Wine tasting evening

An essentially educational insight into the products of most of the major wine-growing regions of the world – accentuated by an appreciative steady flow of modest samples – was provided by expert vintner Peter McGivern of Wrexham in an absorbing talk at Faenol Fawr. Producing an astutely selected but wide variety of wines from such diverse vineyards as those of California, Australia, Spain, Italy and inevitably France, the specialist speaker invited his packed audience, including wives and friends of members, to sip and savour the subtly distinctive reds and white wines before proffering their opinions and preferences. His shrewd choices were prefaced with a brief history on each of the chosen wines’ provenance and characteristics, interspersed with spontaneous reactions and probing questions, all invoking a ready flow of informative, humorous and always authoritative responses. Warm thanks to the skilled speaker for providing such a wonderful evening of entertainment and enlightenment was voiced by past President Gareth Wynne Jones, who announced the welcome news that such was its success that a return visit was already being planned for the late summer or early autumn. Earlier secretary Gordon Marshall announced that the club’s annual Frugal Lunch would this year take place on Tuesday February 9 when all members would be required to pay the normal cost of a full meal whether they attended the event or not. Proceeds, he said, would be used to support a worthy international charity as part of the club’s on-going commitment to its universal motto of Service above Self.