Message from the President

Recovering from the recent Europe Africa Festival to Bilbao and Rioja I am contemplating grape varieties in Greece during my week on the relaxing island of Paxos in the Ionian Sea. Blue skies and an even bluer clear seas are tempting me away from my battles with Assyrtiko (first encountered during the Santorini Festival in 2014) and Malagousia, the principal white grape varieties and Agiorgitiko and Xinamavro, the principal red grape varieties of Greece.

If you thought pronouncing those words difficult try Txakoli (pronounced chacoli), the dry white wine we enjoyed with Pinxtos (tapas) on our visit to Bilbao in the Basque country. From there we moved onto the Rioja with Viura, a white grape variety, Garnacha (red and white), Graciano and Mazuelo (both red) and, of course the better known Tempranillo (both red and white). There were others too.

All this can be learnt and studied from the comforts of home but what a joy it is to do so at Festivals with good food and the company of friends from the IWFS, both old and new, with excellent and sometimes surprising examples of these various grapes. Festivals are some of the greatest benefits of a worldwide Society such as ours.

As with membership of any organisation you get the most of it from what you put in. That is why we have successful Festivals, such as in May, the Europe Africa Rioja Festival and the Americas Napa Festival. It is also why we have both new and old vibrant Branches across the globe! 

Our army of dedicated volunteers strives to ensure every member has the opportunity to enjoy the many benefits of our Society. Once you have been on a well run Festival you will want to come again just as we hope once you have enjoyed membership of your branch for a year or so you will want more and soon hopefully you will volunteer to be an active participant in our Society.

Chris Bonsall
President