Dear SPWC Members
First came Goretti, then Ingrid and then Chandra dumped some more rain on already saturated ground. Apparently, Argos have run out of arks due to the wet weather. Believe it or not, the next two storms named by the Met Office are to be Dave and Eddie (weren’t they a 70s pop duo?). It seems like these storms are becoming far more frequent. Some sun and dry weather would be most welcome.
Last Month’s Meeting
Another excellent turnout enjoyed a great evening in the company of Natalie Walsh who presented us with some top wines from the Te Kano Estate in Otago, New Zealand and gave us a real insight into how the vineyard operates. It was a thoroughly interesting and informative evening and I have a sneaking suspicion that we might well be seeing Natalie again in the not-too-distant future. Let’s hope so.
This Month’s Meeting
February’s meeting will, as usual, consist of two parts. The first will be taken up by our Annual General Meeting and you will all have received the papers and the agenda by email. There is still the chance for people to stand for the committee and, unlike in certain other quarters, nobody will be barred from putting their name forward. Please let Tracy know if you’re interested.
Once the AGM is done and dusted, we can get onto the serious business of tasting some wines in a presentation by Barbara and Heather entitled “A Toast to Wine and Lovers”. I’m told that there may even be a personal appearance by Cupid himself. That’s not to be missed so we look forward to seeing you on Thursday 12th.
Wine of the month – Crémant de Loire, France,12% ABV
Coming from the chalky soils of the beautiful Loire valley, this crémant is made from cabernet franc and grolleau grapes, using the “methode traditionelle”. The vineyard is called Mlle Ladubay which was founded as far back as 1851 and the soft stone of the region has been excavated to create miles of cellars which are perfect for ageing this elegant wine. The delicious fizz of the wine is bursting with flavours of redcurrant with notes of melon. It’s a perfect wine to drink at a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner and goes especially well with smoked salmon and other fish dishes. This Crémant de Loire is part of the Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference range and is currently retailing at £12.25, though you can get 25% off if you buy three bottles.
Coming Up
The new committee, once sworn in, will be meeting very soon to discuss a number of options for events for the coming year which we hope to be able to publish in the March issue of The Grapevine. If you have any ideas for events for the wine circle, then please share them with a member of the committee. Similarly, we hope to be able to pass on details of our speakers for the year ahead but, just as a reminder, on Thursday March 12th we will be welcoming back Carrie Winton, of Sparkle and Spirit, for what is bound to be a great evening.
Did You Know?
The city of Bordeaux in south west France, an area renowned for its fine wines, has a museum dedicated to wine. The Cité du Vin has various exhibitions covering such topics as Terroirs of the World, The Vine Grower’s Year, The History of the Vine and Wine Conquering the World, as well as galleries devoted to the Vineyards of Bordeaux itself. Naturally, there is an opportunity to taste some wines, including an area where you can discover which wines best reflect your personality. Well worth a visit if you happen to be in that neck of the woods.
I hope to see you all on the 12th.
Very best wishes,
Goff
30th January 2026