August 11th 2026
We celebrated our 40th Anniversary with a party in our usual location but with table decorations illustrating events in 1986 and enjoyed listening to a very talented singer Martin McCafferty.
We tasted the following wines:
Louis Bouillot, Crémant de Bourgogne, Grande Reserve
A Nuits Saint George French Bubbly from Burgandy.Grapes are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Aligoté, and Gamay. Pale yellow colour with green tints. A complex nose with aromas of peach and then nuances of flower. Lively, fresh attack with a good harmony between red fruits and citrus. The finish is lovely and well-balanced.
Traisental, Grüner Veltliner 2025
An Austrian Grüner Veltliner Single Estate white wine. Traisental D.A.C. Qualitätswein. Made exclusively for Waitrose & Partners by the talented Markus Huber, at his family-run winery in the Traisental Valley. Elegant, fruity and refreshing, with notes of crisp green apple as well as richer tropical fruit flavours and a light twist of characteristic spice. This is a brilliantly versatile wine with food; try with a peppery rocket salad, grilled fish or paired with aromatic Asian flavours.
Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, a favourite from Marlborough New Zealand
This is the Sauvignon Blanc that put Villa Maria on the world map. A blend of both Marlborough’s Wairau and Awatere Valleys thier winemakers take great care to ensure this wine showcases exceptional balance and consistency every vintage. Initially, the cool climate Awatere aromas jump out of the glass, displaying lime, lemongrass, and fresh herbs. In contrast, the warmer Wairau Valley vineyards produce heady aromatics reminiscent of grapefruit and tropical fruit flavours.
Bijou de Sophie Valrose, Vallée Du Paradis – French Rosé
A fine blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Caladoc and Syrah, beautifully pale and elegantly fragrant, with aromas of wild strawberries, citrus and delicate floral notes by a female winemaker.
This is a beautifully pale, salmon-coloured rosé. Elegantly fragrant, with aromas of wild strawberries, citrus and delicate floral notes. Round and creamy on the palate, with a refreshing acidity and silky smooth finish. The grapes are harvested early in the morning when temperatures are cooler in order preserve fresh acidity and balanced sugar levels.
Great to pair with watermelon and Greek feta salad; Mexican fish tacos, tomato and red onion quiche.
Valpolicella Ripasso – Italian classic made from Amarone
This wine is Denominazione di Origine Controllata. Local grapes from northern Italy’s Valpolicella region are crushed and passed or poured through rich dried grapes for enhanced richness and complexity. This technique creates a bold wine full of dark fruit flavours with a dark colour, a rich texture and a complex and smooth mocha finish. Pairs with: Spaghetti meatballs, pulled pork, braised butternut and Red Leicester cheese.
Barolo – an Italian classic made from Nebbiolo
Hailing from the Barolo appellation in Piedmont, northeastern Italy, Barolo is renowned for quality. Barolo is made solely from Nebbiolo, a grape variety that, despite its thin skins, is known for strong tannins, high acidity, and profound floral aromas. They are not heavyweights, but are full of an amazing array of flavours that some compare to Burgundy. When young, Barolo has intense notes of cherry, plum and the subtle elegance of rose petals. You should also look for hints of tobacco, white pepper, anise and an intriguing tar-like nuance. As it ages, Barolo mellows but never loses its vibrancy.
Rioja Grand Reserva
A nice combination of the modern and traditional styles of Rioja, this blend of Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo was made for Sainsbury’s by the talented María Larrea of CVNE in Haro. Aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels, it’s a structured, focused, well-balanced red from a cooler, more Atlantic-influenced vintage, with flavours of blackberry, plum, liquorice and vanilla spice and enough tannic backbone to age further in bottle.
Morador High Altitude Vineyard Malbec, Uco Valley 2023 – Argentinian Red from Mendoza
Intense black fruits with a hint of violet; Malbec is Argentina’s best known grape variety. Well-structured with soft & velvety tannins. This is a full-bodied and robust red packed with flavours of blackcurrant and damson. Its intensity and power is tempered by smooth, silky tannins.
The grapes are grown in the sunny valleys of the Andes mountains and the wine made at the state of the art La Casa del Rey winery. This intense and fruity red is the perfect match for beef.
July 14th 2026
Penny Hollington
Lady Penelope Wines
‘Celebrity wines, the good, the bad, and the unexpected!’.
Penny led a blind tasting of the following wines with members guessing the celebrity:
Balfour Winery ‘Botham & Balfour Legend Series’ Brut Reserve NV, Kent
Gary Barlow Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa
Two Paddocks Picnic Riesling, Central Otago, NZ (Sam Neill)
Kylie Minogue Vin De Provence Rose
Miraval ‘Sainte Victoire’ Rosé, Côtes de Provence (Brad Pitt)
Gordon Ramsay Intenso Rosso, Central Italy
Ernie Els Big Easy, Red Blend, Stellenbosch
Francis Coppola Diamond Collection, Zinfandel, California
June 9th 2026
Dan Belmont
Good Wine Good People
Dan presented a selection of Coastal Spanish Wines
Aranleon, Solo Cava – NV
Aranleon, Solo Blanco – 2025
Aranleon, Solo Tinto – 2022
Montesanco, Mon Moscatel – 2024
Hacienda La Parrilla, El Pinto Palomino – 2025
Hacienda la Parrilla, El Pinto Tintilla de Rota – 2024
Mas de l’Abundància, Flvminis – 2022
Mas de l’Abundància, Hema – 2024
May 12th 2026
Stuart Doran
In Vino Veritas
Stuart presented an excellent selection of Italian Wines:
April 14th 2026
Preet Sahota
Edgmond Wines
Preet presented the following wines from South Africa and New Zealand:
White wines
Rebeland Cape White Blend 2021
Ceres Pinot Gris 2019
Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2019
Red wines
Smith & Co Pinot Noir 2021
Nederburg Winemasters Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 –
Villa Esposto Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2023 e
Seifried Cabernet Franc 2021
Sweet wine
Villa Esposto Muscat d’Alexandrie 2025
March 10th 2026
Lisa
Lion Wines
Eclectic Wines from various countries
Devaux Rose Champagne
Vermintino white
Holy Snail Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc
700 Thespians Assyrtiko from Greece
Jean Leon 3055 Spanish Rose
Corvina Red from Veneto
Devils Staircase Pinot Noir from New Zealand
Banfi Centine Tuscan red
February 10th 2026
AGM
‘Would I lie to you’ tasting and quiz
The AGM took place this evening followed by a wine quiz ‘Would I Lie to You’.
For every wine there were three choices – whether you thought it was wine A, wine B or wine C. These were the wines we tasted:
Wine 1
Made according to the Methode Traditionnelle, this Rose Cremant de Loire is aged in limestone caves to preserve its finesse. The blend of Cabernet Franc and Grolleau grapes produce delicate aromas of strawberries, cherries and citrus fruits, while the palate is lively and pleasantly fruity. Perfect as an aperitif or in combination with light dishes and fruit desserts.
Wine 2
This Macon Villages wine is full of fresh, citrus aromas and flavours with hints of green apple, this is an unoaked, crisp and elegant wine made from the Chardonnay grape. The grapes for this wine have been selected from some of the best vineyards of the Mâconnais region of southern Burgundy where the warmer climate and limestone rich soils produce exceptional wines. An easy-drinking wine that is delicious with creamy pasta and chicken.
Wine 3
Martín Códax Albariño 2024 is a Galician gem that dazzles with its straw-yellow hue and lemon highlights. On the nose, it envelops you with a bouquet of flowers such as mimosa and jasmine, alongside vibrant notes of orange and grapefruit that perfectly complement the freshness of apple. On the palate, its enveloping texture and balanced acidity stand out. The persistence of its flavour, where white-fleshed and citrus fruits predominate, invites you to savour every sip.
Wine 4
Journey’s End has one of the best views in the Cape, overlooking the magnificent False Bay. Low yielding Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were hand picked, with fruit cold soaked for 72 hours prior to fermentation in open fermenters. With 18 months barrel ageing, this richly curvaceous wine is packed with dark plum, chocolate and sweet spice flavours, enjoy with a rich steak pie.
Wine 5
Montecillo Reserva 2020 Rioja boasts an alluring bright ruby-red hue and a luscious texture. On the nose, it is distinguished by its intense aromas of ripe red fruits, such as cherries and strawberries, complemented by aromatic herbs. Its elegant bouquet from the 95% tempranillo/5% mazuelo grapes blend spicy notes and vanilla, with an undertone of cherries in liqueur. On the palate, it offers a powerful and refined entry, with velvety tannins and a solid structure. Try with charcuterie or strong cheese.
Wine 6
Over 130 years ago, the 1st generation of the Silva family pioneered Colchagua Valley, the region today producing Chile’s finest premium wines. This Carmenere is from the Los Lingues Estate tucked away in the Northeastern corner of Colchagua Valley in the foothills of the Andes mountains. This wine, of superlative colour, has great concentration of silky elegant tannins, hints of chocolate and a very long finish. Enjoy with a good barbecued steak.
January 13th 2026
Malcolm Brigg
Sauvignon Blanc & Syrah/Shiraz
Malcolm Brigg, one of our own members and an oenophile to boot, led an immersive tasting of premium Sauvignon Blanc & Syrah/Shiraz wines:
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Olivier Dubois Touraine, Loire, France 2024 – Majestic
Pringle Bay, Western Cape, South Africa, 2024 – Majestic
L’Epiphanie De Constantinia, False Bay, South Africa – Laithwaites
Roger Neveu Sancerre, Verdigny, Loire, France 2024 – Majestic
SHIRAZ/SYRAH
McLaren Vale, Australia, Shiraz 2023 – Laithwaites
Bannockburn Geelong Shiraz, Australia 2022 – Wine Society
TH Layda, Syrah, Chile – Wine Society
Cornas Patou, Rhone, France 2021 – Wine Society