Dear SPWC Members
Well, goodbye wet September! Apparently, we had record rainfall last month which I am sure will come as no surprise to most of you. I am probably dating myself here but I keep on being reminded of that old song by Alan Sherman “Hello mother, hello father” in which he sings “And they say we'll have some fun if it stops raining”. If you remember that song (it came out in 1963!!), then you’re as old as me. Mind you, October hasn’t exactly started on a dry note, has it?
Last Month’s Meeting
Heather and I were really sorry (well, actually not that sorry because we were enjoying some sunshine in Borneo) to have missed Carrie Winton, because she is now one of the highlights of our year. I gather she was in excellent form and brought with her some lovely, affordable wines. Needless to say, we will be inviting her back next year and we’ll try not to miss her. Many thanks to Martyn who stood in for Heather and to Kevin who ran the cellar on the night.
This Month’s Meeting
October marks another welcome return. This time it’s Mike Buckingham from Majestic wines who will be entertaining us. At time of going to press, I am not sure what Mike’s theme will be but please watch the website for updates.
Wine of the Month - Co-op Fairtrade Irresistible Organic Malbec, Argentina 12.5%ABV
I think a few of us might have been deterred from buying organic wines after the presentation we had a couple of years ago but there are some excellent organic wines out there and what better, as we plunge headlong into autumn, than to try this hearty organic malbec? Produced by one of Argentina's most respected winemakers, Rodolfo Griguol this 100% malbec comes from high altitude vineyards growing in the remote, picturesque Famatina Valley in North West Argentina. It's full-bodied wine and bursting with plum, cherry and jam aromas. Co-Op recently celebrated 30 years of promoting Fairtrade products such as wine and coffee in which they aim to support and promote local farmers and workers to improve their livelihoods and boost local communities. This malbec is available from the Co-Op for £9.
Restaurant of The Month – Nonno’s Trattoria, Station Approach, Hayes
If you’ve taken the bus through Hayes recently, you might have noticed that there is a new Italian restaurant just along the road from The Real Ale Way micropub. However, the owner, Egidio Marino, may be familiar to some of you because he was previously involved with Ze Teresa in Beckenham and Gi in West Wickham. The restaurant prides itself on creating authentic dishes that burst with the familiar flavours of southern Italy. Pasta dishes form the basis of the main menu with seafood featuring prominently but there is also a good choice of meat and fish dishes. The two course lunch menu, available from Wednesday to Saturday, is excellent value at £11.95 (three courses for £14.50) and there is a very good selection of largely Italian wines on offer at reasonable prices.
Social Events
The next event is a trip to the annual Country Living Christmas Fair at The Business Design Centre in Islington on Saturday November 16th. The event takes place close to The Angel tube station so is easily accessible via train and tube from London Bridge. The fair features artisan gifts, hand-made crafts, jewellery and decorative items, as well as a splendid food and drinks hall featuring wines, spirits, cheeses, chutneys, sweets and pastries. Please see the Country Living website for further details. Tickets can be purchased online on that site. Please let Heather know if you would like to attend.
On Saturday, December 14th, we’re planning a gentle stroll through The South Bank Christmas Market, followed by Borough Market. The plan is to take the train from Hayes to Charing Cross and then walk over Hungerford Bridge to The South Bank to enjoy the market, entertainment and, who knows, may be a glass or two of mulled wine. We’ll then carry on to Borough Market to sample some of the varied food and drink items before retiring to a local hostelry for an early dinner. We’ll head back home from London Bridge.
The main date for your diary is our Christmas meal which will take place at Tugra Turkish restaurant in Hayes on Tuesday, December 17th from 7 pm. We will have our own room in the basement of the restaurant where the bar will be open until midnight. It will be a cash bar on the evening. Full details of the menu with the cost will be available very soon and we will publish these on our website (springparkwinecircle.org). I know many of you have already signed up for the evening, which is fantastic, but there is still plenty of time for others to join us.
Did You Know?
Last month’s heavy rains and damp conditions have caused problems for vineyards in the south of England. The wet weather means there is a greater chance of rot as fungus thrives in moist conditions. Thick cloud cover also slows the ripening of grapes and rainwater is absorbed into the berries which reduces the sugar concentration and acidity. As a result, this year’s harvest will most likely be delayed from late September until mid or late October.
Best wishes to all,
Goff
1st October 2024