incredibly generous individuals who can’t make it along on the night but have sent in pledges anyway. The money raised from all these pledges goes straight to granting the wishes of seriously and terminally ill children.
A Starlight wish is an amazing treat to look forward to when the pain won’t go away: it also gives children a wonderful choice to make all by themselves at a time when most decisions need to be made for them. A wish remains a positive focus throughout long periods of treatment or recuperation and is often remembered as the turning point.
Silent Auctions
We have some spectacular prizes for the silent auctions to be carried out in each room. Lots of delicious wine, a dinner for ten in Manicomio’s stunning Conservatory with wines provided by Goedhuis & Co, a trip to Paris and Champagne with Billecart Salmon and a weekend in Provence at Ch d’Esclans.
We really hope we will be able to raise enough money for a couple of Starlight Fun Centres. These are custom-designed mobile entertainment units incorporating a TV monitor, a combi video/DVD player and a Nintendo GameCube which Starlight aims to put into every children’s ward in the country.
To Buy Tickets
To pay by credit card: please telephone Emily Yeomans at Starlight on 020 7262 2881 Ext. 242. Emily will need to know the names of any guests you are bringing.