Newsletter March 2025 Tasting

Dear members

As we head towards our third Tasting of 2025 there seems to be a lot to report on our CBWS activities, so I’ll try to keep it brief.

On 20 February we had an enthusiastic and informative presentation of a great variety (grapes and prices) of wines by Steve Sanchis of Bodegas Leopoldo. His subject ‘The Art of Tasting Wine’ coincided with the issuance of our new wine scoring sheet. I’ll give a refresher about scoring at the next couple of tastings, in the meantime I can strongly recommend that you read the updated pages on ‘Scoring Guidance’ and ‘Describing Wine’ on the Wine Tasting section of the CBWS website.

Thanks to everyone who completed the members’ survey in January. We had a good response rate and the summary of your views can be found {here}. Members expressed a high level of satisfaction with the Society and our activities and also gave some useful suggestions for the Committee to consider and implement. One of the questions was whether individual members would like to volunteer to join the Committee or help in other ways. I am pleased that a number of members have put their names forward and I will be in touch with those members in the next few weeks. In the meantime I am delighted to welcome Val Peachey, one of our newer members to the Committee.

Please can I remind members that at each of our Tastings your payment includes one glass of Cava at the welcome, the meal and five tastings of the wines being presented. Any other drinks before, during or after the event (including coffees, brandies, liquors) are to be paid for by the members ordering them.

Our next three Tasting events are;

On 20 March our Tasting is at Los Amigos in Javea . Tim and Sandy Fawle will introduce Nicholas Hammeken, founder and director of Hammeken Cellars in Denia. This company has an innovative approach to the Spanish wine industry, and has 8 winemakers working in 18 different D.O.s making and marketing wines for the producers.Their history of development is unique and so are their wines many of which have scored well in the Penin Guide. welcome Cava will be served at 19.30 with dinner at 20.00. The cost is €45 for members and €55 for guests. The menu is as follows;

Aperitivo Jamon Iberico

Entrades (para compartir).

Guacamole con gambas y nachos (prawns)

Flor de alcachofa con trufa negra (artichokes)

Segundo – eligir

Corvina con juliana de verduras en papillote

Carlillada asada con cremosa de patatas (pork cheeks)

Postre Tarta de turron

Please book directly on the {CBWS website} or via the link below. Our maximum capacity for this event is 72. Booking is now open and will close at midday on 14 March after which no more bookings can be made and there will be no refunds for cancellations.

On 24 April (please note that this is the 4th Thursday in the month to avoid Easter), Tony and Gro Salter will be presenting their highly popular ‘Pour my Bluff’. Three people present a plausible explanation of the wine that you are blind tasting. Only one is telling the truth – your table group has to decide which one!

On 15 May at Maxim’s in Moraira we will be having a sherry tasting evening. Sherry is one of Spain’s most iconic and probably least understood wines. The range and styles of sherries is exceptional with a different type to match most food choices.

On 6 to 10 May 29 members will be going on our annual wine away trip, this time to the region of Rioja. This trip is now fully subscribed.

As a final reminder, anyone who has not yet paid their annual subscription of €30 should do so before 27 February in order to continue their membership.

Enjoy your month.

Regards

Neville