Wine~Works
Wine & Beer Tastings with a Difference
The Founders
Alex Allan
Alex says his fledgeling interest in wine grew exponentially during a lengthy backpacking trip across Europe as a student. He was so enthusiastic that he relocated to London in 1984 from Canada to pursue a career in the Wine Trade.
He has been a wine buyer, retailer, global logistics manager, educator, consultant and was the co-founder and licensee of Betjeman's, a multi-award winning City Wine-Bar. Along the way he gained all the WSET qualifications and passed the notoriously difficult Master of Wine tasting exam at his first attempt. He has travelled extensively throughout the wine world over the years.
He has an exceptional palate, so is left with the difficult task of sourcing and buying the wines used in our tastings. Always seeking out new, exciting and unusual wines he only ever accepts the very best available and wines which offer the best value for money.
He co-authors our themed tastings, hosts our events in his own inimitable style whilst ensuring that the group increase their wine knowledge in a relaxed and informal environment.
The concept of Wine-Works was the result of a long lunch and that notorious 'last bottle'.
Alex stands by the motto that, 'life is too short to drink bad wine'.
Charles Denny
Charles brings to Wine-Works a wealth of experience in operations and sales management, as well as in business coaching, gained predominantly in the licensed trade.
It was during his early career looking after pub, restaurant and hotel operations for Bass that Charles first developed a passion for brewing and then wine, and as a result gained a sequence of Wine & Spirit Education Trust qualifications, culminating in a Scholarship Award whilst attaining the WSET Diploma in Wines and Spirits.
After setting up a customer service programme for the entire Company, he was headhunted by Young’s Brewery, and helped them develop their hotel and catering division, before spending ten years pioneering city and town centre style bars throughout the country for SFI Group.
Since 2005 Charles has combined his skills, experience and knowledge to develop and run a range of entertaining and interactive tasting experiences with wine, beer, spirits and even cocktails, which he delivers with passion and professionalism aided by his experience in the events industry. He has delivered more than 600 successful events in the last eight years.
In his spare time, Charles is always looking out for a wine bargain in the supermarkets or High Street wine stores to recommend to guests at Wine-Works tastings. He loves to cook, so combined with his catering background he is well placed to deliver special tastings matching wine with food, cheese and even chocolate!
Latest News
© Copyrighted Wine-Works, All Rights Reserved.
All the girls loved it and most were quite giggly by its conclusion. Look forward to the next one!
- Sarah H
It was a fantastic experience and great to do something different. And, most importantly, my brother had a great time’
- Ed
We were absolutely delighted to be chosen to host Hagar’s Charity Fundraising event in Central London! Lots of fun and importantly…lots of money raised for a very good cause!
- Jane W
Hagar Charity EventThank you for a well-organised and entertaining event last week at Luton Hoo. We had much fun and I thought you handled the crowd of “would-be-wine-boffins” very well.
- Dorte Wigg
IK Investment Partners Limited
100 VoucherThe Wine Guy says...
"I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food."
"I should say upfront that I have never been in a cellar in my life. In fact, I can see no reason why anyone should ever go into a cellar unless there is wine involved."
"Beer is made by men, wine by God."
"Wine gladdens the heart of man."
"Wine is the most healthful and most hygienic of beverages."
"In wine, there's truth."
"High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water; but everybody likes water."
"This is one of the disadvantages of wine, it makes a man mistake words for thoughts."
"If we sip the wine, we find dreams coming upon us out of the imminent night"
"Give me wine to wash me clean of the weather stains of cares"
"Wine can of their wits the wise beguile, Make the sage frolic, and the serious smile"
"Wine enters through the mouth, Love, the eyes. I raise the glass to my mouth, I look at you,I sigh."
"Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized."
"Wine is like the incarnation--it is both divine and human"
"Wine makes all things possible."
"Sir, I did not count your glasses of wine, why should you number up my cups of tea?"
"Wine can be a better teacher than ink, and banter is often better than books"
"Life's too short to drink cheap wine..."
"The first kiss and the first glass of wine are the best."
"A bottle of wine begs to be shared; I have never met a miserly wine lover"
"I prefer my water in wine form."
"White wine is like electricity. Red wine looks and tastes like a liquified beefsteak."
"Great wine works wonders and is itself one"
"To take wine into our mouths is to savour a droplet of the river of human history"
"Wine gives one 'ideas,' whereas champagne gives one 'strategies."
"Men are like wine-some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age."
"Most days I juggle everything quite well, on the other days there's always red wine."
"There is truth in wine, but you never see it listed in the ingredients on the label"
"Always carry a corkscrew and the wine shall provide itself."
"Wine is like the incarnation-it is both divine and human."
"Wine improves with age. The older I get the more I like it."
"Age is just a number. It's totally irrelevant, unless, of course, you happen to be a bottle of wine."
"My only regret in life is that I did not drink enough Champagne."
"Consuming wine in moderation daily will help people to die young as late as possible."
"Wine is the thinking person's health drink."
"Wine cheers the sad, revives the old, inspires the young, makes weariness forget his toil"
"The wine cup is the little silver well, where truth, if truth there be, doth dwell"
"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance"
"Good wine is a necessity of life for me"
"Champagne is one of the elegant extras in life"
"I drink Champagne when I win, to celebrate and I drink Champagne when I lose, to console myself"
"God made water, but man made wine"
"Penicillin cures, but wine makes people happy"
"Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life's most civilized pleasures"
"A bottle of good wine, like a good act, shines ever in the retrospect"
"Like human beings, a wine's taste is going to depend a great deal on its origins and its upbringing"
"Compromises are for relationships, not wine"
"Language is wine upon the lips"
"Wine is wonderful stuff, but so many people are put off by the snobbery of it"
"I'm only drinking white wine because I'm on a diet and I don't eat"
"Wine has been with civilised man since the beginning"
"Whenever a man is tired, wine is a great restorer"
"Wine rejoices the heart of man and joy is the mother of all virtues"
"A waltz and a glass of wine invite an encore"
"Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing."
"Good wine carrieth a man to heaven"
"Drink wine, and you will sleep well. Sleep, and you will not sin. Avoid sin, and you will be saved. Ergo, drink wine and be saved."
"A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine."
07707 321587 - Charles