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Part II: Island Traditionalists and a Mainland Maverick Wines of DalmatiaBy Penny Mincho The world’s largest yacht, the Eclipse, lies at anchor off shore while Tom Cruise and his entourage push their way through the crush of tourists. Nearby, patrons in…

Napa, California Festival 2025 Written by Tom Murnan, Omaha & Omaha Metro Branches Photos by Tom Murnan For additional photos, click here. I hadn’t been to Napa Valley for about 10 years, so when the IWFS Americas, Inc. hosted an event there, I thought …

Wine & Dine on the Rhine Written by Tom Murnan. Photos by Tom Murnan To view additional photos by Wayne Markus, click here. This was indeed a wine and food trip of a lifetime, with the added attraction of having a floating hotel that moved from Basel Swit…

Message from the President Chris Bonsall What joy. This fine sunny morning brought 53 cases of vintage wine from the wine regions of France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Portugal to my home in Australia, having been shipped several months ago from the UK. It…

10th September 2015 6.45 for 7.15 pm Venue: The Wax Chandlers' Hall, 6 Gresham Street, London. EC2V 7AD Cost: £125.00 members; £135.00 non-members Dress Code: Black Tie Final date for reservations: 1st September 2015 The EAZ Annual Dinner 2015 will take…

by Tom Murnan (Council Bluffs & Omaha Branches) I was dimly aware of the name Auguste Escoffier just a few months ago, but if I had been asked to give any kind of summary of his life or importance, I would have been unable to do so, other to say he was an…

BRANCH RESOURCE MANUAL CHAPTER 15 Download Order Form Regalia & Merchandise The Dress Codes section of Chapter 6 of The Branch Resource Manual states: "With formal dress, The IW&FS's insignia should be worn by all members in attendance." In some localitie…

Links and Podcasts Links & Podcasts Wine Links of Interest Natalie MacLean“Nat Decants” is a free Canadian wine e-newsletter: Wine picks, articles and humour from Natalie MacLean, named the World’s Best Drink Writer at the World Food Media Awards in…

Privacy Policy Privacy Policy The IW&FS respects your privacy. In collecting and using information about you, we adhere to the following principles: We collect information about you only when you provide it voluntarily. We use the collected information on…

Porto and Douro Valley Festival Wednesday 6th May to Monday 11th May 2026 IWFS Europe Africa are delighted to invite members from around the world to join an exceptional festival organised by IWFS in conjunction with Grape Escapes and celebrating the wine…

Etna, Sicily’s Rising Starby Richard Baudains Introduction Sicily is a major force in the current Italian wine scene. It has enormous natural resources and an industry which is dynamic, outward looking and reactive. If in the 1990s it was the introducti…

2025 past events Meeting 484 Friday 12th December 2025 Pippa Hayward (Association of Wine Educators, wines from The Wine Society and Waitrose) The Douro – still wines and ports Pippa read languages at University, trained as a teacher and taught until sh…

Overview Established in 2024, the Young Members Circle (YMC) is a chapter of the International Wine & Food Society (IWFS), created to cultivate the next generation of wine enthusiasts. Based in NYC, the YMC launched last September with a landmark event at…

The last few months have seen no less than 10 prestigious André Simon medals being awarded to a host of truly worthy recipients in recognition of their work for the Society. André Simon Gold Medals - Americas member Stephen (Steve) Hipple was presented …

EUROPE, RHINE VALLEY August 19-26 2024 What a trip! That’s what 107 lucky IWFS members from around the world must be thinking, if not saying, about the Americas Rhine River Cruise this summer. The trip was deftly organised by Charles Schurhammer and beg…

Cognac bottling, Trilogie Vol.3, exclusively for IWFS members For lovers or Cognac this is a great opportunity. Trilogie Vol. 3 is a Cognac bottled exclusively for members of the IWFS and produced in collaboration with an online retailer in France, Cognac…

USA, New Orleans, USA March 14-16, 2024 (Americas) This weekend was indeed an exercise in the 'Big Easy' mood and with members from US, Canada, Cayman and the UK enjoying the experience. This special visit included a leisurely stroll along the Mighty Miss…

We welcome the latest news from our Zone Chairmen, Chris Ankner (Americas), Michael Tamburri (Asia Pacific) and John Nicholas (Europe Africa). AMERICAS - Chris Ankner Good morning. I’m writing this in the middle of February, as Team Schurhammer are putt…

It's time for tea This year’s monograph focusses on a non-alcoholic beverage which is a first for us - tea. But with the increasing interest in no and low-alcohol drinks we thought it was time to delve into this world. Tea has many similarities to wine,…

2024 Past events Meeting 474 Friday 13th December Preet Sahota, Edgmund Wines New and premium wines from SouthAfrica This was a tasting of wines from South Africa, presented by Preet Sahota of Edgmund Wines, who is new to our branch. He came with good ref…

Find out more by visiting the Western Australia Branch's website! We have our own website with much more information about who we are and what we do. Please use this link to access the site and enjoy your visit: IWFS Western Australia Branch…

We welcome the latest news from our Zone Chairmen, Michael Tamburri (Asia Pacific), John Nicholas (Europe Africa) and also recently appointed Chairman of the Americas – Chris Ankner. Over to you Chris first of all… AMERICAS - Chris Ankner Hi. Last Sep…

We welcome the latest news from our Zone Chairmen, and members of the International Council of Management – Stephen Hipple (Americas), Michael Tamburri (Asia Pacific) and John Nicholas (Europe Africa) AMERICAS - StePHeN Hipple One of our main goals in t…

UK, LONDON - Capital branch Congratulations to Capital branch for their successful launch event. Based in London, the UK’s capital city, their official launch event was held on February 15th at the RAF Club, Piccadilly. It was a sold-out gathering of 40…

Message from the President Chris Bonsall As I look out over a sparkling Sydney Harbour this February morning in the Southern Hemisphere, it is with optimism that this year will be a wonderful one for our Society, in its 90th year, with a full year of exci…

Welcome to the IWFS Web Site We are delighted to welcome you to the International Wine and Food Society UNDER CONSTRUCTION…

blank The password for Ask Andre is: wine&food Instructions on how to use Ask André RESOURCE DIRECTORY ABOUT IWFS History IWFS Foundation, Inc. (Scholarships) Financial Statements Emeritus Directors/Life Members Annual Report IWFS Americas Inc. Board Mem…

2023 Past Events Meeting 464 8th December 2023 Wines from the Chairman's Cellar Presenter: Colin Mair Our Branch has in previous years visited a restaurant for the December event. This year the committee decided that Christmas fare at restaurants was not …

Written by Tom Murnan, Council Bluffs and Omaha Branches Photos by Tom Murnan CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL PHOTO GALLERY CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FESTIVAL BROCHURE It was hard for me to believe that our Bordeaux Festival was actually going to happen. Organiz…

Welcome to the Members' Home Page. Here you will find the latest news for members and links that you can use for more information. To view your Branch pages use the My Branch link in the site's top menu. MEMBER APP This latest facility for members include…

Written by Tom Murnan, Council Bluffs and Omaha Branches Photos by Tom Murnan It was hard for me to believe that our Bordeaux Festival was actually going to happen. Organizer Steve Greenwald started preparing in 2017, but the original May 2020 date was po…

Honorary President's Message Dave Felton Traditionally, the end of the calendar year is the busiest period for our Society as branches around the world, accompanied by the best in holiday food and wine, celebrate in multiple ways. Last year’s events wer…

We welcome the latest news from our Zone Chairmen, and members of the International Council of Management – Stephen Hipple (Americas), Michael Tamburri (Asia Pacific) and John Nicholas (Europe Africa) AMERICAS - StePHeN Hipple IWFS is thriving as a new …

Appointment of new IWFS Chairman We are pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Tamburri as Chairman of the International Council of Management (ICM). He was handed the reigns from outgoing ICM Chairman, Andrew Jones at the last Council meeting hel…

Honorary President's Message Dave Felton What to do? What to do? The Grapevine is shared among all 6000 members of the Society throughout the world. It may be read throughout America, as well as by members in Estonia's Tallinn & Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur. M…

Direct Debit To set up a new direct debit, please click the appropriate option below. These prices represent a £10 discount on a full membership. If you already have a direct debit please do not set up another one! Single Young Membership (under 36) – …

Events HUANGPU Branch 2nd Anniversary On 21st April 2021, IWFS Huangpu (Shanghai) Branch successfully held the 2nd Anniversary of its official founding, under the starry night benefiting from the outstanding gastronomy in < Mr & Mrs Bund by Paul Pairet >.…

by Tom Murnan Omaha and Council Bluffs Branches Two thousand and nineteen was the sesquicentennial anniversary of the driving of the golden spike for the transcontinental railway, with Omaha being the starting point for the Union Pacific Rail Road. It got…

Rare Discovery of 18th & 19th Century Madeiras at Liberty Hall by Tom Murnan Imagine your excitement if you had inherited an old painting and an expert on Antiques Road Show told you it really was an unsigned Van Gough. Or you were a researcher in an obsc…

OFFICIAL INFORMATION The International Wine & Food Society Ltd A not for profit company which licences three operating companies to carry on the activities of an international gastronomic society pursuant to a Reorganization and Licensing Agreement Please…

There has been a fantastic response to the invitation to attend the two events in London on the 12th & 13th November 2013. The Dinner at Vintners’ Hall on 12th November has just 12 places left and over 140 have already applied so do apply very soon if y…

Visit IWFS Branches around the Baltic The IWFS Europe Africa Zone looks forward to welcoming you at the Baltic Cruise Festival – an opportunity to meet IWFS Branches round the Baltic Sea. This will commence with dinner in Copenhagen on Thursday 29th Jun…

The program has not been finalised yet, but the following are some of the intended highlights: 5 dinners and 3 lunches, including an opening reception and dinner on Tuesday 6 May and a closing one on Saturday 10 May; there will be a free morning and no lu…

Date: Friday, 21st November 2014 Time: 6.45 for 7.00 pm Venue: The Innholders Hall, 30 College Street, London, EC4R 2RH (nearest Tube Stations: Cannon Street and Bank). Cost: £129.00 per head for members and £135.00 for guests DRESS CODE: BLACK TIE Foll…

Sunday 15th - Wednesday 18th May 2016 DRESS CODE: Smart Casual (Jacket & Tie for the gentlemen in the evenings, please.) For our Regional "Great Weekend" in 2016 Val Brookfield-Bishop has arranged a visit to North Wales. Val is well-known to many IWFS mem…

20 – 23 SEPTEMBER 2016 This is your opportunity to participate in a three night Wine and Food Festival in Edinburgh, the inspiring political and cultural capital of Scotland, where centuries of history meet a vibrant, cosmopolitan city in an unforgettab…

Events Calendar This section of the web site enables you to review all the major events organised at regional level, including Festivals, Great Weekends and also some events organised by Branches that they would like to invite other IWFS members to attend…

Overview IWFS Philippines (Manila, Philippines) Membership The Philippines Branch was chartered on October 20, 1982 with 27 members. Today, with membership of around 46, the branch is no longer exclusively for men since 2016 and offers since 2023 single a…

Overview IWFS Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) The Saigon Branch of the International Wine and Food Society was formed on 7 November 2008. While the official name of Saigon is Ho Chi Minh City, members of this branch chose to retain the tradition of the…

Documents By-Laws The Wine and Food Society of Bozeman, Montana November 2012 Article I Board of Governors Section 1: The governing body of the Branch shall be the Board of Governors. Section 2: The Board of Governors shall consist of such members of the …

2022 Past Events Past Meetings: M452 M451 M450 M449 Meeting 453 Friday 18th November This was a tasting of South African wines, from lesser-known regions and titled ‘roads less travelled’, by Nik Darlington. Nik first worked in South Africa as a rugby…

Overview Welcome to the Spokane Branch of the International Wine & Food Society! With a picturesque river, scenic falls, 15 wineries, numerous award winning golf courses, and a vibrant population, it’s easy to see why our motto is: “Near Nature. Near …

Overview The Houston branch of the IW&FS was organized in 1964, through the vision of 20 local wine and food lovers. An official charter was granted by André Simon in January 1965. Today, there are 125 active and loyal members who enjoy a monthly wine an…

Documents This section of the site is very much under construction. There are a few of our menus here and also an example of the type of handout we supply for the wines of the evening. For a more complete idea of our chapter please visit our website at ww…

Overview The Lake Tahoe Branch was founded in 1996 with 33 charter members who felt the area needed and could support a group of people who knew, appreciated and enjoyed fine wine and food in the company of good friends. The organization grew rapidly, mor…

Overview The Kansas City, Missouri Branch:The local branch which began in 1944 has approximately 100 members. The purpose of the local Branch is to enjoy fine wines and fine dining and to learn and promote a wider knowledge of the wines of the world. The …

FRENCH QUARTER STROLL & ICONIC COCKTAILS The International Wine & Food Society New Orleans Branch Welcomes Members World-wide to the Crescent City The exotic French Quarter or Vieux Carré is often at the top of visitors’ lists. It’s laid out on a gri…

Overview We have a new branch name. We are now the Omaha Metro Branch! This site is a service for you and the other members of our branch. It is also a site that you can send any friends who think they might be interested in joining to learn more about us…

Membership Information The Pasadena Wine & Food Society (PW&FS) is a member branch of the International Wine & Food Society, the oldest and largest independent gastronomic organization in the world, with 6200 members in over 130 branches around the globe.…

Documents International Wine & Food Society Manchester Branch Constitution 1. NAME The name of the Branch shall be "The Manchester Branch of the International Wine & Food Society" (respectively referred to as "the Branch" and "the Society") 2. FILIATION T…

Past Events Lunch at the Lime Tree Saturday 21st March 2026 The IWFS Manchester branch monthly meet up was in full swing on Saturday 21st March at one of our favourite restaurants - The Lime Tree in Didsbury. Members and guests gathered for a leisurely lu…

Overview If you want to experience the best in food and wine, and learn more about them, then IWFS London Branch is for you. We specialise in the pairing of food and wine, and have tastings, lunches and dinners, as well as offering access to international…

Join the Branch If you want to experience the best in food and wine, and learn more about them, then IWFS London Branch is for you. We specialise in the pairing of food and wine, and have tastings, lunches and dinners, as well as offering access to intern…

Membership The Miami Branch has 64 active members. Nominations for new members are made at least 30 days prior to the Annual Business Meeting. See "Membership" in our By-Laws for complete information on membership procedures. The current non-refundable In…

IWFS of Phoenix 2014 FACTS Frequently Asked Questions of the IWFS of Phoenix What is the Mission of the International Wine and Food Society? Our Mission today is to be the international, independent organization of choice for: sharing, improving and disse…

Overview Founded in 1962, the Phoenix Chapter is a branch of the International Wine and Food Society initialed in 1933, in London, England. The International Wine & Food Society (IW&FS) is the world’s oldest and most renowned gastronomic society, with m…

Tuesday 13th NovemberLondon Celebrates the Society’s 85th Anniversary 85 years ago, Andre Simon held the Society’s inaugural meal at the Café Royal. It had an Alsace theme, and IWFS branches are being encouraged to organise an event during the annive…

22nd and 23rd September 2018 Friends or relatives in Bristol? Children or grandchildren at school or university here? Interested in ships, planes, trains, bridges…? Why not combine a visit with the 2018 EAZ AGM Weekend, which is being organised jointly …

By Tom Murnan Council Bluffs & Omaha Branches Agoston Haraszthy was a fascinating individual who contributed greatly to the development of wine in the United States. He was a restless, energetic optimist, a self promoter whose ambitious ideas and actions …

OFFICIAL INFORMATION The International Wine & Food Society Ltd A not for profit company which licences three operating companies to carry on the activities of an international gastronomic society pursuant to a Reorganization and Licensing Agreement Please…

Many thanks to all of you who joined the fun and submitted your best pix for the 2014 WF&F Shutterbug Contest. Christy Marsh and I were pleasantly surprised to find many entrants who are new to the game. From this record number of entries, we are happy to…

The Wine and Food Society, later the International Wine & Food Society, was founded in London, England, by André Simon in 1933. He set the official date as October 20, and plans for the first event were made over dinner at the home of The Dowager Lady Sw…

How to Find Your Way Around the IWFS Web Site The new site offers, in the first instance, much the same facilities as the previous one, but it looks different and works better on tablets and mobile phones. In particular the Branches menu in the top left h…

By Penny Mincho, Austin Branch The world’s largest yacht, the Eclipse, lies at anchor off shore while Tom Cruise and his entourage push their way through the crush of tourists. Nearby, patrons in the Hula Beach Club recall the time Beyoncé showed off h…

From left to right: Joe Garrigo, BGA Governor, John Kuczwanski, BGA Governor,Amanda Bates, Recipient, Nicole Linares, Recipient, John Sullivan, IW&FS Miami Branch PresidentChef Instructor Judith Williams, Mike Hampton, Dean Chaplin School of Hospitality &…

From left to right: Joe Garrigo, BGA Governor, John Kuczwanski, BGA Governor,Amanda Bates, Recipient, Nicole Linares, Recipient, John Sullivan, IW&FS Miami Branch PresidentChef Instructor Judith Williams, Mike Hampton, Dean Chaplin School of Hospitality &…

By Penny Mincho - Austin (Originally appeared in Wine, Food & Friends, Issue #100, Winter 2011) Romans love their gelato! Gelato literally means “frozen” in Italian, and the term applies to a wide range of sweet frozen treats. The term includes dairy-…

By John Danza - Chicago (Originally appeared in Wine, Food & Friends Issue #101, Spring 2012) When Charles Dickens died prematurely in 1870 at the age of 58, he was an icon of English literature. From humble beginnings and somewhat questionable financial …

By Jim Gabler – Baltimore (Originally published in Wine, Food & Friends Issue #71, Fall 2004) Although little known, John Locke (1632-1704), the great political philosopher, whom Thomas Jefferson called one “of the three greatest men the world has eve…

By Barbara Lichter – Lake Tahoe (Originally appeared in Wine, Food & Friends Issue #75, Fall 2005) Want to explore an idyllic grape-growing and premier wine-making region with picturesque oak trees scattered on rolling hills, with groups of grazing catt…

These resources refer to our old website. They may still be of value to administrators, although some details will have changed. Click here for an outline of the major changes on the new site. Click here for tutorial videos on the new site for Branch Admi…

WF&F | ARTICLES | VINTAGE CARDS | MONOGRAPHS WINE, FOOD & FRIENDS One of the most popular benefits of membership in The International Wine & Food Society is Wine, Food & Friends--the quarterly journal published by IWFS Americas Inc. and sent to all member…

WINE LIST with TASTING NOTES Wine Chair: Michael Bittel RECEPTION WINE Mumm Cordon Rouge Brut Champagne (France) WINES OF SPAIN: Nora Albarino 2009 (Rias Biaxas) Wine Advocate # 188, Apr 2010: 90 points. The 2009 Nora saw 10% of the wine fermented and age…

While the benefit of sharing a passion for wine and food with other like-minded people is obvious, there are many other tangible benefits of being a member of the Society. As a member of the IWFS you can benefit from the following: You have the opportunit…

Latest IWFS Publication 2024 ‘The World of Tea’ by Will Battle (2024) We are talking tea….. The International Wine & Food Society are pleased to announce the release of their 2024 monograph ‘The World of Tea’ by Will Battle. As Will is an all-ro…

A J A Symons - The Society's Other Founder If you were asked to name the founder of the International Wine & Food Society, you would probably answer without hesitation that it was André Simon, whose memory still dominates the organization 34 years after …

BRANCH RESOURCE MANUAL CHAPTER 13 IWFS Americas Inc. recognizes two classes of membership: those of IWFS Americas-chartered Branches, and Independent Members. (Please refer to Chapter 3 for information regarding the admission and types of Branch members.)…

BRANCH RESOURCE MANUAL CHAPTER 12 E-Communications Committee The purpose of the E-Communications Committee is to promote the use of electronic communications as a tool to enhance the functioning of The IW&FS, further its goals, and ultimately facilitate t…

BRANCH RESOURCE MANUAL CHAPTER 9 I was prepared to go to the States… to find, if possible, the right type of American willing and able to run Wine and Food Societies in all important cities of the United States, planning and giving dinners, luncheons an…

BRANCH RESOURCE MANUAL CHAPTER 6 Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized. André Simon. Be sure to see sample guidelines and other useful forms at the end of this chapter. The Basics To remain in good standing…

BRANCH RESOURCE MANUAL CHAPTER 3 Be sure to see sample letters and other useful templates at the end of this chapter. Selecting & Inviting New Members The founders of our Branches obviously shared a common goal in the gastronomic endeavor, specifying the …

Niagara, Ontario by Ron GiesbrechtWinemakerHenry of Pelham Family Estate Winery 1997199819992000200120022003 2004 I am feeling good about the 2004 harvest. All summer it was cool, wetter than normal and a good vintage seemed to be a possibility that was s…

blank The password for Ask Andre is: wine&food Instructions on how to use Ask André RESOURCE DIRECTORY ABOUT IWFS History IWFS Foundation, Inc. (Scholarships) Financial Statements Emeritus Directors/Life Members Annual Report IWFS Americas Inc. Board Mem…

THE SOCIETY’S OTHER FOUNDER by Philip Clark, Executive Director If you were asked to name the founder of the International Wine & Food Society, you would probably answer without hesitation that it was André Simon, whose memory still dominates the organ…

For those who attended the magnificent IW&FS Vancouver International Festival, the links below will provide warm memories of wine, food and friends.For the rest, these menus, images, videos and program will give you reason to attend our next festival. Fes…

Merseyside & Mid-Cheshire Branch hosted the EAC Regional festival 2011 in LIVERPOOL The Society’s oldest branch (established in 1934) hosted the MERSEYSIDE & NORTH WALES FESTIVAL based in Liverpool from 14th to 19th June 2011. Liverpool, the historic En…

The Wines Committee consists of a team of distinguished members of the wine world, a number of whom are Masters of Wine. The Committee meets annually, usually during May, to discuss the latest vintage assessments for its Vintage Card, App and Chart which …

Founder André Simon created the International Wine & Food Society in 1933 with a simple goal: "The object of the Society is to bring together and serve all who believe that a right understanding of good food and wine is an essential part of personal cont…

History The Wine and Food Society, later the International Wine and Food Society, was founded in London, England in 1933 by André Simon, the marketing representative in the United Kingdom for the champagne house of Pommery. He set the official date as Oc…