Last Saturday a C&B team and a group of customers spent the afternoon at the Stoop watching the AVIVA Premiership clash between Harlequins and Northampton Saints. As wine suppliers to Quins, we ran a wine tasting at the beginning of the afternoon which seemed to go down very well. We showcased 2 white wines: a 2008 Chablis from Domaine Millet, a 2009 Malborough Sauvignon Blanc by Eradus and 2 reds:  Altos de Baroja Rioja 2008 and a claret from Château Lafleur Beauséjour 2005. Our prize draw for a magnum of Delamotte Brut NV Champagne was well received – we trust the winners were impressed and hope they will be back for more!

As for the game, having gone into half time 3-13 down, Quins had a fantastic second half and should have won. Despite the intense pressure piled on the Saints line in the final seconds of the game, it was unfortunately not to be Quins’ day and Saints claimed their first victory at the Stoop in six years.

Harlequins very kindly provided us with a box from which to watch proceedings in style. Our guests ranged from an ex-Quins player who remembered the Stoop in the days before tiered seating (let alone wine and corporate entertaining) to the entirely uninitiated who couldn’t understand why they were re-directed when they turned up at the main Twickenham stadium that morning. However, we hope all concerned had a fun day out and did not object to the pairing of Champagne with burgers and chips.