and concentrated and would be a joy with smoked duck or Manchego cheese and walnuts. These are sipping wines and a little goes a long way. SHERBORNE WINE INTEREST GROUP
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range and the Williams and Humbert 12 year old Oloroso available at Waitrose. These wines, made with enormous skill and care, are wonderfully balanced and have the kind of elegance and finesse that is often missing in younger wines. You may wish to offer them as an aperitif or with tapas but I suggest you try them with warm, thick home-made soup. A half copita at lunch time will add warmth to any bleak winter’s day. The lighter Amontillado is vibrant and revitalising, a complex, classic wine made smooth and satisfying. The dry mahogany-brown Olorosos are wonderfully rich
Julian Halsby
he aptly named Sherborne Wine Interest Group or ‘SWIG’ for short is a friendly wine appreciation club that was established in 2001 and is still going strong. The aim of the club is to enjoy wine without the pressure or expectation of being an expert. We meet three or four times a year for a meal and a tutored wine tasting in local venues. A three course meal is catered for us and while enjoying the food a wine expert talks us through a selection of wines, usually about 8, which accompany the food. The evening might start with a glass of champagne and continue with four whites and four reds. The speakers are often wine merchants or wine journalists who really know their wines. In recent years speakers have included John Avery from Bristol on Pinot Noir, Steven Spurrier from ‘Decanter’ on various aspects of Bordeaux, Tom King from Great Western Wines on Australian wines and “minerality” in wine, Simon Hore from Trenchermans on the wines of South West France, local expert David Copp on Hungarian wines, and Meirion Williams from Yapp Brothers on “Undiscovered France”. We have also had speakers from Majestic Wine and Waitrose and Reg Wilkins of local firm Quantock Wines who organised an entertaining ‘Call my Bluff ’. Upcoming events include a talk in November by Rosemary George MV, writer and expert on Languedoc wines. In early July SWIG has organised a wine tasting tour of the Languedoc to be based in the historic town of Pezenas which is at the centre of exciting new developments in oenology. We will meet wine makers, talk with oenologists and visit some fascinating wine domains. Membership of SWIG is a one-off £10 for life and the club is currently recruiting new members. If you are interested in knowing more or joining please contact Janet Taylor, Secretary, Lower Farmhouse, Oborne, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4LA Telephone: 01935 812119 or Julian Halsby on 01935 812177 www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 61