Anyone want to take charge of the Wine Club

[Carrie (mumsnet)]

Hi all

We wondered if anyone would like to stick their head above the parapet and be responsible for the wine club (in the same way freddiceat is responsible for the book club). This would involve having a regular wine tasting evening - once a fortnight/month? publicising it on Talk (and letting us know at [email protected] so we can publicise it in the newsletter and on the home page) and moderating the discussion on the night. This doesn't mean other folks can't start wine related threads, just that, like the book club, there would be the normal wine questions/suggestions interspersed with a more organised tasting session. It could be that one person's in charge but they ask a different member each session to choose a wine - whatever suits. We love the idea of the wine club and could even envisage some potential sponsorship/free wine tastings (on and offline) if we can get it going a bit more. So calling Bacchus, Countess Dracula, JanZ and all you other wine buffs/enthusiasts - anyone want to take it on?

I am sure the Bacchus would be interested - I'll check with him.

He's just been accepted on the Master of Wine course, so he's going to need to do LOTS of drinking over the next 18 months! (.... shame, I'll just have to help him out )

I love the idea of doing this, but I don't think I can commit to being in charge. I'll certainly take part though!

I've had a word with Bacchus and he is more than happy to take this on.

He did organise some tastings before on Mumsnet - but combining it with publicity om the newsletter and so on would help generate more impetus.

... and it gives us an excuse to try new wines and old favourites!

He's just going out, so he'll email Mumsnet tonight and confirm the details.

Carrie,
As Jan has said, I'm going to need to do more tastings over the next year or so and would be very happy to look at taking this on. I'll need to have a look at the Book Club stuff to get a better idea of how that's run. Other than that - do you have any set ideas that you want to follow or are you open to suggestion?

But importantly - if you do have some ideas or things you'd like to see 'covered' PLEEEEEEESE let me know - often the biggest problem in getting things like this going is that people (even Mumsnetters) are sometimes shy of coming forward with ideas.

ideas....

Since it's very difficult to buy any non-Spanish wine here I suggest having a Spanish wine evening!

Preferably not Rioja as everyone knows what that tastes like. Ribera del Duero is good, but usually over-priced, so how about some Valdepeñas/Navarra? (I'd send some over but postage will be too much!).

PS I'd have joined in on the last one, but couldn't get the wine...

SenoraPostrophe - I know that Bacchus is a fan of Spanish wines and what good value they can be.

We often buy the Palaccio del Navarro wines (had a Cabernet/Tempranillo earlier in the week). Mmmmm!

Somebody else has suggested a Beaujolais Nouveau tasting, as that is due soon. Personally, I like Beaujolais, but I think Beaujolais Nouveau is over-rated - a good way to persuade the British to drink the wine quickly and help the cash flow of the producers. Why not got the real thing, rather wine that is still in bottle shock? But that's what is the wonderful thing about wine - everyone has different tastes, and there is a wine for every taste!

So I suspect Bacchus may decide to do a "topical" tasting, ie the Beaujolais Nouveau, first - but I'm sure he'll want to do a Spanish tasting soon as he likes the wines!

... but I'm sure he'll be on here soon with his ideas of what we could be doing.

....alternatively, he'll be hassling us fo rideas as to what we would like!

SP - Thanks for your suggestion - Spanish wine is definitely on my list as here in UK it's probably the best value wine around (at the moment) - still thinking - will get back soon.