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WARE WINE & BEER CIRCLE |
| THIS YEAR'S MEETINGS | |
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2026 July meeting - Fruit juice Rose wine competition 10 members attended the meeting, which Chris co-ordinated. 9 wines were entered. The results were as follows: 1st place - Peter R, 2nd place - Chris, 3rd place Kevin, joint 4th place - Elaine and Richard Chris thanked everyone for entering. Elaine thanked Chris for organising the competition, and reminded everyone that the August meeting will be a BBQ at Peter R and Elaine's; the September meeting will be the club's Annual Wine Drive. July: 44th Annual Show The club held its 44th Annual Show at Thundridge Village Hall. Entries and judges all arrived promptly allowing the show to commence on time. 11 competitors entered. 117 bottles in eight wine classes and four beer classes. The Judges were Colin Hotham, Geoff Fryer, Richard Baldwin, and Neil Caney. Thanks to all who entered and well done to all the winners who will be announced at the September meeting and presented with their trophies. Click here for results and trophy winners. June Wales & West Festival The Wales & West 2026 Festival was held on 5th - 8th June at the Stanton House hotel near Swindon with four members of Ware attending, namely Elaine, Peter, Chris and Carol. Elaine, Peter, and Chris judged various classes with Carol stewarding for Chris. Elaine, Carol, Peter, and Chris entered the show. Ware Wine & Beer Circle retained the Leytonian Cup awarded to the non-affiliated circle with most points across all open classes and retained the circle Challenge Cup for the club with most points in classes 1-18 (wine classes); the South Gloucestershire Trophy for the most points in classes 19-28 (beer classes) was shared with County Beermakers and they took the trophy home. Peter won two wine classes, two beer classes and was first for his Dorset apple cake; Elaine won four wine classes. All club members won other places as well. The festival included tastings of wines and beers. There were discussions upon the merits of individual wine and beer entries over dinner. June: Comparative tasting of beers from Hawkestone Brewery against home make beers 10 members attended. Kevin presented a selection of beers from Hawkestone Brewery, with a selection of similar beers from Chris, Peter R and Kevin. The beers were - Premium Cotswold Pilsner 3.8%; "Day Dream Believer" blond ale 3.5%, from Kevin; (unfortunately infected with bret!) Premium Lager 4.8%; Helles Lager from Kevin 5% Bounder Lager 4.2%; American Pale from Chris 5.4% Premium Cotswold IPA 4.8%; IPA from Peter R 6% and American IPA from Chris 7.7% Session Lager 4%; Helles Vienna 5.55 from Kevin (unfortunately infected with TCP!) The general consensus was that the Hawkestone beers were acceptable, but that home brewers still make better beers (usually)! Elaine thanked Kevin for putting together the tasting, and for Chris, Peter R and Kevin for providing the home brews. There were some beers left over, which went into the raffle. Members were reminded that the next meeting will be at Thundridge Village Hall, and that the Annual show will take place at Thundridge on July 18th. May: International Wine Challenge 12 members attended the meeting. Peter R presented the first round of the International Wine Challenge - Australia v Spain. The wines were as follows: White wine - Australia Wolf Blass Red Label Chardonnay/Semillon 2024 11% £3.70; Spain Torres Vina Esmeralda Catalunta 2024 11.5% £4.60. Score 8-3. Rose wine - Australia Jam Shed NV 11% £3.70; Spain The Guv'nor NV 13% £3.70. Score 3-8. Red wine - Australia Lindemans Bin 50 Shiraz 2023 14% £3.70; Spain Torres Altos Ibericos Rioja Crianza 2021 14% £5.50. Score 6-5. Australia won 17-16. All the wines came from Calais Wine Superstore. Elaine thanked Peter for obtaining the wines and presenting them. Members were reminded that the next meeting will be a comparison of Hawkestone Beers (Jeremy Clarkson) against home-made beers. This will be our last meeting at the Arts Centre. April: The First semi-final of the Supermarket Wine Challenge, followed by the AGM 12 members attended the meeting. The minutes of the 2025 AGM were accepted. Kevin read the Chairman's report - a synopsis of the previous year's events. Peter R. presented the Treasurer’s report stating that the club was still viable although there was a loss of £462 over the year, due to the club not having participated at the Ware Dickensian event because of the foul weather! However, as the cost of the hall has increased, it was stated that the club will move to Thundridge Village Hall from July. It is imperative that meetings are held with the majority of members attending. The WhatsApp Group for the club gives a poll for members to state whether they would be attending or not. It is important that members indicate their attendance or not on the poll. He thanked Richard for auditing the accounts. Peter stated that the club’s annual subscriptions are increased to £15 per person. The committee were re-elected en bloc. Kevin announced the results of the Founders Trophy (as Chris was not present) - 5th Eddie 8 points), 4th Chris (9 points), 3rd Kevin (25 points), 2nd Peter R (27 points), 1st Elaine (38 points). Kevin presented the trophy to Elaine. The supermarkets for the Wine Challenge were Marks & Spencer and Waitrose. Peter R sourced the wines, matching like-for-like on grape, alcohol and price where possible. Each wine was described by Peter R and at the end of the tasting the members voted on which wine they preferred. The winner was Waitrose. April: National Show at Britannia Royal Court Hotel, Coventry Peter and Elaine R, Kevin, Robert, and Chris and Carol went to the 66th National show at Coventry. See the NAWB website for details. Ware Wine & Beer Circle and its members were among the 35 individual entrants at the National Association of Wine & Beer Makers (Amateur) Annual Show in Coventry on Saturday 18th April 2026. A total of 727 bottles and 3 photos were entered across the show’s 63 classes. Ware Circle's members gained 27 first and numerous other places, (Carol won the photograph class) and as a result retained their position at the top of the National Club Points League Table and the Amateur Winemakers Shield, for the nineth year in succession. Ware Circle and its members won a total of 31 trophies. The Show was a weekend event and included a presentation of home brew beers and wines. The highlight of the weekend was Saturday evening’s formal dinner followed by the presentation of major trophies and musical entertainment. March - Kevin's 70th Birthday wine & nibbles 13 members and 1 guest attended the meeting at the Arts Centre. Peter R first informed the members that, as from July, the club meeting will be held at Thundridge Village Hall, as the Arts Centre hall costs are becoming too expensive. Chris distributed a revised programme card, which has also been added to the club WhatsApp group by Richard. Kevin brought 5 wines from his 'cellar' and various nibbles to celebrate his recent 70th birthday. The wines were as follows: Peau Dorée Semillon Bergerac France 2021 12% Swartland Bush Vine Chenin Blanc South Africa 2021 14% Barón de Barbón Rioja Gran Reserva Spain 2011 13.5% L'Épiphanie de Paullac Bordeaux Cabernet 2017 14% La Grâce du Général Margaux France 2002 13% Elaine thanked Kevin for providing the wines and food and wished him a belated happy birthday. February: Cancelled January: Burns Night by Kevin (in a kilt!) 12 Members attended the meeting. An enjoyable social evening with the traditional Burns Night fare of Haggis (provided by Chris), tatties and neeps (provided by Kevin) and Cranachan (provided by Peter R). Kevin had found a rendering of the Toast to the Haggis on his phone, which was a bit unintelligible unfortunately. He also brought along a bottle of Bladnoch Scotch Whisky (bit too smoky for some people), a home-made whisky liqueur, and a honey liqueur. A convivial evening. Elaine thanked Kevin, Chris and Peter R for providing the food. |
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Last updated:
24/07/26 |
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Copyright: 2001 WWBC |