Enews

CountryClubuk eNews: bringing you the latest offers and keeping you informed

12
Feb

Dear Member, Welcome to your new eNews: Snap up England v Ireland rugby tickets at Twickenham: Secure a .76 carat diamond necklace for £2,973 and save £5,600: Give a gift stay at The Ritz with our new Five-Star Gift Voucher and save £239: Luxuriate in the baby alpaca fur hats chosen by HRH the Duchess of Cambridge: Secure the new 2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne, lauded as ‘the best vintage in living memory’: And enjoy the finest French caviar at just £39 for 30g. Plus: Top Three Wines under £10: Cashmere-silk jumpers at £39: Must-have rod carriers for the car: Limited edition bronzes: Hot Harry for your favourite girl—and a box of 23 carat gold chocolates for only £19. Please read on . . . and enjoy.

Exquisite marquise diamond necklace: save £5,600

When a woman wears diamonds, it is she who shines—and this exquisite marquise diamond and platinum necklace has just arrived from London’s Hatton Garden for the new season. It features four beautiful marquise diamonds totalling over three-quarters of a carat, cut to create captivating diamond petals. It carries a price tag of £8,600: for our Members, it is only £2,973. How do we do it? By working directly with the diamond jewellers in London’s Hatton Garden, and passing the £5,600 savings to you.

Designed by an international jeweller, the graceful, elongated marquise diamond with its curved sides and pointed ends is the perfect cut for this piece, the jeweller having selected four superbly shaped diamonds, all matching and all superb quality—the cut has to be perfect, not too wide, nor too narrow, so they are perfectly proportioned and pleasing to the eye.

The marquise cut diamond is highly regarded for its romance and brilliance: it was created in France in the 1740s—said to be named for the Marquise de Pompadour, mistress of King Louis XV, because its outline resembled the shape of her mouth. The marquise diamond is also called a navette (French for ‘little ship’). Similar in shape to the hull of a yacht, it was a favourite of the Edwardians, sailing being a sport enjoyed by Edward VII. With its sleek shape, it’s the perfect diamond for nautical souls.

Now the marquise diamond is very much in vogue, and as one of the world’s most exceptional and elegant diamond cuts it will create an heirloom piece of jewellery for generations to come. Details: Total diamond weight .76 carats, very white, F/G colour, VS clarity, flawless to the eye—and with its flashing brilliance, you can tell. The diameter is 10mm and the platinum chain is 18in. The piece carries an insurance certificate at the full retail value and a full 100% moneyback guarantee. It arrives in a smart presentation case, and can be gift wrapped and sent with your message if you wish.

Code MD18JS18. RRP £8,600. CCUK £2,973. Order .76ct Marquise Diamond and Platinum Necklace.

New launch: Fabulous Ritz London gift voucher

To give the gift of a luxury night’s stay at an iconic London five-star hotel is to give a memorable experience. Many of our Members already enjoy doing this through the Club—it makes sense to give a beautiful gift of real value and to take advantage of savings of hundreds of pounds

So to make this an easy, truly elegant gift to give family and friends, we are today launching our CountryClubuk Luxury Five-Star Gift Voucher. It means that Members can benefit from their exclusive hidden Club savings—and the gift recipient receives a beautiful gift pack and a luxurious five-star experience.

We are launching this with our Members’ favourite celebration hotel, The Ritz London. The gift includes an overnight stay in a Superior room for two, with a bottle of The Ritz Champagne on ice. Next morning there will be full English breakfast in the Michelin-star Ritz Restaurant. All this (except the price of course) will be detailed in a personalised voucher for two, presented in a CountryClubuk gift pack. To redeem the gift, the recipient will simply call us at CountryClubuk to organise the preferred date.

The full value of this Overnight Stay with Breakfast for Two and Champagne at The Ritz London is £736 for two. For our Members it is £497 for two. To order your voucher, and for further details, please click here or call Member Services on 020 7399 2960.

Fit for a Duchess: luxurious baby alpaca hat

The Lacorine Collection of gorgeous soft, thick and warm pure alpaca hats has arrived and they are fabulous. Named the Sumac, designed by Antonia Valentin Jacob for Lacorine and fresh from Peru, where they are beautifully made by hand, they are just in time to keep you warm in the current icy blast. They are the perfect hat to complete an outfit, from wintry Knightsbridge to Cheltenham Festival, a winter wedding or the slopes of Val d’Isere.
And, as it happens, the Duchess of Cambridge agrees. Her personal collection of Lacorine Sumac hats includes several colours—you may have seen her sporting black, grey and chocolate Sumac hats to add style and warmth on Royal duties amid the winter chills of Sandringham, Windsor and beyond.
Divinely soft, fluffy and warm, the great thing about this alpaca is also how light it is—you hardly know it is on your head—as well as sumptuously thick and breathable—you really feel as if you are enveloped in something fabulously expensive, toasty-warm and luxurious. As with all Lacorine products, this luxury alpaca hat is derived from natural herd loss in the bitter Peruvian winters, and handmade to Fair Trade principles. It is also hypoallergenic, with no lanolin content—fit for a Duchess, indeed.
The hat is fully lined and has a generous crown. It comes in 12 colours—chocolate, black, grey and champagne (the Duchess’s collection), cobalt blue, taupe, silver grey, white, red, black, copper and oyster. In three sizes: Small (55-56mm head size), Medium (57-58mm) and Large (59-60mm). Code SH19LA18. RRP £225. CCUK £169. Order Lacorine Sumac baby alpaca hat.

Romantic pearl, diamond and gold Bow Bracelet

With its fabulous diamond and white gold bow, this new natural pearl bracelet from the South Seas is so romantic—as well as precious. The elegant gold bow features 24 glittering diamonds, creating a truly eye-catching piece, beautifully feminine and unique. The pearls are lovely—natural, round and lustrous, the perfect luminous glow to echo the beauty of the diamond bow. This is a bracelet any woman will adore, and wear often.
The piece is designed and hand made by our South Pacific pearl jeweller. The pearls are the perfect size at 8.5-9mm, individually chosen and hand knotted—and that gorgeous 14ct white gold bow, glittering with its diamonds, is a statement piece, adding beauty and style to this lovely, classic pearl and diamond bracelet.
It will arrive in a smart case, making a discerning gift, and carries a valuation certificate for insurance purposes as well as a 100% moneyback guarantee. Code HB19CC04. RRP £865. CCUK £379. Order Pearl, Diamond and 14ct Gold Bow Bracelet.

Tickets for England v Ireland at Twickenham

England’s win over Ireland in the Six Nations set up a great prospective contest in the Autumn Internationals—so much so that the match is already sold out. But here’s a chance for our Members to snap up these prized tickets, together with a night at a five-star London hotel, for £179 per person (two sharing).
The match is on Saturday, August 24, 2019. You and your guest can stay Friday night, August 23, in a twin room at Grange City hotel, enjoy a leisurely full English breakfast next morning, then take a train ride or drive to Twickenham for the kick-off at 2.30pm. You will have excellent match tickets: Category 1 in the West Stand, value £90. The rack rate for Grange City hotel is £335 per night for two sharing (and of course our Members enjoy exclusive Club rates year-round).
Please don’t delay as we have only a very few tickets for this fully sold-out match and they will be allocated on a strict first-come-first served basis. Code EI19CC04. CCUK £179pp (based on two people sharing). Please book here now or call the Member Services team on 020 7399 2960.

Dom Pérignon 2008: ‘greatest in living memory’

Champagne connoisseurs are celebrating the release of perhaps the greatest Champagne vintage in living memory, the 2008—’The greatest Dom Pérignon vintage ever produced,’ writes the world’s leading Champagne critic, Tom Stevenson. ‘Phenomenal,’ say Berry Bros & Rudd. ‘Fabulous,’ says Antonio Galloni. The clamour for the 2008 is so great it is already in limited supply and ‘on allocation’ to wine retailers—so we are delighted to announce that Dom Pérignon have included CountryClubuk in their allocations, to make sure our Members do not miss out on the world’s greatest vintage Champagne.
Writes Chris Lamb, Private Account Manager at BBR, ‘Wow! The nose unravels gracefully, revealing lemon zest and greengage, with a richness of toasted hazelnuts underneath. Hints of spiced orange peel come through with a little aeration. Marked with crystalline purity, flavours of crunchy green apple and acacia bounce off the tongue, with a remarkably fine effervescence throughout. The mid-palate brings a wealth of red-apple-skin and white peach, lifted by lemon-infused acidity, flourishing with mineral notes of wet stones and oyster-shell. The finish is sensational, going on and on. Vivacious, powerful and tightly coiled, this is a phenomenal Dom Pérignon. A Champagne lover’s dream—beg, borrow or steal to secure a case.’
The retail price is already £150 a bottle, which adds up to £900 per case of six. Through the Club, not only can you be sure to acquire a case of this prized vintage Champagne, you can do so at the Members’ exclusive price of £689 per case of six bottles delivered (please don’t delay as our allocation is very limited). Order six-bottle case of Dom Pérignon 2008.

Caviar Aquitaine: delectable gift at Club prices

Here is the delicious French caviar, Caviar Aquitaine, perfect as a gift for your favourite bon viveur. It will delight even the most discerning connoisseur, and it is particularly good with dry Champagne—this is the caviar the London Champagne bars like to serve, often rather eyewateringly expensive. As such it makes an extremely welcome gift, particularly at your exclusive wholesale Club prices from the UK’s top caviar importer.

Caviar Aquitaine is from south-west France, where sturgeon have swum in the rivers of the Gironde for centuries. Acknowledged as a subtle, elegant caviar, its delicate salting brings out the full expression of long hazelnut flavours on the palate. This is a generous, glossy, delicious caviar from the Acipenser Baeri, a major species of sturgeon from Russia. It takes 10 years to mature and the eggs are golden brown to grey and black. This is a fine caviar to give as a gift, as it suits every palate and is perfect alone with dry Champagne, or with your favourite caviar dish.
Code AC19KG01. RRP £75. CCUK £57. Order gift pack of 30g of King’s fresh Caviar Aquitaine with mother-of-pearl spoon. To try this delicious caviar without gift pack and spoon, the retail price is £57 or more and the Club price is £39.75, including delivery. Code AC20KG01. Order King’s fresh Caviar Aquitaine, 30g.
¶ For a delicious grower’s Champagne which goes beautifully with this caviar, try Members’ favourite Veuve Borodin Brut NV made by the Boizel family: CCUK just £119 per case of six delivered.

Chocolate heaven, crowned in 23 carat gold

Oh joy! A box of probably the world’s finest chocolate pralines, each crowned in 23 carat gold. They are named Gioia—golden chocolate pralines. How luxurious, how opulent, how utterly delectable—and how easy to give such an inspired gift.
As the world famous Amedei of Italy say of their latest precious delicacies, here is ’an invitation to the pleasure of chocolate without borders’, in which rich dark chocolate ‘encloses, like a casket, delicate hints of yellow fruit and small lemon peels, with peach and apricot. A fresh and slightly bitter praline in the finish.’ The finishing touch; a gilding in 23 carat gold.
These fine, melt-in-the-mouth pieces of heaven are handmade in the Tuscan town of Pontedera, by the world’s first lady master chocolatier, Cecilia Tessieri, who is dedicated to her art and to the finest ingredients—including cocoa beans directly from cocoa plantations. The all-natural flavours and extra smoothness are irresistible, and hence Amedei is found at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York, Harvey Nichols in London and the top London Michelin Star restaurants, including Le Gavroche and The Ritz.
Cocoa, min 75%. Store in a cool, dry place, max 18°C. Taste at room temperature. Amedei of Italy Gioia Gift Box (12 x 9 x 2.5cm), six pralines finished with 23 carat gold leaf: Code AG19KG01. CCUK £19. Order Amedei Gioia 23 carat pralines.
¶ See also the sublime Amedei Passione, dark Rum Truffles: 80 chocolates, approx 1 kilo: RRP £200, CCUK £89. Click for details.

New limited edition bronze: Otters Tumbling

The spirit, grace and athleticism of the English otter are captured here in a seductive new limited edition animalier bronze by leading figurative sculptor Michael Simpson. The sculptor has brought his wild subjects to life in a large bronze named ‘Otters Tumbling’. It’s an exhilarating piece of art: the sculpted otters’ long, sinuous bodies twisting and turning as they play together.
Michael Simpson is fascinated by the otter, returning to the subject time and again. His limited edition bronze otters precisely capture the fluidity of movement and playful, inquisitive nature which makes these animals so captivating. This bronze exhibits pure joy in living Nature. It will look wonderful on a mantelpiece, or in a study or boardroom, spotlit on a plinth.
In a limited edition of 150, the sculpture is presented in a presentation case with numbered certificate. Height 13.5cm (more than 1ft tall). Length 8cm. Weight 195g. Code OT19RC10. RRP £195. CCUK £145. Order Limited Edition Bronze ‘Otters Tumbling’ by Michael Simpson.

The best British rod carrier for the car

The car rod-carrier is essential for salmon and trout fishers whose water is a short distance away from home or hotel, and when moving up and down the beat in the car. We recommend Vacu Vac’s best-selling vacuum rod-carriers and magnetic carriers. They are originals, still the best, and are made in the UK. Well-made, sturdy, they fit any car and will not let you down. They attach instantly, stick like limpets, and hold up to four rods.
Here are the two best models:
Vac Rac Magnetic (Combo) Rod Carrier for steel vehicles: Code MR01GS19. RRP £60 plus delivery. CCUK £49. Order Magnetic (Combo) Vac Vac.
Top of the range Vac Rac Vacuum Locking Rod Carrier for all vehicles, aluminium, steel etc. Code VR01GS19. RRP £65 plus delivery. CCUK £49. Order Vacuum Locking Vac Rac.
¶ See the exclusive CountryClubuk Guide to Salmon and Sea Trout Fishing Season opening (and closing) dates in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland (click each country).

Italian leather laptop bag: a snip at £98

This smart Italian leather laptop bag and briefcase is cleverly designed, effortlessly stylish and functional. The tactile textured leather, abundant storage space and sleek design make it a breeze to carry laptop, documents and more, without looking bulky.
With a wide zipped opening for easy access and an exterior zipped pocket, the Ferrara provides everything you need from a leather business briefcase. The interior has a laptop compartment at one side with containing leather strap, so when you are using the bag as a briefcase only you can fit more inside. An interior zipped pocket keeps valuables separate and safe. It has two sturdy, comfortable handles and a removable shoulder strap.
The Ferrara is ultra-smart in thick black textured leather with silver fittings and is 37cm wide by 27cm high and 7cm deep, so it easily fits up to a 15in laptop. Code FL19BB12. RRP £215. CCUK £98. Order Italian Leather Ferrara Laptop Bag & Briefcase.

Hot Harry, cosy character for your favourite girl

To keep your favourite girl warm, and make her smile, give her this soft and adorable pyjama and hottie case. His name is Hot Harry and he comes from designer Jo Holland in the Fernie Hunt country in Leicestershire. Harry is the perfect bedfellow: cuddly, warm, and great fun with his cheerful smiling face, large round tummy, floppy ears and soft fleece. All the girls (young and otherwise) long to cuddle him.
Jo Holland was born in the Ludlow sheep country, and moved to the Fernie to set up her business, Jomanda, creating an entire flock for children to love. We spied Harry, and could not resist him. He lies back, all four feet outstretched, waiting for you to stuff his thickly padded tummy with your PJs or nightdress, or a hot water bottle (a great comfort), and you can use him as a pillow anywhere—in the car, on the sofa, wherever you like. You can personalize him too—just tell us his new name when you order.
Harry is large—47cm (1ft 5in) tall—and can accommodate a standard hot water bottle. He is machine washable, complies with all the UK standards, and is safe for any child, from birth upwards (little boys love him too).
Code HH02JT01. RRP £14.95 plus £3.25 postage. CCUK £14. Free UK mainland delivery. Order Hot Harry.

SOME CLUB FAVOURITES

Warm, stylish and oh so light, the favourite down gilet, £59

Filled with down so you’re sure to be cosy, this is a gorgeous lightweight puffa gilet to give total warmth and super flexibility anywhere, without being bulky—on the ski slopes, in the valleys, on horseback, and for everyday wear everywhere else, this is a winner—and it’s top of the Members’ favourites.
It looks great, it is extremely warm, and reversible, so you can enjoy two different colours of gilet for the price of one—a cool idea. In the collar, a concealed hood. Down 90%, feather 10%. Navy/olive, wine/navy. Sizes 10-20.

Italian cashmere-silk men’s v-neck jumper: a snip at £39

This fine soft cashmere-silk blend sweater is beautifully designed and made in Italy, reinforcing its reputation for stylish knits. Here, the classic, all-useful v-neck—but what also marks it out for extra style are the fabulous colours.
Pictured (from the top) in blue topaz, dark navy, viola and grey medio, it also comes in a total of 30 colours, so you can choose almost any you like, from black to bright red, rose pink to pale beige, blue jeans, Royal blue and sky, bottle green, cyclamen, anthracite grey, ecru and two shades each of fuchsia pink and khaki.
Bravissimo! The cashmere, silk and merino wool (70%) has a touch of viscose and nylon for strength. It is warm without being bulky, and feels fabulously soft, smooth and silky, perfect for any man no matter how sensitive! Sizes: M, L and XL.Code MV01CS05. RRP £75 plus delivery. CCUK £39. Order Italian cashmere silk blend v-neck jumper for men.

Bellucci full-length trench coat: elegant classic, £89

The trench is one of the must-have basics for the new season—in fact, for all seasons. In stone, it works with everything and adds a hint of espionage chic to tailoring. In navy, or black, it is ultra-smart and versatile, and in olive it is perfect for the countryside. It also comes in an uplifting red to cut a dash from Chelsea to Milan. 
It has all the traditional trench details, yet in a single-breasted style which is beautifully streamlined and non-bulky: fly front (hidden buttons), detachable belt, belted cuffs, single side pockets and single rear vent for ease of movement. And its smart half-check and silky lining gives you an extra layer of warmth for wet wintry days—with the considerable advantage of never going out of style. Sizes: UK 10-20. Can be cool machine-washed or dry-cleaned. Code TC01BD01. Non-Members £150. CCUK £89. Order Bellucci trench coat.
Stylish large Italian leather tote, the elegant Vicenza
Large tote bags are in vogue this season, and this fabulous Italian leather Vicenza tote really caught our eye at the fashion shows. The shape is so genuinely classy and stylish, it is a perfect size, adaptable and versatile, and the leather and colours are such Italian classics. 
Aptly named the Vicenza, it is designed and made in Italy by an old-established handbag specialist in thick, high-quality Italian tumbled leather. It works on several levels: not only is the shape, with its rolled leather-covered twin handles, inherently good looking, it allows easy access across the full length of the bag, and the width expands to create plenty of room for daily life—a practical size for the office, spacious enough for some quick shopping, it is chic enough to work for most outfits and occasions.
And although the style is open-top, it is extremely secure, with a large inner flap with magnetic closures, and more magnetic closures on the rolled end flaps. The interior has a mobile phone slot and ticket slot and a zipped pocket for valuables which creates two large inner compartments to help you organise your life. A detachable strap turns it into an instant shoulder bag, yet the handles are long enough to slip over the shoulder and leave your hands free. All in all, the Vicenza is a winning Italian bag which will take you everywhere, from the office to a smart dinner, in style. Choose from five elegant colours: black, mid taupe, light grey, dark navy and cream. Measures 26cm high (excluding handles), 34cm long,15cm wide. Code DC18BB12. Non-Members £180. CCUK £79. Free UK mainland delivery. Order Italian leather Vicenza tote bag.
Classy Rioja from Marqués de Reinosa: only £8 a bottle
Classy, classic Rioja Crianza from a very good producer, Vinestral Rioja Crianza 2016 from Bodegas Marqués de Reinosa is full of fresh berry fruit, complemented by a lovely smooth texture from good use of oak. It is a winner, a Members’ favourite, and the new vintage has just arrived.
The wine has an excellent pedigree, established in the late 19th century by the Marqués de Reinosa, a key figure in Rioja. The Tasting Panel recommend it at as a good everyday Rioja, particularly at £8 a bottle delivered, despite its august appearance in the cellars of top restaurants, emerging on their wine list at some £50 a bottle. 100% Tempranillo. Delicious with casseroles and roast white meat.
Case of 12 bottles. Free UK mainland delivery. Code RRP £150. CCUK £97. Order 12-bottle case Bodegas Marqués de Reinosa Rioja Crianza 2016.
Excellent Rhône by Romain Duvernay: a snip at just £9
Romain Duvernay is a cracking wine at an unbelievably good price through the Club. Made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes from 35-year-old vines, it has a palate of blackberries and forest fruits, aromas of liquorice and subtle hints of nutmeg, with soft tannins. It is a quality wine—particularly at your 12-bottle case price of £109 delivered.
The Duvernay family founded their négociant business in 1904, becoming one of the most reliable and well-known in the Rhône, supplying the best part of the base wine for famous producers, including Etienne Guigal. Based at Châteauneuf-du-Pape with his father Roland, Romain Duvernay decided a few years ago that the quality of his fruit was so good he would keep the best parcels and produce wine under his own label. It was a wise move—Romain is known as one of the finest palates of the region by his peers—and his wines bear witness to that.
The Romain Duvernay is not only a bargain, it is delicious. It is perfect with rich meats such as lamb and roast beef, hearty stews and game—it loves the flavours of the fruit sauces, raspberry and bramble, which go so well with gamebirds and venison, and it is perfect with strong cheeses, making it a full dinner wine. Drinking well now, it will continue to improve for five years.
Our Tasting Panel are impressed by the quality and extraordinarily good price through the Club, commending it to our Members. Case of 12 bottles. Code RD17RW04. Non-Members £154. CCUK £109. Free UK mainland delivery. Order 12-bottle case Romain Duvernay Côtes-du-Rhône 2017.
Stunning New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, £119
Peter and Jane Clark’s premium single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2017 is incredible quality, blending typically bright, gooseberry-infused character with wonderful balance, a rich and creamy texture, the distinctive mineral tones of Marlborough’s Awatere River, and a long, dry finish. This is a super example of what New Zealand does best, Sauvignon Blanc, and this is one of our Members’ favourite Sauvignon Blancs (the other is of course Cloudy Bay!).
The Telegraph Wine Club has offered this wine at £12 a bottle (£144 per case), but of course our Members have an exclusive arrangement, a real El Snippo. Case of 12 bottles. Code RRP £165. CCUK £119. Free UK mainland delivery. Order Clark Estate New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2017, case of 12 bottles.
Superb Goose Foie Gras by Georges Bruck, £79 for 1kg
Our Members enjoy the finest foie gas from the leading Strasbourg producer, Georges Bruck—who makes serving finest pan-fried foie gras incredibly quick and easy.
It is created for the chef (or budding chef) with an instant gourmet dinner in mind—even two-Michelin-star chefs use this foie gras. The Strasbourg chefs have expertly prepared high-quality foie gras lobes which are then flash-frozen and heat-sliced into 20 perfect portions.
The foie gras retains its structure as well as its fresh taste, so it reduces very little in the cooking. Simply pan-fry in a medium-hot pan (no fat needed) for about 45 seconds on either side, and you have a perfect seared foie gras starter.
Each thick slice is enough for one, and you can re-seal and store the rest in the freezer for several months. It arrives in a frozen 1kg pack of 20 portions of 50g each and is kept in a freezer until needed.
Code GF17KG01. RRP £110. CCUK £79. 1kg (20 x 50g portions). Order Georges Bruck Goose Foie Gras, a full 1kg.