Message from the President

Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn in the South. These seasons are now upon us inviting our many Branches to complete their programme of events, which hopefully will include many of you embracing the important initiative of The Judgement of Paris (plus 50) Blind Tasting taking place in late May before the big reveal on May 24th. Post May events will be part of a follow-up announcement - keeping the celebration in the news! Click here for further details.

I have just returned from a golf tour of New Zealand, which is a wonderful country with many wineries and sheep, of course. Wine and golf seem to go well together, and I took the time to visit some superb wineries in Hawkes Bay, Martinborough and Marlborough. Alas, we only have one Branch in New Zealand-Auckland founded in February 1954. To extend the reach of the Society we should always be on the lookout for new members and the opportunity to form new Branches. The Society and its three Area Companies are here to help you so please don’t hesitate to use their resources.

As you know we have three exciting Festivals coming up this year in Paris/Bordeaux, Porto/Douro Valley and Walla Walla, Washington. I hope as many of you who have wanted to join have been able to do so. If you prefer to stay at home, I hope your Branch is putting on some engaging events. We in New South Wales are about to embark upon our annual Fine Wine Dinner and our Branch President and I have been pleased to donate some wines from our own cellars. Sharing great wines with good food and friends is what we do best. As our founder said 93 years ago there are few things more rewarding than to develop the right understanding of good food and wine. It helps too if it’s in good company.

Chris Bonsall
President