‘Skin Côntact’ ready to rock wine trade

The UK wine trade’s top musical talent has joined forces with Côtes du Rhône Wines to host a one-off charity gig next year.

Skin Côntact in rehearsal

Called Skin Côntact, the band features Richard Hemming, writer for JancisRobinson.com, on keyboard; Alex Hunt MW, purchasing director for Berkmann Wine Cellars, on lead guitar; Ben Smith, head of communication for Concha y Toro UK and former member of ’80s chart-toppers Curiosity Killed The Cat, on bass guitar; and Matt James, founder of The Bordeaux Cellar and former member of ’90s indie band Gene, on drums.

Backing vocals will come courtesy of Anne McHale MW, wine education specialist at Berry Bros & Rudd, and Helen Chesshire, founder of The Chesshire Set PR.

A series of wine trade “celebrities” have been signed up to perform lead vocals, with the full line-up due to be unveiled over the coming months.

Introducing the band, Hemming promised: “We’ll be playing cover versions of classic, well loved floor-fillers, then there’s a very special guest DJ spinning the wheels of stainless steel and an exclusive pre-gig tasting of Côtes du Rhône wines. We’re going to give the UK wine trade the best party of the year!”

Tickets for the gig, which takes place at Vinopolis in London on Monday 9 March 2015, will go on sale in January. All proceeds will be donated to Wine Relief, the wine trade’s fundraising initiative to support Comic Relief.

As event sponsor, Agnès Heller from Inter-Rhône commented: “We’re so pleased to have the opportunity to take part in this amazing charity event bringing the inimitable ‘Skin Côntact’ to the UK wine trade for one amazing night!”

Heller confirmed that the gig would coincide with the organisation’s annual Côtes du Rhône tasting, with the theme “Think Red Nose Day, Think Côtes du Rhône!”