In another first for the O.C.s,  2017’s events commenced with a Wine Tasting Evening, held at one of the West Country’s longest established, and most prestigious wine merchants, Avery’s, at the foot of Park Street.  This family run business was established in 1793, and continues today under the stewardship of a fifth generation member.  A brief and interesting history of the company, and its progressive expansion in encompassing wines from the “New World” to add to the traditional Bordeaux, Burgundy, and European wines, was detailed in a small brochure given to each visitor.

 

The setting for the evening was the wine cellars, dating from the 1850s which created a most appropriate atmosphere and ambience for our party of 32 O.C.s, Parents and O.C.R.F.C. members, who all enjoyed an introductory glass of Avery’s Special Cuvée Champagne.

 

Our guide and “tutor” was Frank Mason, Avery’s Events Manager, who is in the final stages of obtaining the much coveted accreditation of Master of Wine.  He gave an informative resumé of the steps of wine tasting, notably, Colour/Intensity, Aroma/Bouquet, and Taste, and related this process on each of the wines which we sampled during the evening, together with details of the vineyards, location, grape variety and other points of interest.  Our brochure gave a space against each wine to make personal observations, and a score out of 10.
 
The white wines sampled were a:
 
-German Gewurtztraminer
-Spanish White Rioja
-New Zealand Viognier (similar to Chardonnay)
 
An excellent buffet was served as an interlude between the Whites, and the subsequent Reds.  A selection of cheeses – Brie, Smoked Cheddar, Blue Stilton, and a smooth Chicken Liver Pate, were accompanied by oven fresh bread, and a Chilean Red Cabernet Sauvignon “Cheese Wine”.
 


The reds which followed were a:
 
-Shiraz from South Australia
-Portuguese -  Douro Valley
-French Vin de Pays from the Languedoc
 
Unlike most commercial wine tastings, where samples can be measured by the teaspoon, Averys were very generous with their portions, and usually supplied refills where a “second opinion” was claimed necessary!  There was also a 15% discount on offer, which made most of the wines a very economic proposition, although there was no obligation,or pressure to purchase.
 
A show of hands at the end of the evening placed the Gewurtztraminer as  the favourite White, but votes for the Reds were very evenly distributed.
 
To conclude the evening, O.C. President, Bob Jennings, thanked all attendees for their participation, and proposed a round of applause for Frank Mason, for his illuminating and enthusiastic presentation.

 

Another immensely enjoyable event, for which our thanks must go to Tracy, and Bob, and definitely not forgetting Doug Lodge and his camera for an excellent photographic record of the evening.
 
David Tooze

Photo gallery of the wine tasting evening