Dear SPWC Members
This is to remind everyone and to inform those who weren’t at the August meeting, that we will be moving venue in October so September’s meeting will be our last, at least for the time being, in the scout hall. From October we are moving to Shirley Library which is a super venue and will afford us a bit more space, provide us with more comfortable seating and is probably easier for members to reach than the scout hall. It even has a fridge that we can use so will make an excellent new home for us.
Last Month’s Meeting
Richard Jacquard gave us a very interesting presentation on wines from Italy and certainly gave us some food for thought as far as wine tasting is concerned. He clearly put an awful amount of effort into the evening and deserves a lot of credit for his professionalism. Many thanks.
This Month’s Meeting
On Thursday September 10th we welcome back Eleanor Cogill of Majestic Wines to SPWC. Eleanor was one of our star speakers last year when she gave a very polished presentation and I am sure we are going to be equally well entertained this time when Eleanor’s theme will be “Wines of the World”. I hope to see you all there.
Wine of the Month – Trivento White Malbec, Argentina 10.5%
White Malbec is produced using red Malbec grapes but with minimal skin contact, resulting in a clear, pale wine rather than the deep red typical of Malbec. This style, sometimes called a “blanc de noir,” is a relatively recent innovation in Argentina, first appearing around 2011, and has gained popularity for its refreshing, light character. The grapes are harvested early to preserve acidity and pressed immediately to avoid pigmentation. This particular wine comes from the popular Trivento Vineyard in the Mendoza Valley of Argentina. Trivento means “three winds” and was founded in 1996. It’s dry and crisp with a refreshing finish and doesn’t remind me in the least of bike sheds or pencil shavings. It’s great with fish, chicken and salads. Available from Tesco for £9 or £7 if you have a club card.
Annual Walk – Hampstead Heath, Saturday 1st August
A select group of walkers braved the hot temperatures for a lovely walk from Highgate to Hampstead across the Heath via Kenwood House and Parliament Hill at the beginning of August and were later joined for dinner by other members at the Zara Turkish restaurant in Hampstead village. I understand that the heat caused the group to stop several times for liquid refreshments – at least, they blamed the heat for the many pit stops. Many thanks to Paul and Suzanne for organising a great day.
(See *Social Events* for photos and more detail)
Garden Party – Sunday 23rd August
The annual garden party took place in Sue and Den’s lovely back garden and once again proved to be a memorable afternoon. More than 40 members and guests were present on a sunny afternoon though fortunately the temperature was in the mid-20s rather than the upper 30s we had been experiencing in the not too distant past. Once again, a massive thank you must go to Sue and Den for opening up their garden and for all their hard work in ensuring that we all enjoyed a great afternoon. Thanks also go to those who prepared food in advance and who helped on the day, especially Andy in his very smart apron, who assisted Den with the cooking. You will see form the attached photos that there were some very colourful shirts on view and I can only assume that several blokes won their bets for sporting them.
(See *Social Events* for photos and more detail)
Coming Up
After all the exertions of the last few weeks – Meopham, Hampstead Heath and the Garden Party - it’s good to have a bit of a breather while we concentrate on making arrangements for the transition to Shirley Library in October. However, I will just remind you of the two events we have organised. Firstly, the trip to Agra Indian restaurant on Tuesday October 13th for an evening of curry and entertainment and, secondly, our Christmas meal at The George in Hayes which takes place on Friday December 4th. The menu and cost of the food for the evening are not yet available but as soon as I have them, I will circulate to members. There is still ample opportunity for you to sign up for both events if you haven’t yet done so.
Nominated Charity 2026
There is still a chance for you to nominate a charity to be the recipient of this year’s Christmas fund raising so if you can think of a deserving charity, preferably one with a local connection, then please let the committee know. The charity chosen will be announced at the October meeting.
Did You Know?
I am grateful to Tracy for discovering this story. There is a station in south London that has its very own vineyard. The micro vineyard has 25 Bacchus vines and last year produced their first bottles. Okay, there were only two but everyone has to start somewhere. The vines are tended by the Camberwell Society and the station in question is Denmark Hill. Have a look next time you’re passing through there.
Very best wishes
Goff
1st September 2026