Here is where I try to entice you into joining a tasting group. Mine, preferably—though, by all means, Google up someone else if you must. Just do it anyway: join a tasting group!
If you are not the sort who reads manuals before learning how not to use your Sky box—don't bother reading any further. Just take the plunge and come see for yourself what we are up to.
Below, you will find a link to our forthcoming tastings. If you get in early, you will be able to stake your claim to a date, and to vote for the theme to be explored on the evening. If not, book yourself a place regardless--and just take it as it comes.
Should you be of a more cautious disposition, allow me briefly to explain what we are about.
We are a bunch of people who enjoy wine, and we gather to do just that. But also to expand our horisons.
For, while it is probably less of a hassle to enjoy wine in the comfort of one's own home, it is also a bit of a dead end. You're stuck with what you know, and, often, with what you've tasted before. We take the trouble to search out exciting wines; to learn more about these; and to meet up—because we all have learnt that we enjoy wine far more when we put a bit of effort into it.
Or rather: when I put effort into it. The only requirement of my happy group is that they should heed my gentle reminders and actually arrive on the night.
We meet once a month, in a relaxed setting. Not the pub. (Thanks, Neil, for volunteering your offices so we can have more money to spend on wine!) I introduce the theme, and we open our first bottle shortly afterwards, with my explaining what it is; why I chose it; and how it fits in with the evening's topic. Then everyone has a go. Mostly at the wine.
During the course of a typical evening, we would sample six to eight bottles of whichever wine region, grape variety, or wine-related theme we chose for the night. All this is thirsty work, so we like ending the evening with a few cheeses and nibbles over the remainder of the wines.
Have a look the section on Tuscany, under Wine Region of the Month, for an example of my notes and handouts for our "Tuscany" evening.
