Where: MC Motors, 28 Millers Avenue, Dalston, London E8 2DS
£: Tickets are £40, and include food and drink
What is it?
This spring, all the passion and spirit of Latin America will breathe life into London’s East End. Cambalache will take guests on an immersive journey of wine, music, food and art; straight to the heart of Argentina.
A forerunner in the developing trend towards immersive wine events, Cambalache returns bigger and better, on 30th April and 1st May at MC Motors in Dalston. It will also be appearing in New York this year. Much more than just a typical wine tasting, the event team believe that wine should invoke all the senses. Guests can enjoy more than 120 of the finest wines from 24 of Argentina’s top wineries, whilst experiencing all the character and warmth that goes into producing it.
Cambalache aims to take each visitor on a voyage that embraces all the complexity, warmth and beauty of Argentina’s past, present and future.
Join a celebration of every element of the rich Argentinian culture including live street art, food and antique stalls, tango lessons and live music. Attend a groundbreaking wine and music masterclass by sensory experts, Professors Barry Smith and Charles Spence (last seen on Heston Blumenthal’s Big Feast), on hand to wittily demonstrate the art of matching certain music with wine to enhance its taste.
Cambalache will recreate Argentina’s extraordinary urban art culture, with an outside street party featuring cutting edge graffiti artists painting the vibrant murals that sprung up during the last economic crisis to foster a sense of community.
Breaking the common misconception that Argentina is all about steak, feast on mouth-watering Patagonian lamb. A selection of empanadas from a traditional barbecue (asado) will also be served, and you can even learn how to make your own chimichurri, the Argentine sauce of choice.
Hark back to the old school glamour of 1940s Buenos Aires at Gaucho’s Galante Cocktail Lounge and visit Ice Cream Union’s authentic ice cream parlour serving up signature scoops such as dulce de leche. Experience over 27 different taste and smell sensations in a masterclass about the Argentinians’ much loved Fernet Branca aperitif (beware, it’s minty and was once used as a stomach medicine).
Soak up Argentina’s rich literary history in a wonderfully Bohemian café complete with Spanish library and talks on celebrated writer, Jorge Luis Borges. Brave the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires’ famous San Telmo antiques market complete with market hawker and live folk band.
Venture into a rustic estancia (or ranch to you and me) and drink traditional mate tea with the original Argentinian cowboys, the gauchos. Get swept up into the dark sensuality of a Buenos Aires nightclub, with leading dancers performing and teaching Nuevo Tango.
More info: www.winesofargentina.com/cambalache