Hot Dinners popped over to Mayfair last night for the launch of a massive food and wine event, The Big Wine Festival, at Benares. The festival's ambassador, TV's wine buff Olly Smith was happy to tell us why we'll all be wanting to head over to Reading next June for this wine festival with a difference.
So you're the Big Wine Festival Ambassador. Why did you decide to get involved?
Well it's tremendously exciting and I thought it sounded like a fantastic opportunity to share wine with a massive audience. It's more the lifestyle side of it which excited me: just like Latitude and Glastonbury this has got music, dance, culture and food. We've got pop-up restaurants from Atul Kochhar, Anna Hansen and Jun Tanaka and big name musicians (he proceeds to name drop a few massive names - "All of which are embargoed!" he booms). And the vintage champagne room is going to be amazing.
What with all the pop-ups currently springing up across London, might we see an Olly pop-up any time soon?
I want people to try wine in a really informal setting and I like listing wines by style, and experience wine through flights. I have been approached by organisations and chefs to run a London operation, which may or may not happen - we're still in talks. But don't be surprised if you see a wine bar coming to a city near you jolly soon.
If I was to be a betting man I'd say 2012 could be the year when you see my wine bar opening in London and hopefully further afield. I'd love to do one and to be honest I like to work with as many people as possible to bring wine to as many people as possible.
What's the last great meal you had in London?
My dad turned 70 a few weeks ago and I hosted his lunch here at Benares in a private room and it was impeccable. Atul's a huge friend of mine and I've always been an enormous fan of his cooking. Dad was as pleased as punch. If you haven't had the joy of matching wine with spicy food food, I'd heartily recommend Benares and requesting the personal services of Costanzo, the head sommelier here.
What about casual spots?
I really enjoy Bocca di Lupo on Archer Street. I think they've done a good job of creating wonderful regional Italian cooking - there's a great buzz there. I've also had great experiences at Pollen Street Social - the wine list there is great. And then there's Texture, L'Anima, Modern Pantry, Galvin La Chapelle - you start thinking about places to eat in London and then you have to mention Tristan Welch, Koffmann and Theo Randall, Bryn Williams - we're just so lucky!
The Big Wine Festival will take place at Kings Meadow in Reading between 7-10 June 2012 and aims to attract 120,000 people over four days.
The central part of the festival will be The World of Wine with every wine producing country represented. Each continent will have its own themed restaurant. There'll also be a VIP area with pop-up versions of their London restaurants by chefs Anna Hansen, Atul Kochhar and Jun Tanaka (who'll also be running a special Street Kitchen here too).
Tickets will be £37 per adult (VIP tickets £250) and are on sale now. For more information go to thebigwinefestival.com
