The IWFS Global Grapevine June 2025

Message from the President Chris Bonsall

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.

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Message from the Chairman Mike Donohoe

Zero Inbox; Zero Tasks. Isn't that everybody's dream; to have no emails left to address; to have completed all your tasks. Wouldn't that be lovely? I bring this up in the context of my term as International Chairman of IWFS, and that my term will end this Fall, when I pass the baton to IWFS Europe Africa's John Nicholas. Your next Chairman's letter will come from John. Once that transition takes place, I will have two years remaining in my term as a Council member appointed by IWFS Americas.

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Our Festivals

4-8 May 2025

Napa Valley, USA (Americas)

The Napa Valley Festival was a huge success for the Americas featuring some truly exceptional experiences. There was lunch at the incredible French Laundry hosted by the famous Chef /Proprietor Thomas Keller who treated members to some of his 'greatest hits'. Other visits to the top vineyards of Napa included Freemark Abbey, Verité and Chappellet - all producers of 100 point wines and whose buildings are architectural treasures too. A tour of Tonnellerie Ô (a premier Californian cooperage) was fascinating plus members took part in a cooking class hosted by the Culinary Institute of America and evendonned a chef's hat. The weekend closed with a superb Black Tie Winemakers Gala Dinner held at Greystone.

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18-25 May 2025

Basque Country & Rioja, Spain (Europe Africa)

Members across the Society met to enjoy a festival, hosted by the Europe Africa team, in the Basque and La Rioja regions of northern Spain. Basque was the pre-tour destination where members embarked on a food tour of the Pinxtos bars of Bilbao and tasting the local Txakoli wines. They then headed south for the main festival visiting some of the famous Rioja bodegas of Marques de Murrieta and Contino plus discovering some of the smaller boutique wineries. While enjoying the finer food and wines of the regions they were to find they were also frequenting the same hotel as football team Tottenham Hotspur, in Bilbao, and dining in Marques de Murrieta with music megastar Lady Gaga. A mega trip on all fronts.

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Branch News

A Friendly Welcome

Members welcoming visitors from other branches, when on their travels, is a valuable benefit of being an IWFS member. This extensive network of contacts around the world takes some of the 'unknown' away and often means you get the inside track on the best a country has to offer straight away. The Cape Town branch recently introduced John and Mwansa Chitoshi, visiting members from the Melbourne and Lusaka branches, to a local favourite - the renowned Grub & Vine restaurant on Bree Street. The Penang branch members, Venessa Khoo, Loy Tan and Vivien Teoh also kindly welcomed overseas visitors through the IWFS - Susan Low, Editor for the latest IWFS monograph, and her companions. Thank you to our host branches for their friendly welcome.

Travel Tips from Penang, with Susan Low

As any traveller knows, being able to tap into the local culture when you get off the plane in parts unknown can transform a journey - even more so when it comes to discovering the local food and drink. Back in February I and my husband Guy, a former restaurant critic, and our Luxembourgish friend Anne Faber, a broadcaster and filmmaker who specialises in food, travelled to George Town, Penang, where we spent just over two weeks. We were incredibly grateful to meet with IWFS member Venessa Khoo, who took us under her wing and introduced us to two of the city's best food markets (there are many), Chowrasta and Cecil Street.
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New For Members

New monograph - Sparkling Wines of the World

This will be with you in the coming months. What a timely commission for IWFS members as the author, Essi Avellan MW, highlights that over the past 20 years, the sparkling wine category 'has emerged as the fastest-growing segment in the wine industry'. Essi identifies the countries and producers you need to seek out - India and China are among them. Essi also highlights the country that now leads the table by volume in the production of fine sparkling wine around the world. You might not be surprised to find out which it is but she includes the regions which are now serious players. This monograph really does provide you with an update on this truly 'fizzing' wine category.

IWFS Branding Essentials Guide

Are you planning a branch event? If so this Branding Essentials Guide has been designed to assist you. The IWFS logo is very distinctive and helps us to promote this very special Society to the world. It is therefore important that where possible, we use the IWFS logo and branding in a uniform way. These guidelines are now available to view on the IWFS website - click here. We do hope you find them useful when promoting your branch or event

Merchandise for Members

Branded Chef's Apron

These quality aprons are now available to purchase and are ideal either for yourself when prepping in the kitchen or if your branch wishes to present them to restaurant staff who have been working on your behalf for an event. The IWFS logo has been sewn onto each apron bib putting the IWFS literally centre stage, with a pencil pocket alongside the large front pocket and ties long enough for those who wish to give it the professional tie at the front.

Blind Tasting Bottle Kits

Now back in stock! These kits have proved popular and the ideal way to help you to present a blind tasting - professionally. Each kit comes neatly packed in a carry bag and comprises 10 bottle bags with the embroidered IWFS logo, numbered 1 to 10.

To view all merchandise click on your region below:
Americas · Asia Pacific · Europe Africa

Ask Sid: Food & Wine Matching Sommelier Showdown

Food and wine matching can be a challenge and this is where our Wine & Food Pairing App aims to guide you. There is also another great source - Sid's blog. In March this year Sid attended a food and wine Sommelier Showdown which set out to test the skill of top sommeliers to match food and wine. Click here to find out the range of international wines successfully paired with scallops, pork rillettes, duck breast and apple pie. Enjoy…

Wines Committee Meeting

The Wines Committee, for the Vintage Guide, held their annual meeting on 13 May - a busy time of the year in the wine trade and also for a number of our committee members are key figures in the trade. The meeting was led by Chairman Ron Barker and attended by committee members Stuart Leaf and Gordon Lloyd (IWFS members) and Charles Taylor MW (MD of Charles Taylor Wines). Konstantinos Lazarakis MW joined online from his base in Greece. Follow-up meetings are held for those members unable to run through their areas of speciality. Stand-out regions on next year's Card are Rioja, North-West Spain (Priorat/Penedes), Oregon, Central Otago and South Africa.

Our Awards

During the opening evening of the Rioja festival in Logrono, John Nicholas, Europe Africa Chairman, presented a Society Diploma to Harold Heckle. The Society Diploma is awarded to those individuals who have served the Society well over a long period. Harold has exceeded this requirement having provided his expert knowledge and advice, freely, on the wines of Spain for the past 12 years, since 2013. During the evening Harold spoke to festival attendees by sharing his knowledge about the long history and development of Spanish wines. Thank you Harold.

Regional News

We welcome the latest news from our Chairs from the regions, Chris Ankner (Americas), Michael Tamburri (Asia Pacific) and John Nicholas (Europe Africa).

Americas Chris Ankner

The Americas just completed a highly successful Festival in Napa Valley. It was one of our best. The details are spelled out in a separate article. But it came with some disappointing news as Charles Schurhammer is retiring from the Festivals & Events Chairmanship following Napa. Charles ran both Napa and last year's Rhine River Wine Cruise, both of which were fabulous successes. He also did much of the heavy lifting for our Chicago and New Orleans Great Weekends. Charles' leadership will be missed.

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Asia Pacific Michael Tamburri

So far this year has seen the continued rebuilding of the Asia Pacific region, and most branches have either expanded their activities or seen an increase in their membership. This is pleasing to see as we are entering some form of normality. We are looking forward to our next Festival in November when we are heading to Penang, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur.  Bookings are now being taken

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Europe Africa John Nicholas

Much has happened in the first six months of 2025 - new appointments, great festivals, progress on making change happen as we move into the 10th decade of our Society. It is with great relief that a new IWFS Europe Africa Treasurer has been found. We have again had to go outside the 850 members of IWFS Europe Africa to find Jonathan O'Brien. Jonathan and his wife Vanessa have become members of the Capital branch.

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Dates for the Diary

Americas · Asia Pacific · Europe Africa

12-14 September 2025

Bristol South West, UK (Europe Africa)

Europe Africa AGM & Festival Weekend - Join us for a weekend in the beautiful English countryside with dinner in the impressive, medieval Thornbury Castle. Click here to find out more and bookings.

3-9 November 2025

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Asia Pacific)

Join the Asia Pacific region for their main festival for 2025 in Kuala Lumpur. Pre-tour events are also planned in Ipoh and Penang. Now booking. Click here for details.

If you are interested in joining an event that is full, or reservations closed, then please contact the organiser in case space is available.