Dear SPWC Members
As we fast approach the end of the year, it’s worth reminding ourselves that next month, December, we celebrate our golden jubilee. SPWC was formed in December 1975 and the first meeting of the circle took place the following month. To mark the occasion, we hope to raise a record amount of money for this year’s chosen charity which is the Alzheimer’s Society. Our December meeting will feature a giant tombola so if you have anything at home that you feel would make an appropriate prize for the tombola, please let either Tracy or Heather know and we will add it to our growing list of items.
Last Month’s Meeting
October’s meeting saw the debut of our own Bob Shambler who spoke eloquently about English wines. Feedback on the evening was excellent so we owe a big debt of gratitude to Bob for what was a most enjoyable evening with some very good wines illustrating just how far the English wine industry has progressed in recent times.
This Month’s Meeting
Our next meeting takes place on Thursday, November 13th when we welcome a new speaker to SPWC. Teresa Seamer is co-proprietor of The Maid of Kent wine bar in Tonbridge High Street and she will be talking to us about some of the wines which she sells in the wine bar which largely come from small producers in Spain and Italy. Several members have visited The Maid of Kent and sampled some of those wines – purely in the interests of research you understand – and the quality is excellent. I’m sure we’ll all have another great evening and look forward to seeing you.
Wine of the Month – Greasy Fingers Luscious Red, Australia 12.2%
G’day, mate. There is an Australian theme to this month’s cellar wines. Amongst them is this Greasy Fingers luscious red which sounds like the ideal wine for car mechanics or oil rig workers but is actually seen as the perfect accompaniment to a burger. A mixture of shiraz and grenache grapes, this wine is medium-bodied with hints of cherries, strawberries and spices. It’s low in tannins and good to drink on its own as well as with fast food. Greasy Fingers is available from Tesco for £10.25 but there is currently 25% off if you buy six bottles which would bring the price down to under eight quid.
Trip to Rochester Christmas Market - Saturday November 29th
We are arranging a day out on Saturday, November 29th to the Christmas market in Rochester.
One of the best markets in Kent, it features crafts, foods and wines, a funfair and a huge number of stalls selling Christmas themed gifts and seasonal items. We will travel by train from Bromley South. It is an easy journey (only about half an hour) with no changes involved. No doubt we will end our day in time honoured fashion with a meal and a glass or two at a local hostelry.
Christmas 2025
Several members have already signed up for our Christmas meal which takes place on Monday December 8th at The Agra Indian restaurant at Eden Park. The restaurant will be ours for the evening so we can make as mush noise and merriment as we like. The menu for the evening appears below. The cost of the evening is an absolute snip at £20 per person and that includes entertainment. We would be grateful if those members who haven’t yet paid for the evening could do so at the next meeting so that we can settle with the restaurant in advance and pass them final numbers.
Sanderstead Probus Presentation Evening
Last Friday evening (October 24th), some of the committee gave a presentation to the Sanderstead branch of Probus after their chair had visited our website and invited us along to their group. Heather devised and presented an edition of “Posh or Plonk”, ably assisted by Sue Gigney, Martyn and somewhat less so by myself. The presentation was extremely well received by the thirty or so members who attended, so much so that they have invited us back next year. The most important aspect of the evening was that, after we deducted the cost of wine and nibbles, we raised nearly £420 for our chosen charity which is a huge amount and reflected the generosity of the Probus members and thoroughly justified all the hard work that went into the evening.
SPWC 50th Anniversary Coasters
These beautifully created Spring Park Wine Circle 50th anniversary coaster sets featuring six different designs celebrating our golden jubilee are now on sale for the price of £20 per set, £5 of which will go to our chosen charity. 18 sets have already been sold but if you haven’t already ordered a set, you can do so at this month’s meeting. They really are special and unique to SPWC and make an excellent gift.
Did You Know?
From February 1st the government introduced changes to the amount of import duty charged on a bottle of wine. Previously there had been a flat charge of £2.23 per bottle of still wine between 8% and 15% ABV (£2.86 for sparkling wine) but there is now a more complicated scale dependent on the amount of alcohol by volume. For example, a wine of 10% ABV attracts a charge of £2.14 per bottle but for one of 14.5% this increases to £3.10. For each additional 0.5% in alcohol, the import duty increases by 10 or 11 pence per bottle. This is why we are now seeing wines with unusual ABV contents such as 12.2% (as in the Greasy Fingers above) and 14.9%. The import duty on that bottle of Greasy Fingers red is £2.57 but this would have risen to £2.67 had the wine been 12.5% ABV. It’s all very difficult. For a bottle of wine costing £8 with and ABV of 12.5%, you are now paying half of that £8 to the taxman (£2.67 in import duty and £1.33 in VAT). Food for thought.
Shirley Neighbourhood Care
There are a couple of SNC events coming up in which members may be interested. On Friday, November 7th there is a volunteer recruitment coffee morning at Shirley Methodist Church from 1030 until 1200. This is a free event and everyone is welcome. Secondly, SNC will be holding a quiz night at St George’s Church, Elstan Way, Shirley, on Friday 28th November commencing at 6.30. For more information on both events, please speak to Barbara or refer to the poster.
Very best wishes,
Goff
1st November 2025