Upton’s Wine Appreciation Club final tasting of the year in May saw members of the club presenting wines that were significant to them.
A Cremant d’Alsace provided a sparkling start to the evening, followed by a sauvignon blanc and a Verdicchio accompanied by evocative tales of life in an Italian village beset by the occasional earthquake. A dry Tokaji allowed its presenter to reminisce widely and amusingly on a range of subjects from the volcanic wines of the Canary Islands to high quality German fizz which never makes the export market. Reds included a Costieres de Nimes from Aldi and a brazen Barossa Valley Shiraz. But the final wine was a real mystery – an intensely aromatic red, infused with quinine and with significant residual sugar, called Byrrh Grand Quinquina. Definitely something I’ll be considering as we move into mosquito season in South Oxfordshire!
This fun and friendly event, drawing on the interests and enthusiasm of our members, provided a fitting conclusion to the year’s tastings. We now have the annual club barbecue to look forward to in June, before our annual sabbatical. Looking forward to next season, if you would like to enjoy a glass of wine in convivial surroundings, perhaps learning a bit along the way, then why not join us? We meet in the Village Hall, and welcome everyone with an interest in wine. We usually taste four white and four red wines per meeting – small tasting measures, so as to avoid any deleterious effects! We try to cater for all tastes and recognise that club evenings are also enjoyed as a village social and chance to meet with other village residents. With a membership of around 60 villagers, we regularly welcome more than 30 to each meeting and make a special effort to welcome new members from the village. If you’re interested, you are very welcome to come along to your first meeting as a guest. The more the merrier!
William Betts
Chair