Membership Membership is open to individuals aged 18 and over who are interested in the Society’s aims and who agree to pay the current subscription. For practical purposes, there is a cap on the number of members and the Society operates a waiting list when necessary.
Membership Fee for 2024/25 An annual membership subscription of £15 per person is payable in April. This is pro-rata'd for those joining during the course of the year.
Meeting Costs for 2024/25 Our meeting fees include a welcome drink (normally a sparkling wine) and 5 or 6 wines to taste (normally including both rose and/or white and red).
Premium meetings (notified by email prior to the meeting and on the programme) are £15 per person without catering. Standard meetings are £12.50 without catering. Ordinary meetings ie AGM (usually April) and Members Favourites (usually September) are £10.00 without catering Prices for ticketed events e.g The Christmas Party, and tastings which include catering will be individually advised well in advance.
The Committee may review these charges from time to time.
Guests Each member can bring a maximum of 2 guests to a meeting by prior arrangement with the Secretary if space is available. Guests and prospective members can attend two meetings, after which they will be invited to apply to become members if capacity allows. If they choose not to become members they may attend further meetings (capacity allowing) at a premium rate (to be advised per meeting).
Newcomers to the Society are welcome to get in touch via the Contact page to check for availability at upcoming meetings.
Notification of attendance In order for the committee to ensure there is sufficient food and wine at each meeting, members are asked to respond to the Secretary’s monthly email. A reply is requested whether or NOT you will be attending the meeting. Also note there will be occasional evenings where it will be ticket only. These ticket evenings are shown on the programme and numbers will be limited, so book early. Priority for tickets goes to members of the Society.
Guest places always need to be reserved in advance via the Secretary in order to help plan numbers and ensure an enjoyable evening for everyone.
Clearing Up / Washing Up Although the committee bear the main responsibility for planning and setting up meetings, all members are expected to help in clearing away, hoovering, stacking chairs and folding tables after meetings. In addition, each month volunteers are requested for washing up. Volunteers will be requested at each meeting. All members who are able are expected to take a turn.
Pouring "Pourers" may be required at each meeting. Pourers are advised how many measures they need to eke from each bottle dependent on the number of attendees and the number of bottles supplied. Volunteers will be requested at each meeting. All members who are able are encouraged to take a turn.
Ordering Wine Members and guests often like to order wines they have tasted direct from the presenting supplier, especially if they are not readily available. However, there is absolutely no obligation to do so.
Orders must normally be paid for in full at the time of ordering. They will be delivered to a Committee member's home and may be collected from there or at the next available meeting. Subject to agreement with the presenter it is sometimes possible to pay by cheque on collection from a committee member's home.
Tasting Glasses Wine tasting is enhanced by the use of appropriate glassware and all members are requested to use their own ISO wine tasting glasses for each meeting. The Society maintains a small supply of 21.5cl ISO tasting glasses that may be borrowed or bought in boxes of 6 by members and guests by prior arrangement with the Secretary. ISO wine tasting glasses are also widely available on the High Street and on-line. The Society can sell individual glasses to members at a cost of £2.50 each to replace any breakages.
What are ISO wine tasting glasses? International Standards Organisation or ISO wine glasses are recognised internationally as the standard design for wine tasting. The rounded bowl and narrow sides allow the wine to be swirled easily without any spillage. The rim helps contain all the delightful aromas and enhances the appreciation. These glasses are scientifically designed to be used across a broad range of wine styles. You can sample all wines from just one glass- ingenious!
Tasting Mats:
It is useful to bring a laminated tasting mat to meetings to keep track of which wine is in which glass! Here are a couple of suggestions ....lamination not included!
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