August visit Nutbourne Vineyards

On a glorious, sunny 8th of August, fourteen Wine Club members visited the Nutbourne Vineyards in West Sussex. 

After a welcoming coffee and home-made cake, we were accompanied on a tour of the vines, which are ideally situated on a gentle, south-facing slope, and enjoyed hearing some history of this family firm, as well as the story of how the vines are cared for throughout the year. 

This made us realize what a labour-intensive business it is, and how important for the quality of wine produced is the care given to the vines at each stage of their growth. 

We also encountered the alpacas (which club members who visited Nutbourne in 2006 may remember) and admired the swans on the lake. 

After a picnic lunch in the shade of The Lodge, and a climb up the 19th century windmill to take in the splendid view, we were treated to a tasting of some of the Nutbourne wines, such as the appropriately named "Hedgerow", "Bacchus", "Blush", "Nutty Wild". (The clink of bottles on the coach going home bore testimony to our approval of these wines.) 

Before leaving, we were shown round the winery where we could but wonder at the machinery and technology which produces the end product. 

A stop for tea on the way back rounded off an extremely successful outing, for which our thanks go to its organizer, Francis, and to our driver, Graham.

July 2015 meeting

A quiz night, a flower show, a summer party - the Wine Club has had a busy time.

First, the Club's team ("The Imbibers") had a thoroughly enjoyable evening at the village's Royal British Legion Armed Forces Day Quiz Night, and produced the winning score.

The second event was a trip to the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, on a gloriously sunny day, only slightly marred by heavy traffic on the way (one has to admire our driver Graham's patience) and crowds of people at the Show, which nevertheless did not prevent us from admiring many magnificent displays. The outing was rounded off by a relaxing boat trip to Kew, greatly appreciated by the seventeen members present.

The third event was the Club's first visit to the new Memorial Hall for our summer party. Well attended by 24 members, it was an occasion for much chat and a great deal of delicious food, appropriately accompanied. An entertaining quiz got the grey cells working and contributed to a very successful evening.

In August we have another outing to look forward to, this time to the Nutbourne Vineyard, and on 1st September we are back at the Christchurch Centre for a wine-tasting.

June 2015 meeting

For the Wine Club's "Tipplers' Stroll", a wet June morning cleared and gave us a fine evening, during which twenty-two members enjoyed an excellent choice of wines selected by our hosts. 

Our first stop was at Kent's who offered a refreshing white from Australia and a deliciously smooth red from Chile. We then made our way (yes, some on foot) to Heather's, where her selection of reds and whites from Italy, Chile and France offered something to suit every palate. 

At both venues we were regaled with what to be called 'nibbles' would be an insult, the spread of food presented being so much more than just nuts and crisps. We must thank our hosts for their hospitality and the trouble they took to make us all welcome.

July's meeting is the summer party, on Tuesday 7th at 7.30 pm, in the new Memorial Hall.

May 2015 meeting

At the Wine Club's May meeting members were entertained by Theatre Events Manager Christopher Hare, who gave a talk he entitled Forty Years Without a Proper Job. He explained that this comes from the response people often gave when told he was a theatre manager: "Oh, you haven't got a proper job then".

As stage manager, theatre event manager, jazz festival organizer, he certainly lived a very interesting life, working with many of the great entertainers. He presented a delightful, amusing hour of anecdotes (all true, we were assured), recalling for us the wit and humour of such as Arthur Askey, Morecambe and Wise, Tommy Cooper, Norman Wisdom, Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, Eric Sykes.

Their jokes lost nothing in the telling. A favourite was Norman Wisdom chatting to the Duke of Edinburgh at a Palace event when a loud fanfare sounded. He asked the Duke, "What was that?" The Duke replied, "That's the Queen." Wisdom: "Oh, she can't half play the trumpet!"

This month, on Tuesday 2nd, we have a Tipplers' Stroll, starting off at Kent's - 55 Mid Street - at 7.30 pm - and then to Heather's at Ridgeway in Kings Cross Lane. (Please bring a glass.)

April 2015 meeting

While it is true that Wine Club members no longer produce home-made wines, the same cannot be said of their culinary skills.

These were shown to great advantage at the Club's recent Italian Evening, when a good company of twenty-six enjoyed a mouth-watering range of antipastas, pizzas, pasta dishes and Italian desserts, washed down with the mandatory Italian wines, starting with a welcoming glass of Prosecco. 

Appropriate background music included, of course, a spaghetti Western film score. A challenging quiz followed, with the winners, happily, being from a group of visitors joining us for the first time. Old members appreciated seeing the new faces and hope that they will be able to join us at future events.

May's event is a change from the printed programme, changing places with October. We shall be welcoming a guest speaker, Christopher Hare, on the subject of his working life in entertainment - Tuesday 5th May, 8.00 p.m. at the Christchurch Centre.

 

March 2015 meeting

The Wine Club's March event was a skittles evening at The Haycutter Inn. Nineteen enthusiastic players showed a wide range of skill, with quite a number of 9's being scored, mostly towards the end of the evening when everyone had warmed up and benefited from practice.

After three rounds, and a break for the landlord's buffet supper, "The Budgies" (Barry, Denise, Derek, Graham) came top with a total of 89, followed closely by "The Loud Girls" (Eileen W., Kay, and Val playing twice) with a score of 87. 

Best individual prize went to Janet for her 26, and the coveted booby prize was Sandra's. 

It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

April's meeting is later than usual because of Easter. We are having an Italian Evening on Tuesday 14th, 8.00 pm at the Christchurch Centre. (Don't worry, we won't be speaking much Italian.)