Our first event of 2026 kicked off with some great wines from Down Under to start Australia Day celebrations!
24th January 2026 we kicked off the year with our first wine tasting celebrating earl, Australia Day! We were joined by guest Speaker Victoria South who talked us through many brilliant and affordable wines.
It was so nice to see so many turn up in cold January! We were also able to kick off the year with our new charity partner, St. Wilfred’s. A charity very close to my heart and many other in the community.
Victoria took us through the history of Australia’s wine making, who the big players are and selecting 5 amazing wines, which included:
Wolf Blass Red Label Chardonnay/Sémillon
The two grape varieties combine seamlessly to create a wine with fresh and juicy citrus, melon and peach characteristics. This is a bright and fruity, yet dry and zingy wine with a crisp finish. Pairs well with chicken, seafood and Asian cuisines.
d’Arenberg The Hermit Crab McClaren Vale
Shining pale gold in colour with fragrant aromas of tropical fruits – think pineapple, melon, white peach and citrus blossom. Honeydew melon, along with pear, stone fruits and lemon curd come through on the palate, with a hint of ginger on the finish. A wine that is rich in texture yet crisp and refreshing.Excellent with fish and seafood, roast chicken or turkey and soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert.
Wynns The Siding Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra
Engaging blackberry, red cherry and spicy cedary oak are accentuated by notes of fresh sage. This has all the classic Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon characteristics, with nuances of lavender, mint, brambly notes and brooding darker berry tones, culminating in gentle tannins bringing length and texture on the finish. Beautiful with steak, lamb, venison, duck and roasted vegetables.
19 Crimes The Uprising South Eastern Australia
The intense nose shows lifted sweet spice and raspberry fruit. The rich and round palate has jammy blackberry and raspberry flavours, with hints of brown sugar, mocha and cinnamon spice leading to a smokey finish. This is what you call a “chewy” wine – a great all rounder because it’s a wine for cold weather and also barbecues. It suites something really savoury, like good sausages with onion gravy and mash, toad in the hole, or steak in a peppercorn sauce with chunky chips.
De Bortoli Dessert Sémillon Riverina
Bright light gold in colour. This elegant dessert wine has honeyed aromas, and citrus, peach and apricot characters. Incidentally, if you detect any marmalade notes – that will be the noble rot. Fabulous with anything lemony or apricotty and terrific with blues cheese because sweet compliments salt.
We also held our raffle for new Charity partner, St. Wilfrids and raised £290 in total! I know this will mean so much to the charity and hope to raise so much more during the year.
More evenings are being organised for 2026 and the next one is: New World vs Old World, a blind tasting extravaganza. Where we will take four grape varieties and exam how one grape is made in the New and Old world wine regions. Still a chance to book your tickets here.
See you next time!
