(foreword: this blog post will update throughout the day, so please refresh for the latest post)

I'm quite excited! ... it's nearly 2pm and I'm looking forward to a live UK wine tasting event that I am taking part in - the interesting fact is that it is being done via social media, mainly twitter 12seconds and twitpic!

The wines arrived on Monday and the online tasting is to be held in conjunction with the 'real life' annual tasting event from Bibendum Wine Ltd at the Saatchi Gallery in London. Apparently this is one of the most anticipated events of the year for the UK trade professionals and buyers.

From 4pm there will be a group of food, wine and media bloggers gathered together at the physical event and another 8 or more individuals and groups around the country participating via social media.

The wines we will be sampling will be:

Laurenz V Friendly Gruner Veltliner 2007
Region: Austria
Grapes: 100% Gruner Veltliner
Producer: Laurenz V
In their words:
“Grüner Veltliner is Austria’s showpiece grape. It yields concentrated, harmonious wines rich in finesse and with a long life potential. Veltliner wines are reliable in their development. They bring pure enjoyment in their youth, and guarantee utmost drinking pleasure in maturity.”

URL: http://www.laurenzv.com
RSP (indicative): £7

Delicato Family Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel 2006
Region: California, USA
Grapes: 80% Zinfandel, 17% Petite Sirah, 3% various red varietals
Producer: Delicato Family Vineyards
In their words:
“Delicato has been named US Wine Producer of the Year an unprecedented three times at the International Wine and Spirits Competition along with countless individual awards for its wines.”

URL: http://www.delicato.com/
RSP (indicative): £7.50

Dinastia Vivanco Rioja Crianza 2005
Region: Rioja, Spain
Grapes: 100% Tempranillo
Producer: Bodegas Dinastia Vivanco
In their words:
“More than a winery, a project dedicated to spreading the culture and appreciation of wine. Our Wines, our Museum and the Foundation all serve to share our great love for our land, La Rioja, and of wine.”

URL: http://www.dinastiavivanco.com
RSP (indicative): £9.25

The twitter participants will include:

@bibendumwine
@thirstforwine
@documentally
@sizemore
@loudmouthman
@eatlikeagirl
@hollowlegs
@chrispople
@foodstories
@wmjohn
@bigbluemeanie
@jonthebeef
@mackney (me)
@fraseredwards
@rjbirkin

The live twitter stream can be watched by using the hash tag #ttl

Live pics coming through from twitpic ...

Click on the images above to view the photographer's profiles.

Related blog and video posts:

Tweet me up Scotty
Bibendum Wine Tasting (video)
Update on Reaching the Wine Drinker
Reaching the wine drinker

Here were some realtime results for #ttl

• thirstforwine: @chrispople good point. There is a "variation" called White Zinfandel which is actually pink/blush and usually v. fruity This is better #ttl
  
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• thirstforwine: @ZebraSun this is mainly found in restaurants. Tweet @bibendumwine and he'll find out local wines for you #ttl
  
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• wmjohn: #ttl Don't think I'd last a day at a wine tasting .. :-) Would love to try though :-)
  
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• sizemore: Drinking the first red (Dinosaur something or other) and opening the next bottle. Not very good at this tasting lark #ttl
  
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• bigbluemeanie: #ttl chez meanie. these are my guests ...
  
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• Browners: #ttl already feeling rosy. Bloody alcohol intolerance! This is going to make cycling later interesting.
  
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• bigbluemeanie: @zebrasun says he's in love with this one already #ttl zinfandel
  
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• bholden: @ZebraSun agree on the musky vibe, silky fruity spicy and goddam sexy! #ttl
  
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• ZebraSun: #ttl I love this stuff. Where can I get some? I live in the South East.
  
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• Documentally: Sooo.. lighter than i like.. but would nicely wash down a bag of chips with cheese on. #ttl
  
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• bigbluemeanie: Tastes of red forest berries. Would go with red meat methinks. Perhaps venison. (PS I'm a vegetarian} #ttl
  
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• wmjohn: It's taste stays for a long time, curious, really cant make up my mind, more to it than first impression. (forgot the tag) #ttl
  
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• rjbirkin: #ttl Gets dangerously light as you go on. I could see the bottle going down without a thought. Tasty.
  
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• mackney: James says: light, perfume, evaporative, slides down well #ttl
  
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• chrispople: #ttl @thirstforwine I have, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't a red!?
  
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