Entrepreneurial Cheshire twosome Mark and Richard Winnington, owners of Cheshire Mersey Wine School, became part of the FA Cup third round when they appeared on BBC1’s Football Focus.
Following an approach by non-league Southport FC they were asked to meet manager Gary Brabin at the Mersey Rail Community Stadium to help select a wine appropriate to present to Derby County manager Steve McClaren.
The pair travelled to Merseyside on December 30 to conduct this special wine tasting in front of the BBC camera crew to feature as part of the FA Cup feature aired on January 3.
Richard said: “I couldn’t believe it when I read the email. We are massive football fans and the thought of selecting a wine for ex England coach Steve McClaren was wild”.
The tasting included a selection of six wines, both white and red, with recordings of each interlinked with footage of Southport’s FA Cup progression and interviews with Gary Brabin. The suitable bottle was selected an Italian Amarone which was duly gifted to the Derby manager before the match.
Steve McClaren said: “I’m going to enjoy a nice glass of Amarone with Gary because he presented it to me before the game, trying to soften me up! From half-time on I was looking forward to that wine.”
They have received fantastic support from the local community since the business was launched in April 2013 with many sell-out tastings in Chester including Introduction to Wine, champagne and sparkling wine events and Saturday tastings with lunch planned for 2015.
All of their Chester events are held at the Abode Hotel on Chester Racecourse. A piece on their recent tasting on the BBC will feature in the match programme on January 17 when Southport meet Chester at Haig Avenue.
