Derbyshire Dales Wine Society - About Us
We were founded in 1977 by a group of wine enthusiasts working for a company based in the Amber Valley area of mid Derbyshire. Known initially as the Richard Lees Wine Appreciation Society, early interest was in tasting and comparing notes about home-made fruit wines. When key members left the company, the group reconstituted in May 1992 as Derbyshire Dales Wine Society, meeting for a while in the Compton-Inglefield Hall in Turnditch before moving to our present home in Darley Abbey, Derby. By this time, interest had turned firmly towards discovering and tasting commercial wines from all corners of the world.
Today we continue as a group of enthusiastic wine lovers living in and around the city of Derby. We meet on the 2nd Friday of each month in Darley Abbey Village Hall to taste a range of wines, usually from a single region, presented by an expert who may be a wine importer, wine merchant or represent a particular producer. There is the opportunity to taste, question, engage in lively debate and of course buy the offered wines. We start with a sparkling wine reception, a chance to mingle. We are then seated for the tasting, normally of around 6 wines. Normally attendees bring their own "picnic" to accompany the tasting . Occasionally a cold buffet supper prepared by our "catering corps" is provided.
Our meetings are informal and friendly, a chance to chat and compare notes. Each year we have a varied programme exploring wines from around the world - some well-known regions and others less so. Throughout the year there are a small number of Premium nights where we taste more exclusive wines, Champagne or Port. At Christmas we have a special buffet and wines chosen by the committee and kick off our shoes for dancing. Twice a year we hand over the choice of wines and presentation to members who can volunteer to share a current favourite wine.
New members are welcome - please see the membership page for further information and the contact page for how to get in touch. Note that, for practical reasons, we have a cap on membership numbers and attendances and at times there may be a waiting list. For this reason, we encourage anyone interested to contact us in advance.
Today we continue as a group of enthusiastic wine lovers living in and around the city of Derby. We meet on the 2nd Friday of each month in Darley Abbey Village Hall to taste a range of wines, usually from a single region, presented by an expert who may be a wine importer, wine merchant or represent a particular producer. There is the opportunity to taste, question, engage in lively debate and of course buy the offered wines. We start with a sparkling wine reception, a chance to mingle. We are then seated for the tasting, normally of around 6 wines. Normally attendees bring their own "picnic" to accompany the tasting . Occasionally a cold buffet supper prepared by our "catering corps" is provided.
Our meetings are informal and friendly, a chance to chat and compare notes. Each year we have a varied programme exploring wines from around the world - some well-known regions and others less so. Throughout the year there are a small number of Premium nights where we taste more exclusive wines, Champagne or Port. At Christmas we have a special buffet and wines chosen by the committee and kick off our shoes for dancing. Twice a year we hand over the choice of wines and presentation to members who can volunteer to share a current favourite wine.
New members are welcome - please see the membership page for further information and the contact page for how to get in touch. Note that, for practical reasons, we have a cap on membership numbers and attendances and at times there may be a waiting list. For this reason, we encourage anyone interested to contact us in advance.