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Next tasting - Friday 11th April

6 days ago
Wines of the Alto Adige with Master of Wine Nancy Gilchrist

On April 11th there will be a tasting at the Grand Union Wine Society of the wines of the Alto Adige. Presenting these wines, we are lucky to have Master Of Wine Nancy Gilchrist: https://www.mattersoftaste.co.uk/


The Alto Adige, positioned in northernmost Italy, is a land of spectacular contrast and diversity, no larger than St Emilion in Bordeaux. It is a frontier region with a particularly sensitive and finely balanced ecosystem; not just politically but geographically, viticulturally, and, more recently, climatically as well. Winemaking here requires a special skill set.


The 5000 or so individual wine growers own, on average, just 1 ha of vineyard each. These range in altitude from 200m to 1000m, and are to be found on soils from sedimentary to metamorphic, to volcanic. The kaleidoscopic diversity in microclimates that results provides the region's winemakers with an enviable range of flavours with which to create their widely respected, high quality wines. Add to this twenty different grape varieties grown and you have a region that produces a delicious complexity of wines of notable quality. 


Nancy Gilchrist MW has spent ten happy years working with the Consorzio Vini Alto Adige as their UK ambassador. Join her for a tasting and presentation on Friday 11th April, 2025, during which she will introduce this beautiful, intricately varied region, and illustrate how Alto Adige’s very diversity is its strength. 


Please make your payment to attend in the usual way, as per the standard instructions attached to the email. Your prompt attention is helpful to us, please pay by the end of Monday the 7th of April. We will be glad if you will consider inviting guests to the tasting. We hope to see you there.



What we tasted in March 2025

Mar 15

In February we welcomed back Preet Sahota of Edgmond Wines, who showed a range of elegant wines from South Africa. Avoiding the most obvious South African varieties, Preet presented some fabulous and hard-to-obtain wines. We had a very enjoyable evening.


For more information:


The wines tasted were:

  1. 2024 Cloudskraal Sauvignon Blanc

  2. 2024 Pilgrim Weisser Riesling

  3. 2024 Pilgrim Viura

  4. 2023 Blake Family Wines Malbec

  5. 2021 Nederburg WInemasters Merlot

  6. 2023 Pilgrim Carménère

  7. 2012 Mooiplaas Watershed Syrah

  8. 2022 Villa Esposto Straw Wine Muscat d’Alexandrie



  1. Two Grand Union pourers, Mark Payne and Tim Edwards, and our presenter Preet Sahota
    Two Grand Union pourers, Mark Payne and Tim Edwards, and our presenter Preet Sahota

Next tasting - Friday 14th March

Feb 27

Grand Union presents Edgmond Wines on March 14th


A wide variety of terroirs and a group of adventurous vineyard owners have made South Africa into one of the most dynamic wine countries in the world.


Two years ago, Preet Sahota from Edgmond Wines opened our eyes and palates to a selection of these areas and producers. 


On March 14th he is returning with his enthusiasm and knowledge to bring us yet more new vineyard and grape variety finds. 


Among others, we will explore Citrusdal Mountain and Skurfberg via Weisser Riesling  and Muscat d’Alexandrie straw wine.


Come along and find out what lies beyond the Western Cape. tasting


Please make your payment to attend in the usual way, as per the standard instructions attached. Your prompt attention is helpful to us, please pay by the end of Monday the 10th of March. We will be glad if you will consider inviting guests to the tasting.


For more information:


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