A Cosy Evening at Hove Place
With the evenings drawing in and the weather starting to turn, it feels like autumn is well and truly here. For me, this means it’s the perfect time to sit in a cosy pub, drinking amazing wine and tasting some delicious food. Luckily, we got the chance to do just that at one of Hove Place’s new wine tasting evenings.
Hove Place has always been on my radar for its spacious pub garden—the perfect summer spot to soak up the sun and enjoy a crisp pint. However, until now, I had definitely overlooked it as a cosy autumn/winter pub. Their new, casual wine tasting evenings offer a laid-back and friendly approach to learning about wines, along with the chance to try some expertly paired dishes. October’s tasting was all about Spain, featuring some very fine wines paired with traditional tapas from resident chef Phil.
We started with an Albariño. This vibrant wine from the north of Spain offered a refreshing start to the evening. Described as a food-friendly wine, the first sip gave a crisp acidity with citrus notes that paired beautifully with our ham and cheese croquettes. These were so moreish, packed full of flavour from the tangy cheese and salty ham, that I was thankful for such a generous portion.
After a fantastic start, it was on to our next wine, which was a white Rioja. This was softer and less acidic than the Albariño, with a subtle oakiness to it—dangerously drinkable and very enjoyable.
A classic chicken and seafood paella, brought to the table in a traditional pan, was packed with the juiciest prawns, delicious clams and mussels, and succulent chunks of chicken thigh. The first bite was packed with so much flavour from the plump prawns and saffron-infused stock that you could close your eyes and be instantly transported to a sun-kissed beach on the Spanish coast somewhere—a far cry from the blustery British weather indeed.
We were halfway through our Spanish odyssey, and next up was a Pasion de Bobal from Valencia. A bold, juicy red, the first sip was full of fruit, leaving a slight vanilla taste afterwards, owing to the fact that the wine is barrel-aged. This was my kind of red—the sort of thing that feels perfect on a cold winter’s evening alongside a big bowl of something warm and delicious. Cue the hearty lamb and chorizo stew served with warm bread. Every mouthful was rich and warming, packed with flavour from the lamb and perfectly balanced with spicy chorizo. The warm bread we were given to mop up wasn’t needed, but it was delightful nonetheless.
At this point, we were already extremely well-fed and watered, but we had just enough room for a sweet finish. The last wine of the evening was the Anna de Codorniu Cava served over ice—sweet but still very refreshing, complemented by the addition of some orange zest. Our last wine was served alongside a beautiful, slightly festive-tasting cinnamon and orange Crème Catalana. Cracking through the caramelised top, I took a generous spoonful of the soft, creamy dessert and a sip of the cava for a perfectly delicious end to the evening.
Over the next few months, Hove Place will be running their casual wine tastings with offerings from England and Argentina to come. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast looking to try something new or a novice wanting to brush up on your wine knowledge for those winter dinner parties, you’re sure to enjoy these generous evenings of wine and food.
