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The Wine Gang’s Christmas Wine Fair kicks off tomorrow at noon in the Merchant’s Hall on Edinburgh’s Hanover Street.

It looks like it’s going to be an absolute corker (boom and again boom!).

Walk up ticket prices (if there are any left) will be £20 but 5pm are running a fab Big Deal which means that you can scoop a ticket for £9. Click here to see the Deal.

There will be hundreds of wines to taste in the £6 to £12 range along with dozens of fine wines.

The high end bottles up for tasting include:

2000 Vega-Sicilia Unico (£220.00 a bottle)

2008 William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros (£69.00)

2008 Neige Canadian Ice Wine (£25.00)

2009 Mt Difficulty Central Otago Pinot Noir (£24.99)

2005 Yalumba The Signature (£26.99)

Cattier Brut Antique Champagne NV (£29.00)

There are free wine walks running throughout the day, where one of the Gang will lead you on a taste tour of some of their favourite wines, and there will also be a programme of optional masterclasses. These are sit-down, tutored tastings of eight wines in an adjoining room.

Edinburgh Masterclasses – all £10

Portugal: Europe’s Best Kept Secret with Tom Cannavan

The Portuguese Wine Writer of the Year 2010 will present a selection from his ’50 Great Poruguese Wines’ that will unlock some of Portugal’s vinous secrets. Wines include Prats & Symington Chryseia 2008, Quinta do Portal  Touriga Nacional 2009 and Dão Sul Cabriz Reserva 2008.

Magnificent Malbec with Anthony Rose

Ant has recently returned from an extensive visit to Argentina and will conduct a tasting of some of the country’s top Malbecs, including premium cuvees from outstanding producers including the Achaval Ferrer Bella Vista Malbec, Mendel Finca Remota Malbec and Catena Adrianna Malbec.

Chile’s Key Valleys with Jane Parkinson

Featuring a selection of the Premium Wines of Concha y Toro’s portfolio, Jane will take us on a tour of Chile’s Valleys, both the traditional heartlands of Chilean production and newer Valleys like Limari and Bio Bio. Wines to be tasted include some of Chile’s rarest and most scintillating Pinot Noir and Syrah.

Think You Know Chablis? with Martin Straus

Martin is an official Chablis wine ambassador and his fascinating tasting will present a ravishing tour of Chablis terroir. In his masterclass Martin will compare the wines of the Chablis appellation including some of the top estates and vineyards of Chablis 1er cru and Chablis Grand Cru.