Wine Appreciation

Convenor: Bob Robson Tel : 01633 892182

Meetings: Every second Tuesday of the month

We meet in members houses. Apart from the walking groups, we are the only one who do not meet at Shaftesbury Street but in the homes of the group members. As the name implies we meet to try different wines, selected by the host for the evening. Each of the hosts pick a theme for the evening. For example the same grape variety from different continents or, as last night Fair Trade ones.

How much do we drink? Our normal group consists of twelve members so a bottle of wine has to go a long way and it is only about an inch in each glass. We usually try three white wines and three red ones so by the end of the evening you have had less than two units of alcohol. The host provides a few nibbles to help to clear the pallet between wines and to help to absorb some of the alcohol.

Each wine is assessed and discussions range from ˜Don't like that! to the various flavours and lingering tastes found by our members. The group members have, over the years, found that their tastes have changed and now enjoy wines they wouldn't even try at one time.

What does it cost? We add up the total cost of the wines (the host can pick bottles that cost up to about £12, but usually the average cost per bottle is £5 to £6) and we then divide that sum by the number present and that the cost per person, usually averaging out at about £4 to £5 maximum per person.

As I said at the beginning we are, when we meet, a wine tasting group not a wine swigging one. What we do the rest of the time is up to us.