About Us
We have about 60 members and attendance at meetings averages 30-40. We welcome anyone interested in learning more about wine from total beginners to experts (be assured there are no 'wine snobs'). Meetings are based on informal tutored tastings where the guest speaker presents a range of 8 wines based on a particular topic and tells us about the wine makers and growers and the region's characteristics. Our topics are wide-ranging and include wines from a particular a grower/estate, region, country or grape variety. Our talks have included Old World Europe, East Europe, New World, Middle East, India. Nearly all our speakers are external and include Masters of Wine, members of the Association of Wine Educators and experienced speakers from major importers, distributors and retailers.
The tastings provide opportunities to try wines you might not otherwise ever experience, and to learn more about how wine is made and how vineyards are managed. Our programme includes a fine wine tasting each year when we are lucky enough to try very expensive top quality and sometimes rare wines. And you can often buy the wines you have enjoyed as many speakers offer discounts on wines purchased from the tastings - so you can add more variety to the wines you drink at home at home.
Some of our recent topics and speakers have included -
Burgundy by Alun Griffiths MW
Wines of the Loire by Heather Dougherty, Red, White & Rose
Portuguese Wines from the Douro by Robert Boutflower, Tanners of Shrewsbury
South African New Wave Wine Makers by Nik Darlington, Red Squirel Wines
Matching Wine and Chocolate, by Chris Scott, ThirtyFifty
Port and Sherry, by Charles Minoprio MW
The Valleys of South Australia, by Tim Syrad
Wines from Hungary's Volcanic Soils, by Wines of Hungary
Our Committee
We have a dedicated group of members who arrange for speakers at future meetings, events etc. This is the Committee:
William Cowpe, Chairman
Max Hubbard, Secretary
Tim Thackeray, Membership Secretary
Michael McAleenan, Treasurer
Mick Linsell, Webmaster
Tanja Lambe, Committee Member.
How to find us
We meet at the Conservative Club in Ivy Lane , which is off Downing Street, Farnham in Surrey every month, usually on the third Monday. 7:00 is the start time for a welcome drink with the presentation at 8.00. This allows for an informal drink before the meeting and a chance to chat with friends.
