Wales and West Federation of Winemaking Circles

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Wales and West Federation of Winemaking Circles

Newsletter July 2013

From the Editor’s Demijohn

In the July Newsletter, I try to summarise the annual Festival and to bring up to date those wine and beer makers who were not able to come along this year.

Once again, we had an excellent Festival, and although attendances were down on last year, the competition entries were slightly higher. The attendance was around 350 and there were 1672 entries from 187 competitors.

Of course, now that one Festival is over, the committee has already started to work on the next. The next one of course is the 50th and in the words of Federation Chairman Peter Coombs, “There will be a 50th Festival but we are not sure where or when it will be.”

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In this issue in 2012, I commented on the lack of ripening fruit and mentioned in particular the lack of plums and damsons. This year, the crop of plums and damsons is again poor because of the late and wet spring, but the apples, elderberries and blackberries are looking very good.

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Also in this Newsletter you will find:

The results from the 2013 Festival;

A report of the Annual General Meeting of the Wales and West Federation;

News from Bath, Cheltenham, Coleford, City of Gloucester and Newent Wine Circles.

Wales and West Newsletter July 2013

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News from the Federation

Festival 2013

A Few Statistics Before you read about the winners of the 2013 Show, here are a few statistics to whet your appetite:

The attendance at this year’s Festival was 350. This was 75 fewer than in 2012;

There were 182 competitors, 2 more than in 2012, and they represented 39 circles (2 down on 2012) and 5 Federations, the same as in 2012;

There were 1672 entries, 80 more than in 2012. These included 285 in the non-wine classes.

Class 1 (Table Red, Dry, Open) and Class 3 (Table White, Dry, Open) had the most entries, 69;

Class 54, the Federation entry of Four Bottles for a Dinner had the fewest entries, 5.

The Winners Here are the winners from the 49th Festival. Congratulations to them all:

Open Wine Classes

Class 1 – Table Red, Dry – Mrs B. Berrecloth of Brockworth;

Class 2 – Table Red, Sweet – D. Marlow of Stroud;

Class 3 – Table White, Dry – M. Norman of Nottingham;

Class 4 – Table White, Sweet – V. Wolny of East Coker;

Class 5 - Table White, Medium Sweet – Mrs E. Price of Bath;

Class 6 – Table Rosé, Medium Dry – Mrs B. Marlow of Stroud;

Class 7 – Aperitif Dry, Citrus – Mrs S. Williams of Aberdare;

Class 8 – Aperitif Dry, Herbal or Spiced – V. Wolny of East Coker;

Class 9 – Aperitif Sweet – T. Cox of Forest;


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Class 10 – Social White – C. Branson of East Coker;

Class 11 – Social Elderflower – E. Brint of The Reddings;

Class 12 – Social Red – J. Scottow (unaffiliated);

Class 13 – After Dinner Wine, Red Sweet – Mrs M. Western of East Coker;

Class 14 – After Dinner Wine, White to Brown – M. Jukes of Solent;

Class 15 - Sherry Type, Dry – A.G. Bristow of Bridgwater;

Class 16 – Sherry Type, Sweet – P. Coombs of South Gloucestershire;

Class 17 – Fresh Grape, Red Dry – J. Conway of Warmley;

Class 18 – Fresh Grape, White Dry – D. Marlow of Stroud;

Class 19 – Three Bottles – A.G. Bristow of Bridgwater;

Class 20 – Liqueur, Fruit Based – Mrs A. Drinkwater of Brook House;

Class 21 – Liqueur, Chocolate or Coffee Based – C. Hotham of Greenford Park;

Class 22 – Liqueur, Herbal or Spiced – Mrs J. Coleman of Stroud;

Class 23 – Mead, Medium – E. Taylor of Chesterfield;

Novices’ Classes

Class 24 – Social Red – C. Jameson of Nottingham;

Class 25 – Table Red, Dry – Mrs T. Fisher of Hucknall;

Class 26 – Table White, Medium Sweet – Ms J. Hardy-Lane of Brook House;

Class 27 – Table White – Dry – K. Payne of Highcliffe;

Class 28 – Table White, Medium Sweet – Mrs L. Horyczun of Cheltenham;


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Closed Wine Classes

Class 29 – Table Red, Dry – Mrs B. Berrecloth of Brockworth;

Class 30 – Table Red, Sweet - J. Conway of Warmley;

Class 31 – Table White, Dry – A. Dean of Cheltenham;

Class 32 – Table White, Sweet – Mrs B. Marlow of Stroud;

Class 33 – Table Rosé, Medium Dry – Mrs B. Marlow of Stroud;

Class 34 – After Dinner Wine, Red Sweet – A.G. Bristow of Bridgwater.

Beer Classes

Class 35 – Light Lager – E. Taylor of Chesterfield;

Class 36 – Strong Lager – C. Hill of Peterborough;

Class 37 – India Pale Ale (or Bitter) – D. Gilbert of Nottingham;

Class 38 – Light Ale – L. Cullen of Luton;

Class 39 – Brown Ale, London Type – P. Coombs of South Gloucestershire;

Class 40 – Dry Stout – J. Smith of Honiton;

Class 41 – Sweet Stout – P. Robinson of Ware;

Class 42 – Barley Wine – B. Lowe of Northern Craft Brewers;

Class 43 – Strong Pale Ale – M. Norman of Nottingham;

Class 44 – Porter – L. Cullen of Luton;

Class 45 – Three Bottles – E. Taylor of Chesterfield.

Country Wine Classes

Class 46 – Fruit Based White, Medium Sweet – R. Fensome of Luton;

Class 47 – Root or Vegetable White, Medium Sweet – A.G. Bristow of Bridgwater;


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Class 48 – Flower or Herb, any colour, Medium Sweet – D. Marlow of Stroud;

Class 49 – Fruit Based Red, Sweet – Mrs L. Barton of Jubilee;

Circle Classes

Class 50 – Table White, Sweet – East Coker Wine Circle;

Class 51 – Table Red, Dry – Nottingham Wine Circle;

Class 52 – Table White, Dry – East Coker Wine Circle;

Class 53 – Table Red, Sweet – East Coker Wine Circle.

Federation Class

Class 54 – Four Bottles for a Dinner – Somerset Federation.

Classes other than Wine or Beer

Class 55 – Loaf of Bread, White – J. Chilton of Hucknall;

Class 56 – Loaf of Bread, Brown – B. Daniels of Southbourne;

Class 57 – Victoria Sandwich – Mrs G. Keyes of City of Gloucester;

Class 58 – Six Assorted Fancy Cakes – Mrs L. Manvill of Bridgwater;

Class 59 – Lemon Drizzle Cake – A. Hinch of Nottingham;

Class 60 – Six Biscuits – Miss M. Clark (unaffiliated);

Class 61 – Three Plain Medium Scones – Mrs G. Keyes of City of Gloucester;

Class 62 – Jar of Jam – Mrs V. Bolt of Warmley;

Class 63 – Jar of Jelly Conserve– Mrs G. Keyes of City of Gloucester;

Class 64 – Jar of Chutney – Miss M. Clark (unaffiliated);

Class 65 – Cartoon – R. Carter of Cheltenham;

Class 66 – Photograph – B. Berrecloth of Brockworth.


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Special Trophies

Bruce Smith Trophy – Mrs B. Marlow of Stroud;

Gerry Hickey Trophy – Mrs S. Williams of Aberdare;

Carl Jones Trophy – T. Western of East Coker;

Bishops Cleeve Shield – A.G. Bristow of Bridgwater;

George Lashbrook Trophy – City of Gloucester Wine Circle;

Circle Challenge Cup – East Coker Wine Circle;

South Gloucestershire Trophy – Luton Wine Circle;

Leytonian Cup – Nottingham Wine Circle;

Wales and West Federation Circle Championship – Stroud and District Wine Circle;

Peter Coombs Trophy –C. Hill of Peterborough

Lilian Lucas Trophy and Novice of the Year – K. Payne of Highcliffe;

Mendip Trophy and Cook of the Year – Mrs G. Keyes of City of Gloucester.

Ken Perry Trophy and Master Beermaker – C. Hill of Peterborough;

Bridgwater Trophy and Master Winemaker – A.G. Bristow of Bridgwater;

If you would like a complete results list, please send a stamped address envelope big enough to take five A4 sheets to me, the editor, at the address on the last page of this Newsletter.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Wales and West Federation took place at Sand Bay Leisure Resort on Monday 10th June 2013. Fifteen affiliated circles were represented and apologies for absence were received from four circles.


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The following matters were discussed:

Matters arising from the Minutes

Time of the Open Forum D.Webber of Bath Wine Circle commented that it had been agreed at the AGM in 2012 that the Open Forum would start at 9.30 am but in fact it did not start until 10.00 am.

J. Conway of Warmley Wine Circle thought that it worked better at 10.00 am. P. Coombs said that this issue could be raised again as Any Other Business.

Chairman’s Report

P. Coombs asked for delegates to accept a slight change in the order of the agenda as he had a good reason to present his report before the Treasurer’s report.

He said that the committee had experienced a challenging year. After the 2012 Festival, the committee were told by the Sand Bay management that Sand Bay would not be hosting the Festival in 2013. Many members of the committee had searched for another venue but that proved very difficult and illustrated what good value we get from Sand Bay. However, there was a change of heart by the Sand Bay management but we could not have the Late Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

This meant that the committee had to mount a campaign to tell everyone about the change of weekend and to promote the Festival as much as possible. In terms of attendance, the change cost between 50 and 60 attendees but in fact the number of show entries was slightly higher than in 2012.

Peter said that there were rumours that the Sand Bay site is up for sale, but he assured the AGM that there would be a Festival in 2014 but he did not know where or when it would be held.

Peter then went on to praise the committee who had worked well as a team throughout a difficult year. (Applause from the delegates.)


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Peter then announced that Nobby Clark, the Federation’s Treasurer, was standing down. He had been on the committee in various roles since 1997 and had become a guiding hand while keeping a tight grip on the finances. Being the Treasurer is a tough job and Peter was grateful and appreciative of how Nobby had done it.

Peter then presented Nobby with a case of wines to applause from the delegates.

Treasurer’s Report

N. Clark presented the balance sheet for the period 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2013 to the meeting. This showed that the Federation had made a loss of £1025.95 during the year and Nobby said that this was mainly because of the increases in cost of printing and stationery and the fact that postage was higher because the Federation’s database was not as complete as the one held by Sand Bay.

He thanked Carol Coombs for the amount raised by the Tombola and pointed out that this cost nothing as all the prizes were donated.

There were no questions from the floor, so Peter Coombs thanked Nobby for his report asked the meeting to accept the Treasurer’s Report.

Proposed: D. Webber (Bath) Seconded: R. Carter (Cheltenham) It was accepted unanimously.

Election of Committee

The Chairman confirmed that with the exception of the Treasurer, the members of the retiring committee were happy to continue this year.

At this point the committee resigned and Federation President Ron Williams took the chair. Before asking for nominations for the committee, the President thanked the Chairman and the members of the retiring committee for their hard work during the year.

The following elections took place:


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Chairman Peter Coombs (South Glos) Proposed:

A. Dean (Cheltenham) Seconded: J. Conway (Warmley) There were no other nominations so Peter Coombs was re-elected unanimously. Treasurer J. Coleman (Stroud and District) Proposed: D. Marlow (Stroud and District) Seconded: B.Newport (Warmley) There were no other nominations so John Coleman was elected unanimously Secretary Marian Nicholson (Coleford) Proposed: D. Webber (Bath) Seconded: V. Fussell (Stroud and District) There were no other nominations so Marian Nicholson was re-elected unanimously Committee The members of the retiring committee were re-elected en bloc. Proposed: R.Carter (Cheltenham) Seconded:


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N.Clark (Warmley) The members of the retiring committee were re-elected unanimously Jan Coleman of Stroud and District offered herself for election to the committee.

Proposed: V. Fussell (Stroud and District) Seconded: B. Marlow (Stroud and District) Jan Coleman was elected unanimously

Appointment of Auditor

Nobby Clark of Warmley Wine Circle was prepared to act as the Auditor. Proposed: J. Conway (Warmley) Seconded: S. Hotchkins (Warmley) There were no other nominations so Nobby Clark was appointed.

Any Other Business

Revised Start of the Open Forum

J. Conway of Warmley Wine Circle proposed that the Open Forum should start at 9:30 am instead of 10:00 am, as was agreed at the AGM in 2012. The proposal was seconded by D. Webber of Bath Wine Circle.

M. Bolt of Warmley Wine Circle proposed an amendment to John Conway’s proposal to start the Open Forum at 10.00 am. The amendment was defeated with 9 votes in favour and 16 against, so the original proposal was carried and the Open Forum will start at 9.30 am from 2014.


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Insurance and Subscriptions

A. Dean of Cheltenham Winemakers asked if the subscriptions and the contribution to the Federation’s insurance premium would be unchanged for 2013/2014.

D. Raymond for the Committee replied that the subscription would stay the same but there had been no decision from NAWB, the National Association of Winemakers and Brewers (Amateur) regarding the insurance premium.

Printing of Schedules

V. Bolt of Warmley Wine Circle asked if schedules could be sent to circles and not to individuals.

N. Clark for the Committee replied that schedules were sent to circles and individuals at the same time.

Meeting Closed

There being no further business, the Chairman thanked the delegates for attending, wished them a safe journey home and closed the Annual General Meeting at 11:12 a.m.

Your Committee

At the Annual General Meeting, the following committee was elected to serve for the period 2013/2014:

President (ex-officio), Vice Chairman and Convenor of Judges – Ron Williams 5 Hillcrest Avenue Aberaman ABERDARE Mid Glamorgan CF44 8YH Tel: 01685 876121 email: ronvwilliams@ hotmail.com


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Chairman and Public Relations Officer – Peter Coombs 32 Siston Common Warmley BRISTOL BS30 5LP Tel: 0117 9608347 email: [email protected]

Secretary - Mrs Marian Nicholson Sunnycroft Symonds Yat West ROSS-ON-WYE Herefordshire HR9 6BJ Tel: 01600 890652 email: marian.nicholson@ virgin.net

Treasurer – John Coleman 136 Leckhampton Road CHELTENHAM GL53 0DH Tel: 01242 235014 email: [email protected]

Programme Secretary – Mrs Viv Hotchkins 24 Parkwall Road Cadbury Heath BRISTOL BS30 8HL email: us4sports2@ blueyonder.co.uk


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Registrar – Mrs Ros Raymond 1 Addinsell Road Redhouse SWINDON SN25 2GA Tel: 01793 725408 email draymond55@ hotmail.com

Results Secretary – David Raymond Same as Ros Raymond

Trophies Secretary and Newsletter Editor – Trevor Nicholson Same as Marian Nicholson email: [email protected]

Show Manager – Steve Hotchkins Same as Viv Hotchkins

Entries Secretary – Mrs Bridget Berrecloth 82, Riversley Road GLOUCESTER GL2 0QT Tel: 01452 529077 email [email protected]

Fund Raiser - Mrs Carol Coombs Same as Peter Coombs

Information Officer - Mrs Sylvia Williams Same as Ron Williams

Supplies Officer - Bill Berrecloth Same as Bridget Berrecloth


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Committee Member - Mrs Jan Coleman Same as John Coleman

Subscriptions

May I remind you that subscriptions are due. Please send your subscription for 2013/2014 to the Federation Registrar, Ros Raymond, at:

Mrs R. Raymond 1 Addinsell Road Redhouse SWINDON SN25 2GA Tel: 01793 725408 email [email protected]

The subscription for 2013/2014 is to remain unchanged at £6.00.

Group Insurance

May I also remind participating circles that your contribution to the premium for the Wales and West group insurance scheme is due for renewal.

Each circle’s contribution to the premium for 2013/2014 is to remain unchanged at £24. Circles who wish to renew their existing cover and other circles who wish to join the scheme should contact Ros Raymond at the above address.

Charitable Donation

The committee has decided that this year’s charitable donation on behalf of the members of the Wales and West Federation will go to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).


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News from the Circles

Bath Wine Circle

(From Doug Webber of Bath Wine Circle)

The Triathlon against Warmley last month proved to be yet another successful evening. Many thanks to Dinah & Ron Auton and Val Bellinger who formed our panel for the “Call My Bluff” and entertained us by trying to define those obscure words produced by Stan.

We were completely outwitted by Warmley in this part of the Competition. However, we really turned the tables on them as we won all three of the Wine Classes, with excellent wines from Cyril Price, Alf Ashton and Ken Horroll.

But in the end we couldn’t match Warmley in the General Knowledge Quiz as they won both parts and also the “magnificent” Wooden Spoon Trophy, which I understand they proudly displayed at the Nailsea Barbecue two days later. All the work that Stan, Don (ably assisted by Joanne) put in and Wally for judging the wines is greatly appreciated.

Cheltenham Amateur Winemakers

(From Richard Carter of Cheltenham Amateur Winemakers)

Cheltenham Amateur Winemakers entered their 60th year in 2013. To celebrate this achievement we replaced our annual Spring Dance with a diamond jubilee dinner on 18th May, ably supported by nine wine circles from the North Gloucestershire area.

After the dinner, Cheltenham’s President, Mrs Cynthia Turner, and Chairman Mr Alan Dean cut the anniversary cake. This was followed by a thoroughly enjoyable talk on “the lighter side of life” by our guest speaker Mrs Susan Marshfield. The evening was completed by a song from Cheltenham’s very own Glee Cub Choir.

All members and guests reported they had had a wonderful and relaxing evening and left with smiles on their faces (alcohol induced?) Many thanks to all of the local clubs who supported us on the night and here’s to the next 60 years.


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The dinner was just one of several celebrations planned during their 60th year, finishing with an all expenses paid for members to New York, although our treasurer knows nothing of this to date. (Sorry, it could be Newark).

So, is Cheltenham the oldest winemaking club in the country? Over the years there have been many discussions, arguments and theories as to which amateur winemaking club is the oldest. Andover and Cheltenham have always been favourites to lay claim to the premier title. Hopefully I can settle the argument once and for all, although I suspect this article will open up another can of worms.

Both clubs started in 1953, Cheltenham formed a preliminary committee in March of that year but the club did not have its first members’ meeting until October. During communications with Andover they informed us that they in fact held their first club meeting earlier in the year of 1953 thus making them the oldest club in England (UK?)

Congratulations Andover, we in Cheltenham concede, or is there another older club ready to spring a surprise, perhaps a small village half way between Cardiff and Weston-super-Mare. Watch this space.

Yours fermentingly,

Cheltenham Committee.


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Coleford and District Amateur Winemakers

Coleford Winemakers held their annual Barbeque on Sunday 14th July under bright blue skies, such a change from last year when the event had to be re-scheduled because of the weather and was finally held in a local Village Hall.

This year, about 50 members of wine circles from Hereford to South Gloucestershire enjoyed a BBQ lunch with garden games and music provided by Coleford member Gordon Hayward. The afternoon was rounded off with a raffle and for once the visitors from City of Gloucester did not win all the prizes.

Mary Davis of City of Gloucester Wine Circle took the pictures of the guests making the most of the good weather.


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City of Gloucester Wine Circle

City of Gloucester Wine Circle will be holding their Autumn Dance at Norton Village Hall on Saturday 19th October. Tickets are £6 and dancing will be to Misfits. Bring your own food for an English supper.

City of Gloucester Wine Circle’s Carol Concert will be held at Churchdown School on Thursday 19th December. This year’s chosen charity is McMillan Nurses.

For tickets, and more information about these events, contact Mary Davis at [email protected] or on 01452 613911.

Newent Wine Circle

In June, Newent Wine Circle members continued the circle’s tradition of an annual coach trip to Europe with a nine-day visit to Austria to travel on some of the little trains.

Early in the morning of Saturday 15th June, thirty-eight members and guests set out from Newent for the Dover ferry and an overnight stop in a hotel opposite the Stella Artois brewery in Leuven in Belgium.

The next morning we were up early and continued our journey to our holiday hotel in the small village of Niederau in the Austrian Tyrol.

The picture on the next page shows the view across the village from the hotel.


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During the next five days we went to several narrow gauge railways, visited Innsbruck and enjoyed a Tyrolean evening at another hotel in the village.

This picture was taken at the station at the top of the Schafberg Railway. That’s the one you sometimes see on the television where the hotel is on the edge of a sheer drop into the valley below. Not a place for those without a head for heights.

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Being winemakers, we also sampled some of the local wines, beers and liqueurs– as well as Apfel Strudle, various other Austrian dishes and Chocolate. (Well, you have to, don’t you? It’s only polite!)

All too soon it was time to leave and we set off on the long journey back to our overnight stop in Leuven, pausing only at the Ochsen Hotel in Kock for lunch and to take a photo of a heron’s nest on a chimney, a sight that many of us had never seen before.

Many thanks are due to circle members Helen and Alan Causon for organising this trip and the general feeling was that they must do it again some time.

Finally, I must mention those essential ingredients of a Newent Wine Circle coach tour; wine and home-made cakes on the coach. Thanks to all who provided the wine and made the cakes.


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Well that is it for this issue. I hope you have found something to interest you, maybe even to inspire you to tell the rest of the Federation about the events in your circle.

Don’t forget I can accept digital photos of the goings-on in your circle by email. Please send them, in JPEG format, to the email address below.

My thanks for their contributions to:

Doug Webber of Bath

Richard Carter of Cheltenham Amateur Winemakers

Mary Davis of City of Gloucester

The next issue of the Newsletter is due in October 2013. Please send your news to me:

Trevor Nicholson Sunnycroft Symonds Yat West Ross-on-Wye Herefordshire HR9 6BJ

Email: [email protected]

Wales and West Federation of Winemaking Circles

Documents

Transcript of Wales and West Federation of Winemaking Circles