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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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Past Events IWFS Manchester Branch – Judgement of Paris 50th Anniversary Celebration Manchester Hall, Saturday 23rd May, 2026 As part of the IWFS worldwide 50th anniversary celebration and re-enactment of the Judgement of Paris, three IWFS North West br…

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 …

Chicago, USA 6-9 September 2023 What a wine and food extravaganza! This festival was a French Wine Experience to really savour set in the beautiful and historic city of Chicago. Members were treated to a spectacular tasting of Mature Wines (one dating bac…

Message from the Honorary President Chris Bonsall It seems rather strange to be writing to you about the pleasures of the table with the world yet again in turmoil. The human spirit needs, however, to find joy amongst all that besets it and there are few …

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…

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…

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…

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…

85th ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL WINE & FOOD SOCIETY 14TH NOVEMBER 2018 Celebrate the 85th Anniversary of your Society. Please see below for the menu served along with sample recipes. To download a pdf please click here. PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY TH…

2023 - CELEBRATING 90 YEARS OF THE INTERNATIONAL WINE & FOOD SOCIETY Celebrate the 90th Anniversary of your Society. Here are some tools to help you with this - Logos and First Meeting Menu. 90th Anniversary Logo Please see below the guidelines about how …

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 …

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…

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…

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…

Vintage Card Consultants The IWFS is very fortunate to have a team of specialist consultants based around the world who each year provide a review of the latest vintage and also update the development of recent vintages. Many of them have been doing this …

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…

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…

André Simon Bronze Medal Kathy Kallaus, Americas Board member and Editor for their zone magazine, Wine, Food & Friends, was awarded the André Simon Bronze medal recently for her outstanding and devoted service to the IWFS. The surprise presentation was …

Member App Updates: Food & Wine Pairing Have you yet clicked on the Wine & Food Pairing button on our Member App? If not then we recommend you give it a try. This is a really useful guide to assist you in pairing wine with food. Correct pairing improves t…

This article also appeared in Wine Spectator Missing the Boat By Bob Dickinson,Miami Director and Wine Committee Chairman Several years ago, eight friends were having a blind wine tasting. As fate would have it, two fellows brought the identical wine, 197…

Marc Steven Zeidler Originally Published by Los Angeles Times from Aug. 24 to Aug. 29, 2021. November 21, 1953 - August 22, 2021 Marc Steven Zeidler, a kind man who was one of a kind, has died suddenly at 67, to the shock and distress of scores of family …

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 >.…

L to R Erwin Siegler, Lionel Have, White House Executive Chef Henry Haller Our 16th President of the Omaha Branch, ERWIN SIEGLER 1987 - 1987 died on 9/11/2020 from pancreatic cancer. He was 84 years old. Executive Chef and Businessman Erwin was Born in Ge…

Restaurant and Excellence Awards Restaurant Awards Application forms for IWFS EAZ Restaurant Awards can be found here. These should be filled in and sent to the EAZ Awards Officer by post or Email. Ruth Hurst EAZ Awards Officer Chestnut House, 3 Acre Wood…

IWFS AND ZONE AWARDS for MEMBERS The Society has a number of Awards that can be presented to members who have made an exceptional contribution to the Society or to a Branch over a number of years. These have recently been revised to ensure that there is c…

J.A. WILLIAM WHITEACRE, UE MM CD QC BA LLB September 24, 1923 - August 11, 2020 Published in The Globe and Mail from Aug. 15 to Aug. 19, 2020. Bill lived life large with a voracious appetite for adventure, knowledge, the Arts, gourmet food, and fine wines…

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…

By Ron Fenolio, CEO Veedercrest Vineyards and Winery Does the title “left over wine” just seem like an oxymoron to you? It may seem funny to many that we didn’t finish the bottle we opened to enjoy. But one bottle is often too much for a couple of p…

After a life well-lived, Gerhard W. Cibis, M.D., 76, of Kansas City, MO passed away at home from complications of lung cancer on September 1, 2019. Gerhard was born on November 5, 1942 in Heidelberg, Germany to Lisa and Paul Cibis, M.D. When he was 7 year…

HOFFMAN, James Irvie, III James Hoffman, age 77, died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack on May 16 while vacationing with his wife Ellen in Hawaii. Jim grew up in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the son of J. Irvie, Jr. and Sarah Hoffman. Trips “ou…

IWFS Americas Inc List of Emeritus Directors as of October 30, 2024Asterisk indicates deceasedAdditional service to IWFS: CA=Chair of IWFS Americas;MC=Member of International Council; CC=Chair of International Council;HP=Honorary President Ms. Ginny Ander…

Christy (Stewart) MarshApril 24, 1949 - January 4, 2019 Christy was the second of seven children born to Rodney and Georgiana (Kraus) Stewart in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from St. Theresa Academy and St. Mary College in Leavenworth, Kansas with…

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…

24th September 2017 How is your Subscription to IWFS spent?What are the Society’s plans for the future?Come to our region’s second Annual General Meeting and find out. Come and tell us what you think. Come and help to shape the Society’s future. All…

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…

STOP PRESS We very much regret to report that the cheese tasting lunch has had to be cancelled. All the other events will be taking place as planned. Say Cheese! - In rural Oxfordshire 5-6th June 2014 With a wine-tasting dinner, and a private tour of a Ja…

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…

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…

IWFS Europe Africa - 85th Anniversary Dinner,Wed 14th November 2018 at Northcote, Lancashire Michelin starred Northcote will be one venue for an 85th Anniversary Dinner where Lisa Goodwin-Allen – of The Great British Menu fame - will prepare, and talk t…

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 DELHI CHAPTER was formed due to an initiative by Mr. Jai Hiremath and Sanjay Menon of the Bombay branch to convince Rajiv Kehr to take the lead in forming the Delhi branch. Delhi branch started off with a bang on 2nd August 2015 with an open…

Charter CHARTER OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE AMERICAS OF THE INTERNATIONAL WINE & FOOD SOCIETY LIMITED 1996 The INTERNATIONAL WINE & FOOD SOCIETY LIMITED (the Society) hereby grants this Charter and thereby creates the body and entity to be known here…

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 …

Places to eat and stay Hotels and Restaurants The initials BE have been used to indicate that the branch has held events at the hotel/restaurant and MR that the hotel/restaurant has been recommended by a member Hotels Top of the Range Lucknam Park (BE) ww…

Overview Welcome to the Inland NW 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. Nea…

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…

OUR LOCAL CULINARY LEXICON The International Wine & Food Society New Orleans Branch Welcomes Members World-wide to the Crescent City Visitors to the Crescent City, so-called for the large bend in the Mississippi River along the French Quarter a/k/a the Vi…

Events Easily search for current, future and past events by selecting a year in the "List events by year" option under the calendar. Check out The Gazette & Photos page for newsletter and photos of past events. Want to plan an event! Contact a board membe…

Menus: '50s-'60s 1969 Dinners 347th Dinner - Tavern Club 348th Dinner - Sheraton-Blackstone 345th Dinner - Chicago Club 346th Dinner - Frank & Marie's 343rd Dinner - Continental Plaza 344th Dinner - Hartford Plaza 341st Dinner - Mid-America Club 342nd Din…

Recipes Crème Caramel Serves 4-6 Utensils 1 ½ pt (850ml) soufflé dish, 5 inches (13cms) diameter roasting tin, pan, mixing bowl, whisk, wooden spoon Ingredients For the Caramel 6 oz (175g) white caster sugar 2 tablespoons water For the Custard 5fl oz (…

Branch 65th Anniversary and 500th Event The 500th event of the branch coincided with the 65th Anniversary Dinner. The occasion was also marked by the presentation of long service medals to three members by IWFS EAZ officer Tricia Fletcher. More images of …

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…

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…

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…

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SONOMA FESTIVAL PHOTO GALLERY Submitted by Gary and Connie Martin, Omaha/Council Bluffs IWFS members Sonoma was a dream location to host the IWFS 2017 Sonoma Festival with its proximity to the San Francisco, miles of rugged Pacific …

Narita and Haneda International Airports are Tokyo’s two major airports. The largest airport is Narita International Airport (IATA Airport Code: NRT) which is located an hour’s drive from Tokyo. Haneda International Airport (IATA Airport Code: HND) is…

FULL CRITERIA FOR GIVING AWARDS CAN BE FOUND BY CLICKING HERE All of us on the Awards Committee are aware that there are many directors, officers and members who volunteer to make their branches successful. The only reward they get is an occasional “Tha…

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: Scott A. Bailey, I.M. © Foreword: Prior to traveling, I engaged in pre-requisite wine reading for familiarization with the Eastern European grapes, which were largely unknown to me. Jancis Robinson’s & Hugh Johnson’s World Atlas of Wine, 6th edit…

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…

In 2008, the world’s oldest and most renowned gastronomic society, The International Wine & Food Society, celebrates its 75th anniversary. In 1933, André L. Simon, CBE, Legion d’Honneur, and renowned bibliophile, gourmet, wine connoisseur, historian …

By Simon Field –MW, Blackpool & Fylde Coast (Originally appeared in Wine, Food & Friends, Issue #92, Winter 2009) Champagne is a delightful enigma; seen by some as a stand-alone category which bears scant re semblance to the rest of the wine trade. It i…

Click here to visit the blog of Sid Cross, long time member of the Vancouver branch and recognised for his extensive knowledge of wine and food. He has travelled the world tasting and judging to become a world respected educator-judge-media personality on…

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-…

(Originally appeared in Wine, Food & Friends, Issue # 102, Summer 2012) The Dowager Lady Swaythling OBE (1879-1965) was a key member of André Simon’s inner circle and played an important role in the founding of The International Wine & Food Society. Si…

By Jack Rubyn – Marin County (Originally appeared in Wine, Food & Friends Issue #67, Fall 2003)Defining our expectations and communicating our desires are key elements to partaking in a satisfying dining experience. We all want a great meal with attract…

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…

Each branch of the IW&FS is unique and collectively brings to our Society the best of traditions with the common thread which ties us together: the melding of the pleasure of the company of our members, who enjoy beautifully prepared food, matched with in…

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…

By IW&FS Honorary President John Avery, MW The Festival gave a great opportunity to show as many different European wines as possible and the organisers correctly used every opportunity to include U.K. produced wines and to show how good they are now - es…

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…

PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE The Society has a long-established public liability insurance program for the benefit of all its Branches and Members worldwide. This coverage is presently achieved through two interlocking policies issued by Capitol Specialty I…

Click here for tutorial videos on the new website for branch administrators. Click here for some ideas on running a virtual event Click on Document Name to open Document Name Date Comment Insurance Manual January 2024 Update for 2024 Insurance Guidelines …

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 …

Public Liability Insurance The Society has a long-established public liability insurance program for the benefit of all its Members worldwide. This coverage is presently achieved through two interlocking policies issued by Lexington Insurance Company ("Le…

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 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 …

BRANCH RESOURCE MANUAL CHAPTER 1 The International Wine & Food Society is divided into three zones, also referred to as companies: Europe Africa (EAC), Asia Pacific (APZ) and the Americas. Each zone adopted a corporate structure as of January 2015, and as…

THE INTERNATIONAL WINE & FOOD SOCIETY IWFS Americas Inc. Board of Directors of the Americas (BDA) Awards Committee AWARD CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES The Board of Directors of the Americas (hereafter referred as “BDA”) of IWFS Americas Inc. (hereafter refe…

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…

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Where to Prospect for Members? 2. Aging Wines or Aging Members? 3. Closing the Deal 4. More Help Recruiting? Go Straight to Your IWFS Americas Inc.! 5. A Word of Caution 6. Need to Excite Your Members? Variety is the Spice of Life!! 7…

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 …

Our regional organization starts with the shared values of our International Society. Please take a moment to review those pages. With 31 branches and over 1000 members in 14 countries throughout the region, the Asia Pacific maintains a diversified progra…