Tasting all these wines is a tough job...

by julian whittle

Last updated 05:35, Friday, 03 October 2008

THE new owners of Corkscrew Wines in Carlisle have their work cut out. Dave Ogden, 44, and Liz Hardwick, 33, recently took over the shop in Viaduct Estate from Laurie and Jenny Scott who retired after 18 years.

Fresh start: Liz Hardwick, 33, and Dave Ogden, 44, get to grips with their cellar at Corkscrew Wines in Viaduct Estate, Carlisle

Dave said: “We’ve got to taste our way through the whole stock.

“There are 400 different wines so it’s quite a task. Somebody has to do it.”

The couple, originally from Southport and Northampton respectively, met while working as sound engineers for the BBC World Service.

Redundancy gave them the chance to quit the London rat race and start a new life.

Liz came to Alston to work as an outdoor instructor while they looked for a business to run together.

She said: “We wanted something where we had a shared interest. Wine was top of the list.”

The couple are renovating a house in France’s Loire Valley, so expect to see more wines from there on Corkscrew’s list.

They are also planning to extend the range of organic and Fairtrade wines.

Dave said: “Working for the World Service, you get to see places as they really are rather than the glossy, tourist side. It’s an eye opener. That’s why we want to promote Fairtrade wines.”

Expect to see some of the new wines feature at their first in-shop tasting, planned for the end of October.