Our next Sunday wine tasting hosted by Caro is taking place on October 20th at 3pm.

Our next wine tasting Our next wine tasting will be exploring more of the technical side of the winemaking process. We will be exploring whole bunch maceration through 4 different wines. Whole-bunch fermentation simply refers to the practice of not destemming the grapes. Whole bunches(la grappe entiere), stems and all, go directly into a fermentation vat. We will explore how this can taste with 4 different grapes.

Our usual food menu will be available to order during and after the tasting and additional glasses of your favourite wines can be purchased afterwards.

Tickets are available here

An evening at Isca with Balance Brewery. We will be serving 4 courses of seasonal food paired with 2 of their mixed fermentation beers and two British wines. On the night the brewers will be there to chat through the beer making process and talk about the similarities and differences between the processes and the tasting notes. Expect an autumnal feast with great drinks to make.

Founded in 2021 by Will Harris and James Horrocks, Balance are the only brewery in Manchester focusing exclusively on producing mixed culture, barrel fermented beers. These complex beers are fermented and aged in oak wine barrels.

The beers take time; each one spending at least 6 months, often more, in barrel before being blended onto dry hops, fruit and foraged ingredients, all sourced from the UK. The ever evolving house culture of wild yeasts and bacteria bring complexity, nuance and balance to the beers.

They place real focus on using wonderful British ingredients from our malt and hops to our fruit and foraged ingredients.

Tickets are £60 per person and are available here

We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting our first British wine fair at WTLGI in collaboration with our friends from Bedrock, Wine Under The Bonnet & WTLGI.

This opportunity is for us to welcome a community of like-minded growers for an intimate wine fair. Together they represent some of the most innovative and committed growers and winemakers working in the UK today. They are all fully engaged in a system of wine production that we believe in, who create wines with precision and responsibility.

Alongside wines to taste, we will offer a little bottle shop, a bar and Isca will be offering food. There will be a panel discussion in the afternoon in our Staffroom regarding the affect of Climate Change in farming today.  

Tickets available here

Fifth-generation winemakers Daniel and Jonas Brand took over the family winery from their father Jürgen in 2014 – with his support they expanded from 12 to 18ha and transitioned production to fully organic and natural. In this year, Jonas produced his first 900 bottles of natural wine, from an old-vine Sylvaner vineyard; 2/3 was undrinkable. Undaunted, the brothers now have the whole estate under organic cultivation and are producing a large amount of wine with no added sulphur. 

Bockenheim has a cooler climate than most of the Pfalz (therefore the grapes ripen slower). The weather in their area is influenced by the Donnersberg mountain (around 650m high) which shields them from incoming weather systems, the wind is then funnelled down two valleys which means it is fairly breezy and this helps keep the vineyards free from mildew.

They produce wines that are full of energy, sometimes wild, always delicious.

Join us on January 20th when Jonas will be visiting, pouring and chatting about his wines for the evening at Isca. Pop by from pm for a glass and to meet Jonas, book a table to try some glasses + plates, we will also be taking walk ins on the evening.

Meet Sen Zhang, a passionate Chinese food enthusiast hailing from the serene village of Xiaodian in Henan province. Born with a deep love for the culinary traditions of China, Mr Zhang embarked on a remarkable journey that took him from a tumultuous youth to the charming streets of France 16 years ago.

Growing up in Xiaodian, Sen developed an early fascination with the rich flavors and diverse techniques of Chinese cuisine, often spending hours alongside family members in the kitchen, learning the art of preparing traditional dishes. This deep-rooted culinary heritage served as a source of inspiration and comfort during the challenges of his youth.

Upon arriving in France, Sen Zhang encountered a whole new world of gastronomy, but his heart never strayed far from the scents and tastes of his homeland. He immersed himself in the French culture and culinary scene, acquiring invaluable skills and knowledge while cherishing the idea of introducing the flavors of Xiaodian to his newfound home.

Now, Sen finds himself in Manchester, eagerly preparing to share his family's classic dumpling recipe with the world. These dumplings encapsulate the essence of his upbringing, blending the authenticity of Henan cuisine with a modern twist.

Join him on a mouthwatering journey that bridges the gap between Henan province and the heart of Manchester. Experience the magic of his culinary creations as he continues to weave together the diverse threads of his life through the medium of food, bringing a taste of Xiaodian to the tables of food lovers around the world.

Booking is highly recommended, we will also be saving space for walk ins. Book your table here.

Woodfired!

Isca’s November Supper hosted by Honest Crust at Runaway Brewery.

We are delighted to be part of a series of supper clubs hosted by Honest Crust at Runaway Brewery, designed to warm the cockles with seasonal, wood fired cooking.

We will be serving 4 courses with a main course designed to share with an option to purchase a suggested wine and beer pairing from us and Runaway brewery and beers and wines by the glass and bottles to buy on the night.

Tickets are £40 and are available here.

Keep an eye out for the menu coming soon.

To celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau 2023 we will be hosting an evening dinner of food inspired by the region and pouring wines from the area to complement the dishes including this year’s nouveau.

Beaujolais Nouveau is a celebration of the end of harvest, a time when winemakers can share the fruits of their labour. It takes place annually on the third Thursday of November.
The wine is made from the free run juice of Gamay, only six to eight weeks old, but bursting with fresh and fruity flavours. It’s not about the complexity but about the immediacy, the liveliness, and sharing the excitement of the new wine season.

Join us on 16th November when El and Holly will be pouring their favourite wines from the area and sharing stories about the growing and wine making processes.

Book your seat here.

On 17th September we are hosting our next Pasta Party using regenerative grain flour from Wildfarmed.

Expect some late summer/early autumn flavours with handmade pasta and Italian inspired snacks, sides and desserts. Squash, chiili, sage and brown butter ravioli, sweetcorn and oyster mushroom Foglie D’ulivo (pasta boats) and chard lasagne will all be on the menu.

We have been saving some special bottles and magnums to pour alongside the menu and will be open from 1pm with the last table booking at 7pm, pop by for a plate and a glass or join us for a long, leisurely Sunday lunch.

Book your table here.

Our next Sunday wine tasting is taking place on August 27th at 3pm.

A Sunday tasting to, hopefully, combat the heat of summer. From pet nat to champagne sparkling wines come in many different styles.

El will be pouring four different sparklings and talking you through the varied methods of making sparkling wines and the impact that a winemaker’s decisions can have on the finished bottle.

Our usual food menu will be available to order during and after the tasting and additional glasses of your favourite wines can be purchased afterwards.

Tickets are £30 and are available here.

Jojn us for an evening with Ham Street Wines pouring English wines with Under the Bonnet. We have been following the work of Jules and Lucie for a while and whilst English wine making gathers pace we are delighted to be welcoming Lucie to Isca for an evening of English wines, food and conversation.

Founded by a young husband and wife team in 2019 near the village of Hamstreet in Kent. Lucie and Jules both share a passion for wine, and were inspired by the quality of wines that England can produce. They are fully certified under organic standards with the BDA, and are converting to be certified biodynamic as well. Alongside this they are doing things a little differently. They follow regenerative agricultural principles, to build a vineyard that is in harmony with its environment and has a positive impact on our planet.

Reservations recommended, walk ins will also be welcome. Book here.

A collaboration across 2 cities between Hector’s, Isca and Tutto wines.

Join us first for the London leg at Hector’s on Sunday 4th June from 2-8pm. Isca will be bringing a taste of their menu and Caro will be helping to choose the wines.

Back up North at Isca on Monday 26th June from 3-9pm. Some of Hector’s classic plates will be available with wines chosen by Jimmy, Alex and the team.

No reservations, walk ins only. 

We will be pouring some special bottles we have been saving for a while by the glass. Bottles, Magnums and Jeroboam from producers we love imported by Tutto.

Joining us at Isca on 11th April is Our Place Mcr. A supper club for local, seasonal, sustainable food to help the least, the last, the lost, supporting Only A Pavement Away, a charity founded by representatives from the hospitality industry. They act as a conduit to support people facing or experiencing homelessness to overcome hurdles by finding jobs within the hospitality, pub and restaurant industry.

For more information please visit www.onlyapavementaway.co.uk

Expect 2 sittings of seasonal, interesting dishes with natural wines chosen by us. Book here.

We are welcoming The Little Sri Lankan to Isca again for a three course menu using recipes from Malanie's Family, showcasing some of Manchester's best Sri Lankan cuisine. There will be 2 sittings, one at 5:45pm and one at 8pm. Natural wine, beers + soft drinks will be available to buy on the night from us.

The Little Sri Lankan are Chefs Malanie and Michael.

They started The Little Sri Lankan in the Pandemic of 2020 doing Rice and Curry Packs and Short eats around Manchester and Stockport, then moved onto Markets and Pop ups and started doing Supper Clubs in Cheshire and Manchester and since then they have been featured in Manchester's Finest, Manchester Confidential and the Nationwide Caterers Association.

They have been nominated this year at the Manchester Food and Drink festival for Trader of the year.

Supper Club

Join us for a three course menu using recipes from Malanie's family, showcasing some of the best Sri Lankan cuisine in Manchester using local and seasonal produce and Wines expertly picked by Isca Wines.

Each course will be introduced by Malanie. To book and for more information please have a look here for the early sitting and here for the later sitting.

We are delighted to be hosting our friends from DEYA brewery for an evening of beer and paired plates.

We will be trying 4 beers selected by DEYA to showcase their fantastic range of fresh, unfiltered, unpasteurised beer brewed in Cheltenham. These will be paired with 4 plates created by Issy from seasonal, organic ingredients and Sam will be on hand to answer all your beer related questions.

In order to accommodate as many people as possible we will be holding 2 sittings on the day. One at 4pm and one at 6:30pm. Tickets are available here

In the first of our new series of Sunday afternoon wine tastings we will be focusing on wines produced in the UK.

To tie in with Isca being featured in “New British Wine” published by Hoxton Mini Press we are hosting a tasting of 4 wines from UK producers. During the afternoon you will try 4 different wines for different producers and learn about the growing and the wine making process and it’s specificity to Britain.

El and Caroline will talk you through their favourite UK producers and answer any questions you may have. We will be open as usual serving our Sunday menu if you wish to eat or try some more wines afterwards.

Tickets are available here.

New British wine with words by Abbie Moulton and photography by Marie Bell is available to pre order here.

To celebrate International Women’s Day at Isca we are hosting a tasting celebrating the female wine makers that we love to work with.

A few years ago we organised an event at Where The Light Gets In in collaboration with Ladies of Restaurant. We selected 4 female wine makers and we paired each wine with a food. Before selecting the winemakers we conducted interviews with each of our importers asking if they thought there was a difference between wine made by a women or by a man. We received a varieties of answer but they all agree on the fact that being a female wine maker was harder. Harder to get recognised seriously and we believe this is true in the majority of the sphere of our society. 

For Women’s international day we want to celebrate the hard labour of the wonderful women we work with in wine, food and service.  

Over the evening you will be enjoying 4 wines and 4 dishes of seasonal organic food paired with each wine.

Join us on 8th March when El and Caroline will be pouring their favourite female made wines and sharing stories about the growing processes and wine making. Book your seat here.

On Sunday 29th January Issy is heading down to London to take over 161 for the evening.

A 4 course menu inspired by January’s offering will be served with natural wines from 161 and Wines Under the Bonnet on offer for the evening.
If you live in London and have always wanted to try the cooking we offer at Isca now is your chance.

3 staggered sittings at 17:00/18:00/19:00 are available to book now.

A very special way to celebrate the end of January.

Rise are back for a January Sunday special with planet friendly pizza and natural wines. For one Sunday only on 29/01.

Sam makes sourdough pizza using the best ingredients he can source including Wildfarmed flour for his bases. Wildfarmed flour fixes the planet, because they farm differently. By putting soil health first, and paying farmers properly, they are able to grow tasty, highly nutritious food, in a way that heals the planet. All of their products are grown without the use of 'cides, in a system that prioritises soil health, increasing soil biodiversity, drawing carbon from the atmosphere and producing nutrient dense food.

We love working alongside Sam and his fantastic pizzas. Book here to join us.

We are joining forces with our friends at Cloudwater brewery to showcase some new releases from their barrel aged project paired with food. On 1/12 we will be serving up 4 beers and 4 courses with the brewers on hand to answer any questions about the project.

Some words from Cloudwater about the event:

“The Barrel Project beers are the culmination of several years' work in sourcing the best barrels, building relationships with organic fruit producers, and fine-tuning our approach to blending. Our intention is to create elegant, distinctive bottles that exude quality and timelessness. 

Throughout the winter months we will be showcasing the Barrel Project through a series of collaborations which focus on celebrating Manchester’s finest independent establishments. 

All the places involved mirror the ethos of The Barrel Project, taking time and care to serve food which focuses on seasonality and who work directly with farmers and producers to create thoughtful, sustainable dishes. 

On the 1st of December we will be joining Isca in Levenshulme to serve a four course supper, to be paired with four carefully selected barrel aged beers. The events will be a chance to learn more from the Cloudwater team about the history of the Barrel Project bottles, whilst enjoying thoughtfully paired food”

Tickets are available here.

We are welcoming The Little Sri Lankan to Isca for the first time for a three course menu using recipes from Malanie's Family, showcasing some of Manchester's best Sri Lankan cuisine. There will be 2 sittings, one at 5:45pm and one at 8pm. Natural wine, beers + soft drinks will be available to buy on the night from us.

The Little Sri Lankan are Chefs Malanie and Michael.

They started The Little Sri Lankan in the Pandemic of 2020 doing Rice and Curry Packs and Short eats around Manchester and Stockport, then moved onto Markets and Pop ups and started doing Supper Clubs in Cheshire and Manchester and since then they have been featured in Manchester's Finest, Manchester Confidential and the Nationwide Caterers Association.

They have been nominated this year at the Manchester Food and Drink festival for Trader of the year.

Supper Club

Join us for a three course menu using recipes from Malanie's family, showcasing some of the best Sri Lankan cuisine in Manchester using local and seasonal produce and Wines expertly picked by Isca Wines.

Each course will be introduced by Malanie. To book and for more information please have a look here for the early sitting and here for the later sitting.

We are delighted to be teaming up with one of wonderful former chefs Hayley and Wildfarmed for an evening on pasta and natural wines. Using flours milled by Wildfarmed from regenerative grains we will be serving an Italian inspired menu with an excellent wine selection.

The evening begins at 5pm and we expect demand to be high so booking is recommended. Book here. We will save some space for walk ins on the evening. Keep an eye on our social channels for the menu coming soon.

We are welcoming The Little Sri Lankan to Isca for the first time for a three course menu using recipes from Malanie's Family, showcasing some of Manchester's best Sri Lankan cuisine. There will be 2 sittings, one at 5:45pm and one at 8pm. Natural wine, beers + soft drinks will be available to buy on the night from us.

The Little Sri Lankan are Chefs Malanie and Michael.

They started The Little Sri Lankan in the Pandemic of 2020 doing Rice and Curry Packs and Short eats around Manchester and Stockport, then moved onto Markets and Pop ups and started doing Supper Clubs in Cheshire and Manchester and since then they have been featured in Manchester's Finest, Manchester Confidential and the Nationwide Caterers Association.

They have been nominated this year at the Manchester Food and Drink festival for Trader of the year.

Supper Club

Join us for a three course menu using recipes from Malanie's family, showcasing some of the best Sri Lankan cuisine in Manchester using local and seasonal produce and Wines expertly picked by Isca Wines.

Each course will be introduced by Malanie. To book and for more information please have a look here for the early sitting and here for the later sitting.

Our good friend Fernando of Otros Vinos will be joining us on Thursday 30th June from 7pm pouring wines from his portfolio.

Focusing on Spain and southern France, importing a selection of small artisan winemakers, “growers we know and trust, and whose wines we love. All of these producers work small vineyards, farm organically or biodynamically, and practice as little intervention in the cellar as possible; either minimal or no sulphites added and never fined or filtered. These are wines that absolutely shine with their terroir and that reflect the wonderful people who produce them.”

Join us on Thursday to try his wines and chat to him to leaarn about the wine making process.

An Evening with Track Brewery. Summer food + Saisons

• Thursday, 9 June, 2022

• 7:00 PM 10:00 PM

• 825 Stockport Road (map)

Join us on 09 June where we will be tasting beers from Track brewery and seasonal food from Isca. Showcasing 2 new beers from Track’s barrel aged programme and 2 other fresh beers from their brewery in central Manchester. We will be celebrating the best seasonal produce June has to offer paired with 4 beers from Track and their brewers will be on hand to talk you through the production process.

Tickets are £45. Tables are sold for 2 people at £90 and can be booked here. There are two shared tables, if you would rather not share please let us know upon booking. If you would like to book for 1 or for more than 2 please get in touch.

Join us on 19 May where we will be tasting wines from around the central region of Italy with paired dishes inspired by the region. We will take you on a trip to Emilia Romagna and Lazio via 4 winemakers we know and love to work with. Inspired by a recent trip taken by Caroline we have created a menu of dishes from the area.

Natural wine is about life. It’s about the way we are in this world and our relationship with the wild life, encouraging biodiversity and engaging with the very specificity of where we are (terroir). It is about caring for the soil, the grapes and for the life growing and existing on the vineyard. And it is about celebrating the labour that this care requires, ethically and responsibly. It’s not a style, it’s a way of being. It’s not about getting a fix product, but about giving guidance and life to something that will keep evolving through time.

Tickets are £45 each. Tables are sold for 2 people. for £90. There is one shared table, if you would rather not share please let us know upon booking, Please book here

Join us for an evening of German food, wine + beer at Isca on 10th December.

We will be pouring 2 of our favourite German wines and 2 of our favourite German beers with a paired German inspired menu. There will be 2 sittings, one from 6:00pm and the second from 8:15pm.

MENU

Snacks

Pickles, egg + rye bread

Bratwurst, potato salad + sour cabbage

Apple + cinnamon tart

Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate dietary requirements at this event.

Tickets are sold as tables and are available here. if you desired table size is not available please contact us to see if we can offer anything.