What we tasted in August 2026

Committee Tasting

On August 14th we had our AGM and a very special tasting reflecting the 40th anniversary of the Grand Union Wine Society. Wines were selected and presented by members of the committee. They were all of a high quality, but some were relatively unfamiliar and were wonderful surprises: La Rocca and the Rivesaltes VDN were standouts for me. The latter, although bottled in 2022, had spent the previous 36 years in barrel, and so was a genuine vintage from the Society's foundation year. It was delicious too.

The wines tasted were:

1. Cloudy Bay, Pelorus sparkling, NV. Marlborough, New Zealand. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (Margaret Connor)

2. Pieropan, La Rocca, 2024. Soave, Italy. Garganega (Isabel Crump)

3. Hamilton Russell Vineyards, 2023. Hemmel-en-Aarde, South Africa. Chardonnay (Bob McKinley)

4. La Despensa, 2022. Colchagua Valley, Chile. Sangiovese (Isabel Crump)

5. Les Bastides d'Alquier, Bardi d'Alquier, 2019. Faugères, France. Grenache, Syrah (Tim Hobbs)

6. Seghesio Family Vineyards, 2022. Sonoma County, USA. Zinfandel (John Malpass)

7. Riveyrac, Vin Doux Naturel, 1986. Rivesaltes, France. Grenache Noir, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Maccabeo (John Freeland)