A Time with Friends

 

As we turn the last few pages in the diary for 2021 and reflect on the year, it is hard to believe it would turn out to be so similar to 2020, if not quite as bad. As far as I can remember (it’s a year ago now and the memory has faded somewhat) we did not have a wine club event in November 2020 (there is no evidence of it on the blog). So, there is one improvement we did manage in 2021.

The November meeting is the final soiree of the year for the Wine Club. It is a time to come together to relax and to chat with friends and have fun, this year in the form of a quiz created by one of the members of the new committee, Mark Stuart-Thomlinson.

In former years, a large table would have been set up at one end of the village hall onto which everyone piled a veritable feast of homemade dishes. The result is a table groaning under the weight of a magnificent buffet. This year, however, the sharing of food was restricted to individual tables, but a fine fare was still had by all.

As is the tradition, the Wine Club supplied the wines on the night and as expected the choice was excellent. For those wishing to pop to their local supplier to get wines from the selection provided on the night, they were:

Frexinet Cordon Negro Brut (Cava)

• Grape Variety: Macabeo/Parellada/Xarel-lo blend
• Alcohol Content: 11.5%
  
• Vineyard: Frexinet
• Region: Catalonia
• Country of Origin: Spain

Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc

• Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
• Alcohol Content: 13%
• Vineyard: Stoneleigh
• Region: Marlborough
• Country of Origin: New Zealand

Yealands Sauvignon Blanc

• Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
• Alcohol Content: 12.5%
• Vineyard: Yealands Wines
• Region: Marlborough
• Country of Origin: New Zealand

Graffigna Malbec Reserva

• Grape Variety: Malbec
• Alcohol Content: 13.5%
• Vineyard: Graffigna
• Region: Pedernal Valley
• Country of Origin: Argentina

Porta 6 (Red)

• Grape Variety: Tinta Roriz (50%), Castelão (40%), Touriga Nacional (10%)
• Alcohol Content: 13.5%
• Vineyard: Vidigal
• Region: Liboa
• Country of Origin: Portugal

The label is an original painting by Hauke Vagt, an eccentric German painter, who lives in Lisbon.

The quiz was quite testing. Four rounds with some, naturally, focusing on wine. For those wishing to be reminded of the top 10 wine producing countries they are (as of 2020);

1. Italy 4,910,000,000 litres
2. France 4,660,000,000 litres
3. Spain 4,070,000,000 litres
4. USA 2,280,000,000 litres
5. Argentina 1,080,000,000 litres
6. Australia 1,060,000,000 litres
7. South Africa 1,040,000,000 litres
8. Chile 1,030,000,000 litres
9. Germany 840,000,000 litres
10. China 660,000,000 litres

And here are the names of the various sizes of wine bottle.

1. Split 0.187l
2. Piccolo 0.2l
3. Half 0.375l
4. Standard 0.75l (1 bottle)
5. Magnum 1.5l (2 bottles)
6. Bouble Magnum 3.0l (4 bottles)
7. Jeroboam 4.5l (6 bottles)
8. Imperial / Methuselah 6.0l (8 bottles)
9. Salmanazar 9.0l (12 bottles)
10. Balthazar 12l (16 bottles)
11. Nebuchadnezzar 15l (20 bottles)
12. Melchior 18l (24 bottles)
13. Solomon 20l (28 bottles0
14. Melchizedek 30l (40 bottles)

Alpaca was the answer to one of the questions in the Revue of 2021 round. Poor Geronimo was the alpaca who had to be put down because he tested positive for bovine tuberculosis. You can read his sad story by following this LINK.

Interestingly alpacas have been in the news again recently, but this time their story is a much happier one, so, you may wish to read this BBC Report instead,

During your reflections of 2021, you might ask yourself, “Is there such a thing as a lucky table?” and the answer would appear to be, “Yes, there is such a thing”; at least going by the experience of the November Wine Club event. One table, let’s call it Table 1, not only won the quiz, getting a bottle of splendid wine each, but also won both prizes in the raffle. Well done them! I was delighted for them, not least because I was on the table!

All-in-all it was yet another delightful occasion and a lovely way to spend a cold, dark Friday evening.

I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the committee, old and new, to thank everyone for their continued support and attendance. It is often said that it is the members that make a club, this is absolutely true, and that without them the events could not happen. This is less true. The committee could still arrange the bimonthly events and wine tastings, but it has to be said, without the members attending them, they would be rather dull affairs. So do please keep coming, as I am sure you will.

And finally, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year and look forward to seeing you all in 2022. 

In the meantime, enjoy your wines. 

Why not tell us, in the comments below, which wine(s) you plan to toast the New Year.