Billy Norman strikes a chord in wine review with a difference

Billy Norman welcomes guests to his wine evening

Billy Norman, well known in travel retail circles for his skills as a musician and his support of industry-backed charities, has taken on a new challenge: wine reviews with a twist. With the help of some industry friends, he took his new venture to the public late last month, an event that also helped funds for The Moodie Report Foundation (see below).

Billy is the author of the acclaimed wine review blog ‘Billy Nose About Wine’ launched in May 2012. Originally a Facebook page, over the last year the blog has gained momentum and readership, with its aim to “gently spank the bottom of the wine trade”. The blog has recently been added to through the development of Billy’s own website at http://billynoseaboutwine.com

Billy Norman and wine master Barry Geoghegan display the many wines on offer at the first ‘Billy Nose Wine’ event

Having gained the backing of various wine suppliers and retailers, including online merchants Naked Wines and UK retailer Sainsbury’s, Billy Nose explores the world of wine with honest and frank descriptions while painting an amusing backdrop through his imaginatively created comedy characters. As well as this, all wines under review are subjected to his unique wine scale rating from 1–10:
1–3 = A Cheeky Chuff Chuff
4–7 = A Plockton Dibbler
8–10 = A Bentham Dobbler

Taking his concept further, on Thursday 31 January Billy launched his first ever Billy Nose Wine Tasting event at the highly hospitable Alfreton Hall, Derbyshire, introducing an audience of fans, industry friends and wine newcomers to Billy Nose.

Barry Geoghegan lends his expertise
Led through the tasting by the vast knowledge of Irish travel retail figure Barry Geoghegan (Wine MBA and Founder of fast-growing wine distributor Barry Global Innovation), guests were invited to try eight wines (kindly supplied by Naked Wines) while receiving a full lesson on how to taste properly, to the history and geography of each grape, all the way through to what to look for in a good wine.

The event also included the support of local artisan businesses: cheesemonger Simon Davidson of R.P Davidson Chesterfield educated guests on cheese making.

The evening had a strong charity side too, as Billy Norman and friends raised funds for The Moodie Report Foundation

There was a strong charity angle to the evening too. In support of travel retail, an industry that has provided the backdrop for many of Billy’s global excursions (in turn encouraging and developing his love of wine), a raffle was held with proceeds donated to The Moodie Report Foundation, which is dedicated to helping fund cancer research and other cancer-related concerns.

David Spillane of Global Travel Retail Sales deftly weaved through the crowd, cajoling guests to contribute – with the opportunity to win some of the wines on offer – raising a total of £230.

The last word went to Billy Nose, who thanked Barry Geoghegan for his superb contribution, and noted: “The evening was an absolute Bentham Dobbler.”

For more information please contact:
Billy ‘Nose’ Norman
Email: billynoseaboutwine@gmail.com
Tel: +44 (0) 7731 783866

billynoseaboutwine.com
www.facebook.com/BillyNoseAboutWine

With a little help from his friends: Jess Howells, David Spillane and Barry Geoghegan toast Billy Norman’s new venture