As one of the central features of St Andrews, the Town Hall is a focal point for community meetings, concerts, and ceilidhs. Yet, on this occasion, the room was not home to a set of local officials or exuberant dance partners. As I walked into the well-lit space I found myself surrounded instead by over two hundred types of wine, beer, gin, and a whole manner of other concoctions.
Welcome to the Luvians Wine Fair.
Asking one of the experts, I was interested to find that the presence of inexperienced wine drinkers doesn’t detract from the unique nature of the selection. Particularly interesting was some delicious wine made using the Bacchus grape; this enthralled the wine veterans as they swilled their glasses with effortless grace. The fair is an event for all creeds, it would seem.
Despite some of the more dramatic characters, the room largely consisted of nodding heads and smiles as, for the meagre price of £15, occupants were able to drink bottles that usually cost up to sixty. Combined with a 10% discount on all purchases, this event is fantastic news for the University wine tasting society, for whom such a selection is a dream come true.
Three hours later and I’m trading wooden floors for stone cobbles as I walk out onto the street. I leave behind me an opportunity for the whole town to experience an unprecedented range of different drinks, an opportunity that luckily seems to have been wholeheartedly taken by students and locals alike. Who says alcohol has to cause anti-social behaviour?