- Work Hard
- 4th Jun 2026
- 0
- 0 minute
Meet the woman behind Newcastle Wine Week and her advice that’ll change how you drink it
Newcastle Wine Week is back and this year it’s bigger than ever.
Running Sunday 19th – 28th June 2026 across nearly 40 venues, from Newcastle city centre out to Whitley Bay and Gateshead, the festival gives us wine lovers the chance to explore half-price curated wine lists at some of the North East’s best restaurants and bars. Pick up a wristband, and you’ll have access to deals at iconic spots including Blackfriars, Dobson & Parnell and House of Tides.
The woman behind it all is Leah Newman, founder of Whispering Wine and the North East’s most respected wine educator. Armed with a WSET Diploma and over a decade in the trade, Leah has made it her mission to bring world-class wine experiences to the region – and Newcastle Wine Week is her flagship event.
“We’re in a unique position in the UK,” she says. “Global wine is massive, so our choice is huge. I understand the safety net of sticking to what you like – wine isn’t cheap, and you want the same satisfaction. But there’s a whole world out there.”
WHY NOT TRY SOMETHING NEW?
Many of us stick to the same wine every time we open a bottle or order a glass. But here, Leah uses her expertise to recommend alternatives…
If you usually drink Sauvignon Blanc…
Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most-quaffed wines in the UK, typically grown in New Zealand. But Leah suggests experimenting with something other than this super-popular variety. “If you like a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, go for something like a Grüner Veltliner from Austria. Also, an Albariño, which comes from Northwest Spain, but is also grown in South America, especially in Chile and also in parts of Australia. If you like New Zealand Sauvignon, drink English Bacchus. And I wouldn’t shy away from trying something grown in the Loire Valley in France, because that’s the home of Sauvignon Blanc.”
If you’re partial to rosé…
Summer’s here, and beer gardens are already awash with rosé drinkers. Leah says, “Whispering Angel is still having its moment. What most people don’t realise is that’s the entry wine from Château d’Esclans. Whispering Angel is the lowest level, and they go right up to Rock Angel. If you’re in the market for a Provence rosé, I would say Château Miraval is a bit better, which is Brad Pitt’s rosé. And if you want something a bit more special, look for a Provence rosé from Saint Victoire. That is grown at a slightly higher altitude, so it has a bit more freshness in the wine.”
If you’re a fan of fizz…
Move over Prosecco because Cava is back. Leah explains, “Cava had a bad rap in the 1980s because the grapes were being picked before they were fully ripe. Some of the Cava wasn’t up to par, so it gave it a really bad name and they’re still recovering from that.”
Good for mixing cocktails, Cava is far less sweet than Prosecco. Leah adds, “Cava goes through a secondary fermentation, just like champagne. The production methods are what we call traditional methods. Right now, we have a breakaway group from Cava in Spain, it’s called Corpinnat and that stuff is amazing. It is as good as any well-made champagne. If I’m in a bar and they have Cava and Prosecco, I will always go for Cava. It has lower residual sugar, more acidity, more freshness, more complexity on the fruit and it’s not expensive.”
WHAT GROWS TOGETHER GOES TOGETHER
As we head to Europe on holiday, Leah reminds us to try new things: “My number one tip when you’re travelling is always to drink like a local. Don’t look for a Californian Cabernet Sauvignon when you’re in Portugal.”
ITALY: “On the Ligurian coastline in Italy, drink Pigato, that’s a great white wine that’s indigenous to Liguria, and you probably won’t find it elsewhere.”
GREECE: “Local varietals which are great to try are Moschofilero and Xinomavro.”
FRANCE: “Picpoul is from the south of France. It has a nice acidity, freshness and is really easy to drink. Also, look out for Gewürztraminer from the Alsace and Pinot Gris.”
According to Leah, if you’re eating the local cuisine, then the local wine will be the perfect accompaniment. “What grows together goes together. If you’re in Croatia on holiday, drink the local wines because you’re eating local food.
“If you think about cheese and wine, cheese from a certain area goes with the wine of the same area. So, French Sancerre and goat’s cheese is a great combo because you have Chavignol goat’s cheese and that is right next to the village of Sancerre. In Italy, they’ve got a lot of tomato-based dishes, like ragu. Sangiovese is a great red wine that comes from Italy, and it’s really high in acidity, but tomatoes are too.”
STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Closer to home, you might want to expand the wines you are drinking. But where do we start, and is it expensive? Leah has a few wallet-friendly suggestions.
“Aldi and Lidl are good places to start for wine discovery. They’re what we call in the wine trade deep discounters. They access parcels of wine for an unbelievable price. The bargains you can get are amazing, and what I really like is that they bring in varieties that people have never heard of, like Refosco. It’s encouraging people to step out of their comfort zone, and the price point is really good. But Aldi and Lidl are probably not places to go if you want consistency in drinking the same wine.”
Other supermarkets can offer new tastes, as Leah explains: “The Found range at M&S is also good for discovering new varieties. Asda are quite good for their orange wines, if you want to explore them. Asda have also brought in some wine from Romania, which is one of the biggest wine producers along with Bulgaria and Moldova. It’s an interesting time to watch what’s going on in those countries, and they represent very good value. They’re discounting their wines in the UK to give us some experience of them. So, if you do see them on the shelves, go and try them.”
LEAH’S GO-TO WINE DESTINATIONS IN THE NORTH EAST
Fancy a glass of wine? Then try one of these venues that Leah rates.
Jo Dunbar
A journalist with over 15 years experience; ranging from online outlets to national newspapers via glossy magazines. Jo started her career on the Features team of a supplement at a national Sunday paper; from there she became a celebrity writer then celebrity editor and moved into women’s magazine with roles at…
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