An evening with Tony Laithwaite

Tony Laithwaite will be interviewed with John Ryan. Laithwaite, 71, started a home-delivery wine business in 1969, after working in the vineyards of Bordeaux as a student. Originally called Bordeaux Direct, there were five wines on the list, and 150 customers. In the 1970s, he was the first UK merchant to source bottled wine from Languedoc-Rousillon (southern France), and Cabernet from Bulgaria.

Today, Laithwaites Wine offers 1,500 wines — of which 95 per cent are exclusively produced — from 22 countries, and delivers to 750,000 customers! It is sure to be an interesting interview.

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Amuse bouche

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Pickled beetroot, whipped goat curd, cumin shortbread

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Spiced shellfish soup flavoured with coconut milk & lime 

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Confit of Berkshire pork belly, mulled spiced cabbage, winter greens, red wine jus

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Bitter chocolate torte, coco sorbet, cocoa nib tuile