Wine Appreciation Group 1 - Meeting Details
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Time | 2.00 pm, second Thursday of each month |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Location | Abbot Hall Social Centre |
| Coordinator | Jean Wilson |
What we do
Ready for a South African tasting session
The idea of the group, which started nearly 9 years ago, is to appreciate wines from different countries - different grapes and different winemakers etc., but nothing too serious! Lead by Bryan Wilson, at each meeting we taste and discuss 4 different wines. We quite often have cheese and nibbles to complement the wine if we can keep within our budget.
95% of the wine we taste is bought locally in order that the members can easily buy a bottle on the way home!
At Christmas we have a light 3 course meal with wines and extra tastings (this involves an extra charge). We always have an "end of term" party, but for this we go to a restaurant- if possible one where we can take our own wine.
We are a very friendly crowd and everyone takes as much or as little as they want from these meetings, even if it is only quietly enjoying the wine and having a chat with other members. Our limit that we can accommodate is 30 - but we can take in a few more members: because of holidays etc we often have a spare place or two at most meetings.
The whole joy of wine tasting is tasting with others and finding out our likes and dislikes Anyone who is interested in spending a relaxing afternoon in lovely surroundings is welcome to join us.
There is a charge of £3 to £5 per meeting.
Reports
July 2008
Firstly we must say how sorry we were to lose one of our initial members - Joyce Dean. Joyce enjoyed the meetings because for once she was not one of the organisers and she relaxed and enjoyed the afternoon. There very few meetings that Joyce missed - even though at times she was probably not very well.
Our last wine tasting sessions ended with our Summer Evening outing which was held at the Hideaway at Lupton - for once it was a perfect summer evening. It was enjoyed by 35 members and friends.
We are enjoying the break but will be ready and refreshed with some different tastings when we commence again on the 11th September. Please let me know as soon as possible if you will not be joining us.
Just a little reminder- Wine has gone up 14p per bottle and the 50p up to 70p- so get saving!!!
Look forward to seeing you again - keep the taste buds going.
Jean Wilson
March 2008
It is now 11 years since the group formed and we are still enjoying our Thursday afternoon monthly tastings - if not always the wine the company!!
The Christmas tasting was once again a success with Dorothy Cannon and her team supplying the food and “waiting on us”.
January we tasted French organic wines from the same vineyard which was was very interesting. February, which happened to be Valentines Day, we tasted English wines - more of a fun tasting - another enjoyable afternoon.
Our summer evening is not yet finalised but will be on the 8th of May - NO meeting in the afternoon. We will then break for the summer resuming again on September 11th 2008.
Jean Wilson
November 2007
A very well attended group are now back enjoying our monthly Thursday afternoons appreciating different wines. The wines are not always to everyone's liking but this is the purpose of the group, trying different wines which enables us to find out our personal preference. Having said that there never appears to be any wine left in anyone's glasses so we think they must be enjoying the research!!!!.
In October a number of our group had a day out with other wine lovers at the Longlands Hotel when we had the chance of tasting 150 wines and some managed a walk by the canal! A reminder to our members: the Christmas tasting which is rather special will be on the 13th December.
Jean Wilson
Wine Appreciation Group 2 - Meeting Details
| Frequency | Monthly (September to May) |
| Time | 2.00 pm, on the fourth Thursday of the Month |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Location | Abbot Hall Social Centre |
| Coordinator | Barbara Mason |
What we do
Our group began in January 2002 and has built up to a very friendly group who have great fun "traveling the world" finding out about the different Wines and the Countries that they come from. Sometimes we have a slide film show to give a better idea of what a country is like. This included our own English wine industry, which some people know little about.
We aim to enjoy tasting 4 to 5 different wines to learn and discover which of the world's grapes we like best. Some people enjoy taking notes for future reference while others just relax and enjoy the experience and the congenial company.
Our Christmas Party (involving some additional cost) is always a very jolly affair and on this day it is recommended to use public transport.
The group at 30 members is fully subscribed at the moment but we have waiting list in operation for those wishing to join us in the future. People on the waiting list can take part in meetings that are not fully attended.
There is a charge of £3 to £5 per meeting.
Reports
July 2008
We will be starting our meeting again on Thursday September 25th 2.00pm at Abbot Hall Social Centre, with a mystery wine tasting, so thinking caps on.
Our group is still fully booked but for anyone interested in joining us I am willing to add you to my waiting list. Please do let me know, as not everyone can attend each month and there may be room for the odd visit or two to our group. Just give me a call.
Barbara Mason
January 2008
We ended our year in December with a Three Course Dinner accompanied by some very good wines, which I was assured everyone enjoyed to the full. January found us sampling the delights of Cabernet Sauvignon, while in February we tasted some robust Shiraz.
I am afraid my books are still full but for anyone interested in joining us I am willing to add you to my waiting list. Please do let me know, as not everyone can attend each month and there may be room for the odd visit or two to our group. Just give me a call.
Barbara Mason
July 2007
Our last meeting in May was a very enjoyable dinner at Wilf’s Café in Staveley accompanied by some excellent wines. At the moment we have a couple of spare places, so anyone wishing to join a lively group when we reconvene on Thursday September 27th only have to call me. The only equipment you need is a sense of humour, a water glass and a pen in case you want to make some notes.
Barbara Mason
March 2007
We now have two spare places for anyone wishing to join our friendly group, who each month try to learn more about different wines, with a tasting of course. All you require is a drinking glass for water and a pen and a good sense of humour. Everything else is provided.
Any interested members who would like to join us please contact me.
Our group meets on the fourth Thursday every month (with the exception of this month when we will be meeting on Thursday 29th March) at 2 p.m. in the Abbot Hall Social Centre.
Barbara Mason