Join us for one of our most popular wine evenings! Everyone loves the rich fruit, dynamic and innovative wines from Australia. These wonderful selected wines will be complemented with an Authentic Menu researched and devised by our Head Chef, Ian Booth and his team.

BOOK SOON TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT! Bring your friends as well!

£30.55 per person (including all quality wines)

Some more information about Australian Wines ….

To modern wine lovers, it is almost unthinkable that just a few decades ago Australia had barely begun its journey to the forefront of world wine production.

Now the world’s sixth largest wine producer and fourth largest exporter, Australian wine is consumed in more than 120 countries around the world and the country has become the darling of the winemaking industry. Through production, employment, export and tourism, the wine industry now contributes a major chunk to the Australian economy and its popularity shows no sign of waning.

The UK and Ireland are amongst Australian wine’s biggest fans, with exports here accounting for a large proportion of the country’s wine production. In fact Australian wine now has a larger share of the market in off license sales here than any other country.

So what is it that has made Australian winemaking so successful, and why have us Brits firmly adopted it as the nation’s favourite tipple?

The story of Australian wine goes right back as far as the beginning of Australia’s colonial history, when vine cuttings from the Cape of Good Hope were taken to the New South Wales penal colony on the First Fleet in 1788. After a few false starts, vines were successfully cultivated for winemaking and wine was available for sale domestically by the early 19th century. Free settlers arriving from some of Europe’s primary wine making areas brought with them skills and expertise that greatly enhanced the quality of the output and despite a level of snobbery from the Old World, Australian wine was beginning to win some serious accolades before the turn of the century. Sadly a phylloxera epidemic was to devastate the industry soon after and it was not until the late 1970s that it began to revive – but when it did, Australian winemaking proved to be a stroke of genius reborn.

Free from the constraints of Old World wine making traditions, the Australian viticulture industry has embraced experimentation and new technology with outrageously delicious results. Around 130 different varieties of grape are used across the country, combining traditional flavours with a plethora of interesting alternatives, and a strong movement towards organic and biodynamic wines is helping to lead the trend in this direction.

Sun-drenched Australian Chardonnay is credited with awakening our interest in Australian wine here in Britain. Throughout the 1990s it was quaffed in abundance in English gardens to the accompaniment of barbecued burgers and in wine bars across the land by extrovert twenty-somethings having Bridget Jones moments. This oaky nectar, typical of the warm inland regions of New South Wales and Victoria, still retains some popularity but real Chardonnay fans have these days migrated to the more elegant, citrus flavours of the Margaret River region, Tasmania and the Yarra Valley. Australian Riesling, one of the earlier varieties to be cultivated, makes for a delightfully fresh, crisp yet fruity wine that bears little resemblance to its often over-sweet and syrupy European cousins. Other grapes finding popularity include Viognier, Pinot Grigio and some interesting Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc mixes.

In the same way that Chardonnay is credited with bringing Australian white to the masses, so Shiraz has proved to be the wine revelation of the reds. In a move away from the traditional Cabernet Sauvignon aged with French Oak, Barossa winemaker Max Schubert began ageing old vine Shiraz with American Oak as far back as the mid-nineteenth century. Although the popularity of this style exploded only after the Chardonnay revolution, it has proved to have equal impact on the world wine scene. The Barossa, McLaren Vale, Hunter Valley and Victoria region now trip off the tongues of wine experts as easily as a Margaux. With more and more young winemakers combining Old World traditions with New World experimentation, the boom of Australian reds shows little sign of slowing. Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre, Cabernet, Tempranillo and Sangiovese are amongst the UK’s favourite wine bar and dinner table tipples.

It is hard to know what new directions Australian wine will take over the next decade or two, but one thing is for certain – our taste buds look forward to following its progress with interest.

Below is a selection of Australian Wines that can be purchased from the Ring O’ Bells – please contact Christophe.

Starter Course Wines

FOUNDSTONE-PINOT GRIGIO-BERTONE £6.50

EXMOOR DRIVE-CABERNET SAUVIGNON-XANADU  £8.20

Main Course Wines

FOUNDSTONE-UNOAKED CHARDONNAY-BERTONE  £6.50

DOLCETTO LAGREIN- HEARTLAND  £10.90

Sweet Course Wines

WHITE MULLET-Riesling,Viogner,  chenin blanc, sauvignon blanc £9.80

TRENTHAM-  NEBBIOLO- La Famiglia £10.70

H.M. THE QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE

Friday 1st to Tuesday 5th June 2012 (Served Lunch & Dinner)

RING O’BELLS DIAMOND JUBILEE MENU

Come and Join us and celebrate this very special occasion – 60 Glorious Years on the throne of our Gracious Queen Elizabeth II ! We can’t quite match the 60 years of her Majesty – as we are only celebrating our 20th Anniversary this year BUT it’s still quite an achievement for us both!!

Head Chef, Ian Booth and his team of chef’s have devised a special Diamond Jubilee Menu consisting of dishes representing the Best of British, some favourite dishes of her Her Majesty and some from the Coronation Year itself!

You can choose 2 courses at £14.95 or 3 Courses at £17.95.

Whatever you choose will be served a FREE glass of SPARKLING CAVA TO TOAST HER MAJESTY!

BOOK NOW TO RESERVE YOUR SPECIAL JUBILEE TABLE – WE’LL BE TRIMMED WITH BUNTING & FLAGS!!!!

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR DIAMOND JUBILEE MENU

Telephone 01274 832296 or Book online

The first is ‘Yorkshire’ and we will be previewing a work which has been two years in the making. This has been created by Ian in his own unique style and if advance limited edition print orders are anything to go by, the painting is going to be a huge success. Ian’s style of abstract expressionism embraces just about every main landmark and culture associated with Yorkshire. We have asked Ian to reserve the print run between 50 and 100 out of 1950 for the benefit of our customers who will be given a privileged opportunity to purchase the low numbered items at a special price. The exhibition will also feature some of his new work and support material for the main painting where it’s background and construction will be displayed.

The other exhibition is ’The Glasgow Boys’

As you may have seen from Ian’s web site, he has been creating a unique collection of interpretive paintings designed to display a work from each of the 23 artists associated with the Glasgow School which flourished around the turn of the century. The full exhibition will be eventually displayed in Scotland towards the end of the year but we will be previewing many of the paintings ahead of this time. There is a remarkable contrast in the styles of the different artists involved and many of the works have already been sold through the internet or to Ian’s existing clients. They will, however, be available for exhibition loan back purposes and we are indeed fortunate to have these on view for our customers.

We hope both exhibitions will add greatly to the atmosphere of the dining experience in our Bronte restaurant.

Don’t miss out on this enjoyable different evening!

Let us tempt you with the flavours of Greece recreated by our chefs! We will be serving you authentic dishes capturing the very essence of the sun soaked climate.

£25.95 per person ( including all Greek Beers and Wine)

Yes it’s that time of year when you have to treat that special man in your life!

We are serving a SPECIAL FATHER’S DAY SUNDAY LUNCHEON MENU!

£15.95 per person (4 courses)

2 Sittings – 12.15 pm or 2.30 pm

“We had no idea the PM would be joining us for lunch. Because of security, we were
only told 10 minutes before he arrived,” said Ann Preston, proprietor of the awardwinning
country pub and restaurant.

Mr Cameron, in the city to support Tory by-election candidate Jackie Whiteley, plumped
for a main course a la carte signature dish – herb-crusted supreme of Scottish salmon
with roast garlic mash, sautéed spinach and citrus sauce.

Ann explained: “We learned the Prime Minister had been recommended to dine with us
because of our reputation and that his staff had viewed our website and asked which dish
he would he would like to have.

“His comment afterwards was how much he had enjoyed his lunch. He complemented us
on serving only the best local fresh produce – in fact, Mr Cameron was most interested to
learn how we sourced and supported local suppliers.

“I told him we were celebrating our 20th year in business and gave him one of our
anniversary booklets. He said he would show it to his wife Samantha that evening!

“We also had our photographs taken with the PM outside and he commented on the
wonderful Yorkshire views. We, of course, told him he was in ‘God’s own country,’ an
expression he had not heard before – and laughed.

“We were all thrilled and honoured for the Prime Minster to be recommended to dine with
us. After 20 years in the business, it was both gratifying and exciting. He said he was
delighted to see us so busy, complimented us on our success and achievements, and
wished us every future success.”

Prime Minister David Cameron is pictured at the Ring O’Bells with restaurant manager
Pauline Noble, left, and proprietors Ann and Clive Preston.

Coun Ikram and her husband and consort, Saqib Salam Shah, were guests of honour at the event, the latest in a series of themed evenings featuring food from around the world at the award-winning country pub and restaurant.

“It was a fun, fab night, which was thoroughly enjoyed by customers and staff, many of whom wore Indian dress to enhance the atmosphere and sense of occasion,” said proprietor Ann Preston.

The extensive menu, complemented by wines and Indian beers, was devised by head chef Ian Booth, assisted by an expert on Indian food, the Ring O’Bells’ Goanese senior chef de partie John Fernandes.

The Lord Mayor said: “We were impressed by the menu and the quality of food. The Ring O’Bells has a wonderful reputation for food and Ann and Clive are superb hosts – an eclectic mix.”

Further flavours of Asia will be served up at the Ring O’Bells next themed food event, an Oriental evening, featuring authentic dishes from China, Thailand and Malaysia, on Monday, April 16.

Looking back over the past two decades, owners Ann and Clive Preston commented “Our credibility has been built on our ability and reputation to provide hospitality of the highest possible standards at our multi award winning country pub and restaurant, including the best quality locally produced food. Lovingly cooked and served by our team of professionals.”

“The business is all about our wonderful customers and words can’t really describe how grateful we are for their support over the years.  We take real pride in recognizing and welcoming them –many have become part of the Ring O Bells family”

To read more about this special occasion CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE NEW RING O’ BELLS CHIME REVIEW – full of interesting facts and information about the business and their wonderful team!

The Artist

Ian is a well established Yorkshire artist working from his studio near Ilkley.  He paints mainly in oils on canvass and has, over the years, produced work in virtually every style from realism to abstract.  He has completed hundred of paintings embracing both original and highly accurate reproduction work.

Most of his completed work can be found in private collections throughout the UK and Europe and he has received critical acclaim in the press particularly for his more recent emerging style.

To view his latest paintings at our Bronte Restaurant click here.  Some of Ian’s other work and that which is currently available for sale can be found in various galleries in the website:  www.somervillearts.com.

Click here to read and download for yourself The Chimes Review