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What we tasted in May 2026

  • 4 days ago

Evington's Favourites - Oliver March



On the 8th of May we welcomed back Oliver March of Evingtion's Wine Merchants. Evington's are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year, as our Society is celebrating it's 40th. We decided to push the boat out and have a celebratory tasting. Olly chose some of his favourite wines.


We had a Viognier from next to Condrieu, which opened beautifully in the glass; a superb and very long white southern French blend from Mendoza; an aged and rich Alsatian Pinot Gris; and a really wonderful Tasmanian Chardonnay. The Beaune de Château had a fabulous nose; the Rioja reserva is a tiny production, but was everything you want a Rioja to be; the Gigondas had sweet fruit and power; while the Amarone was delicious although surprisingly light and dry. What a pleasure it was.


The wines tasted were:

  1. Yves Cuilleron, Les Vignes d'à Côtes, 2024. Collines Rhodaniennes, France. Viognier

  2. Alma Gemela White Field Blend, Onofri, 2023. Mendoza, Argentina. Marsanne, Roussanne, Chardonnay

  3. Domaine Christophe Mittnacht, Terres d'étoiles, Grand Cru Rosacker, 2019. Alsace, France. Pinot Gris

  4. Dalrymple, Piper's River, 2021. Tasmania, Australia. Chardonnay

  5. Domaine Bouchard Père et Fils, Beaune de Château premiere cru, 2022. Burgundy, France. Pinot Noir

  6. Miguel Merino, Reserva, 2019. Rioja Alta, Spain. Tempranillo, ...

  7. Domaine Brunier/Lynch, Les Pallieres, Terrasse du Diable, 2020. Gigondas, France. Grenace, Mouvèdre, Clairette

  8. Cantine Lenotti, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, 2018. Valpolicalla, Italy. Corvina, Rondiella, Oselata




Next tasting - Friday 8th May

  • 7 days ago

Favourite Wines of Evington's



This month we will welcome back Oliver March of Evington's Wine Merchants. Having taken over from his father a few years ago, Olly has established himself as pillar of the local wine community. This month Evington's are celebrating their 100th anniversary.


I do hope that you are aware of Olly’s good taste, inherited from his father perhaps, from both his tastings at the Grand Union and also in his wonderful shop. He has put together a selection of some of his most favourite wines for us to try. In recognition of our two anniversaries, a more generous budget than normal has been made available. 


Olly said:


"At Evington's we not only share the local area, members and customers with the GUWS, but a great love of discovering and sampling new and exciting wines. As we celebrate our 100th year and the GUWS celebrates its 40th, I've put together a list which I hope will continue to excite and satisfy this journey of discovery. It's a privilege to have such a large group of enthusiasts with which to share these milestones in both our organisation's history."


Olly’s tastings are always a great pleasure, I do hope that you will be able to attend. Do feel free to invite your friends as guests too. 







What we tasted in April 2026

  • Apr 11

Lychee & Gewürztraminer, Iodine, Vin Jaune, Carbonic Maceration and Calories - John Manley


On the 10th of April we were very glad to have John Manley explain to us the basis of the flavours and contents of a range of wines. John has had an extensive and varied career in chemistry, physics and AI. He has been Her Majesty’s High Sheriff of the County of City of Bristol, and is currently a visiting professor at the University of the West of England, Bristol. He is a co-owner of vineyard in Vergisson producing Pouilly Fuisse and Macon Villages wines.


John showed us the molecular basis for the rose and lychee flavours common in Gewürztraminer wines, debunked the idea that iodine had any role in the flavour profile of Chablis, explained to us the origin of the sherry- and champagne-like flavours of Vin Jaune, described how carbonic maceration is a distinct fermentation process from normal juice fermentation that is used not just in Beaujolais, and talked about the calorie content of wine (telling us that a cinnamon doughnut has more calories than a stick of dynamite!)


John's educational and entertaining talk was illustrated with some exemplary, rare and very enjoyable wines. It was much appreciated by the attendees.


The wines tasted were:

  1. Joseph Cattin, Grand Cru Hatschbourg, 2023. Alsace, France. Gewürztraminer

  2. Domaine Meyer Fonné, Grand Cru Wineck-Schlossburg, Vendage Tardive, 2021. Alsace, France. Gewürztraminer

  3. Domaine Laroche, Saint Martin, 2024. Chablis, France. Chardonnay

  4. Domaine Badoz, Château-Chalon, Vin Jaune, 2018. Jura, France. Savignin

  5. Xavier Benier, Noveau, 2025. Beaujolais, France. Gamay

  6. Onofri, Alma Gamela, 2021. Mendoza, Argentina. Garnacha

  7. Baglio Gebellina, Passimento, 2024. Sicily, Italy. Nero d'Avola, Frapatto

  8. Cantine Pellegrino, Pantellaria, Passito liquoroso, 2024. Pantellaria, Italy. Zibbibo



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