Rising Stars

It’s great to travel and gain experience in far-flung countries, but sometimes there’s just no place like home. After honing his hospitality skills in New Zealand and Australia, Peter Drew returned to the UK in 2021 and, keen to further his career near his hometown, took the role of manager at hybrid bar and shop Corkage.

Owner Andy Dore says: “Our previous bar manager, Claire, was French and she’d been with us for about three years but she really missed her family during lockdown and decided to go home. We advertised locally for a replacement and Peter walked in.”

Andy says that after lockdown he wasn’t sure what the future looked like for the business, so he wanted someone part-time to start off with.

“It suited Peter as he would be the first to admit that he was feeling a bit burnt out by the time he got back to the UK,” says Andy. “It’s been a meeting of minds, really. He’s got a kind and gentle personality. He’s absolutely brilliant with the customers; he takes time with each and every one of them. His background means he’s very knowledgeable and he’s got a very, very good palate as well. He’s helping me with refreshing some of the stock and he’s introduced a couple of new suppliers. We enjoy working together and we’ve got a similar sense of humour, attitude and approach.”

Peter first visited Corkage as a customer for a tasting event and, when he saw Andy was looking for a premises manager, he didn’t hesitate to apply.

“It had always operated very much as a shop and tasting room, which sounded great,” Peter says. “I thought with such a gigantic product line there was plenty of scope to develop it into more of a bar. It was more familiar to me to do something like that. Over the course of that time, I’ve gone from getting people through the doors and getting them interested, to going out and buying wine for the company.”

There’s a large range of wine available by the glass at Corkage, including the wines on the Enomatic. “Our customer base and the people who continue to find us are very open to a voyage of discovery,” explains Peter. “We like to introduce them to more than Bordeaux and Burgundy. This month we had a tasting with summer wines, something a bit off the wall like Italian blends from Australia. We like to show that there’s certainly far

Peter Drew Corkage, Guildford

more to wine than just one continent; there’s lots more fun and stories to be had from it. We try and mix and match the traditional with the non-conventional. It’s all about just finding a little balance.”

Peter has his WSET Level 3 and, although he enjoys studying, is not convinced that further wine qualifications are for him right now. “I’ve never ruled it out, but there needs to be a practical application,” he says.

As Andy will attest, events and hospitality seem to come easily to Peter. But Peter himself admits that, while it’s the role he enjoys the most, it’s something he’s had to work hard at to accomplish.

“One of the reasons I got into hospitality was because I was terrified of speaking to people,” he says. “I was terrible at public speaking, but I wanted to be able to do it and hospitality forced me to do it. I’ve come to love what I do so much, especially with wine.

“Andy gives me the freedom to really expand and take a couple of risks now and again. I can only thank him for that because it’s allowed me to broaden my horizons in terms of wine and just become even more knowledgeable and better at my job.”

Peter wins a bottle of Domaine Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé

Tête de Cru Clos des Prouges 2020

If you’d like to nominate a Rising Star, email claire@winemerchantmag.com

Everflyht Rosé de Saignée 2020

This Sussex producer, down the road from Ridgeview, has hit the ground running and its blend of Pinot Noir (66%) and Pinot Meunier (34%) feels like an instant classic. A warm September brought out the best in the fruit: there’s a precision and persistence to the wine, with its luscious cherry flavours and hint of salinity, that goes beyond what England used to be capable of.

RRP: £40 ABV: 12%

Berkmann Wine Cellars (020 7609 4711) berkmann.co.uk

Arizcuren Solomazuelo 2018

Mazuelo (or Carignan if you prefer) goes solo in this fresh take on Rioja. The grapes come from pebbly, north-facing, high-altitude soils and the juice is fermented in 500-litre French oak barrels before ageing in concrete eggs. There are notes of cloves, plums and leather, but virtually none of oak, with the winemakers at pains to capitalise on, and to preserve, natural acidity.

RRP: £33

ABV: 14%

Carte Blanche Wines (01256 772233) carteblanchewines.com

Santa Rosa White Malbec 2022

From an outpost of the Zuccardi empire in Mendoza, this isn’t going to win any awards for label design. But the contents of the bottle provided pretty decent entertainment for the money on a July evening when the wind and rain were taking a deserved breather. Lots of character, with flowers and peaches and a little bit of spice in the mix.

RRP: £10.49 ABV: 12%

Cachet Wine (01482 638877) cachetwine.co.uk

Chateau Ksara

Cuvée de Printemps 2021

Gamay and Tempranillo join forces in this arresting Lebanese blend, made with semi carbonic maceration. We often notice a certain stiffness to Ksara reds, and that’s the case here, but it maybe mellows with age or judicious decanting. We also noticed, too late, the “servir frais” advice. Violets, red fruit and a little tar too.

RRP: £14-£16.50 ABV: 12%

Berkmann Wine Cellars (020 7609 4711) berkmann.co.uk

Quinta do Paral Colheita Selecionada Tinto 2017

Portugal continues to offer insanely good value with its premium wines, this Alentejo blend of Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Touriga Nacional and Syrah illustrating the point in fine detail. A wine that gives you a great big soft hug, with intense blackcurrant and berry notes, and distant vanilla and black pepper.

RRP: £25.95 ABV: 15%

Propeller (01935 315539) propeller.wine

Muses Estate Clio the White Muse 2021

Central Greece is a region that intrigues more and more indies and when its wines are as quirky and affordable as this, that’s really no surprise. Half Assyrtiko, with Roditis and Savatiano making up the balance, it’s got a subtle pot pourri fragrance, a hint of tarragon and lovely lemon zestiness. Joyful stuff.

RRP: £13.25 ABV: 12.5%

Hallgarten & Novum Wines (01582 722538) hnwines.co.uk

Ventisquero Grey Glacier GCM 2020

Few wines pack so much into a sub-£20 blend and yet make the finished product seem so streamlined and elegant. Colchagua Garnacha (62%), Carignan (19%) and Mourvedre (19%) meld to create a wine that’s both complex and simple, with polished tannins, rich red fruit and a warm, earthy undertone.

RRP: £18.49

ABV: 14%

North South Wines (020 3871 9210) northsouthwines.co.uk

Viña Aquitania Chardonnay Sol de Sol 2022

From Chile’s Malleco Valley, a Chardonnay that was fermented in oak, underwent malolactic and then aged on its lees in barrel for nine months and yet still somehow emerged keen and minerally, with quite a salty smack. Delightfully textural, with a herbal, spearminty lift on the finish.

RRP: £25 ABV: 13% Vinicon (020 8150 5600) vinicon.co.uk