| Status: | Active, full but can join waiting list |
| Leader: | |
| When: | Monthly on Tuesday evenings 7:30 pm-9:30 pm First Tuesday of the month at 7.30 pm |
| Venue: | Members Homes |
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New members welcome!
If you're curious to see what we’re about, we’re happy to offer a trial visit before moving from the waiting list to full membership, as space allows. For more information, please contact Maria – we’d love to hear from you!
Welcome to WAG2 – Wine Appreciation Group 2
WAG2 is a friendly, sociable and informative group that meets once a month, on the first Tuesday evening. We began in September 2019 and have grown into a lively mix of couples and individuals who all share an interest in exploring wine in good company.
Each month, one of our members hosts the meeting in their home. Sometimes another member volunteers to plan the wine theme for the evening. Themes vary widely—from wines of a particular country, to small producers, seasonal favourites like summer barbecue wines, or even something festive for Bonfire Night! The theme-setter usually selects and brings along six wines (typically three whites and three reds), and we use small tasting glasses to sample them properly.
We might begin with a blind tasting—trying to guess the grape variety, region, flavours, aromas, or strength—and then vote for our favourites. It’s all very relaxed and good fun. The cost of the wines and nibbles are shared equally among those attending and usually works out at under £10 per person.
We meet at 7:30pm. After trying the first three wines, we normally take a break for nibbles and a chat, sometimes with a light-hearted quiz. Our hosts provide a spittoon for those who are driving or prefer not to finish each glass (and we encourage lift-sharing whenever possible). Our members are spread across the DU3A area, from Thaxted in the north to Hatfield Broad Oak in the south.
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Wine Appreciation Group
Meeting June 2026
Meeting hosted by Jane & Peter
Theme: Wines produced on islands always have something special about them.
The sea has a bearing on the climate and the scent which along with other factors can lead to interesting conditions and soils producing unique wines.
Some islands have volcanic soils which add a touch of smoke or ash to the wines. The ideal climate for vine growth is between about 30 and 40 degrees of latitude north where the seasons are generally pleasantly mild with enough rainfall and plentiful sunshine.
Islands within this band have been home to the most original wines in the world for centuries.
7 wines, variously coloured were sampled from Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Madeira, Tenerife, Crete and Santorini.
The overall favourite was a Nero Oro Reserva from Sicily where the Nero D’Avola grapes are grown in rich loamy soils which produce grapes with great concentration and finesse! This red wine is available from Majestic for £13.50*.
During the interlude we had an island quiz and we finished the evening with a fortified wine from Madeira (Henriques & Henriques £12.50* from Majestic) whose name is unique to and synonymous with the island. It undergoes the estufagem process where it is repeatedly warmed and cooled for 3 months, making it stable before ageing 3 years in oak casks.
*6 bottle price
If you would like to test your island knowledge, here are 4 of the questions:
1 Which is the largest island in the Mediterranean sea?
2 On which island was Napolean Bonaparte born?
3 Which Canary island was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993?
4 What is the name of the network of water channels built in Madeira to transport water to their crops?
Answers to quiz : 1 Siciiy 2 Corsica 3 Lanzarote 4 Levadas
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Wine Appreciation Group
Meeting May 2026
Meeting hosted by Colin & Glenda
Theme: Wines from countries you wouldn’t expect
The evening was an exploration of wines from unusual countries. The group was challenged to name the countries the wines were from. To help, they were given a selection of possible countries and a hint in the form of the words ‘I love wine’ in the language of the relevant country.
The wines were all blind tasted and the origins and interesting information about the wines and the countries was revealed at the end.
The wines were:-
Type of Wine Name Country Cost Purchased Sparkling white Blanc de Cabernet Kew series Moldova £12.99 Laithwaites White Tbilvino. Qvevris Rkatsiteli Georgia £13.00 Majestic White Art Armenia 'Kangun' Viognier 2024 Armenia £12.00 Majestic Red Pfaffl St. Laurent Vom Haus Austria £9.50 Majestic Red 100 Años Reserva Tannat 2022 Uruguay £14.99 Laithwaites Red Good Earth Antaraa India £14.00 Maharaja drinks The preferred white by the majority was the Blanc de Cabernet Kew series by Laithwaites.
The preferred red was 100 Años Reserva Tannat 2022.
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Wine Appreciation Group
Meeting April 2026
Meeting hosted by Vicky.
April Meet: A Journey to the Western Cape
Following the Easter break, Vicky hosted a lively evening for our members to reconnect and explore the diverse viticulture of South Africa. All wines for the evening were sourced from Tesco, proving that great regional variety is often just around the corner.
The White Flights: Coastal Crispness
We began our journey with three distinct expressions of Sauvignon Blanc:
- Amandla Sauvignon Blanc (12.5%): A standout story for the evening, this Western Cape wine is crafted from grapes hand-picked by women and blended by winemaker Praisy Dlamini. With vibrant notes of passion fruit, pineapple, and lemon, the group found this to be a very pleasant start.
- Porcupine Ridge Sauvignon Blanc (12.5%): Named after the shy nocturnal creatures of the Franschhoek forests, this bottle offered sharp, zesty flavours of kiwi, guava, and lemongrass. The majority of the group found this to be particularly "sharp" on the palate.
- Boschendal Sauvignon Blanc (13.5%): Coming from an estate established in 1685, this mountainous Western Cape wine offered a more complex profile of tropical green fruits, figs, and lime. It was well-received as another very pleasant pour.
Mid-Session Refreshments & Fun
After our third wine, we paused for a social interlude. While members enjoyed a variety of cheeses, snacks, and fresh breads, we tested our wits with a "just for fun" picture quiz. It was the perfect way to catch up after the holidays before moving on to the reds.
The Red Flights: Bold Characters
The second half of the tasting took us into deeper, darker territory:
- Tesco Finest Stellenbosch Pinotage (14%): A classic South African variety. This was a spicy yet light-to-medium-bodied red with low tannins, which the group found to be a very drinkable and pleasant choice.
- First Cape Special Cuvée Merlot (13.5%): Featuring ripe plum and cherry notes, this selection leaned toward the bitter side for our tasters.
- Porcupine Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon (14%): A bold choice with dark fruit flavours, though, like the Merlot, it carried a bitterness that sparked much discussion.
- The "Misfit" Mystery: We ended with a wildcard—a red wine purchased during a holiday in Japan. Despite the Japanese label remaining a mystery to most, the consensus was unanimous: it was a surprisingly pleasant and welcome addition to the table!
A huge thank you to Vicky for hosting such an educational and spirited April evening!
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Wine Appreciation Group
Meeting March 2026
Meeting hosted by Peter and Glenda.
The theme of the evening was a pretend flying tour around Europe. We were given a map with 20 possible locations and a sheet of clues from the start point in the UK with flying times/directions for each leg of the journey. We tasted an eclectic selection of 2 White, 2 Rose, 3 Red and 1 Dessert wines and had to determine the 8 countries the wines came from. There was a small prize for the most correct destinations.
We had the usual break for food after the first 4 wines and the evening was rounded off with a dessert wine from Tunisia accompanied by Glenda’s profiteroles as has become the custom.
The tour country destinations and wines were as follows:
1 Greece (See photo) £7.99 Lidl
2 Hungary Haraszthy £8.00 Lidl
3 Italy Delle Venezie (Pinot Grigo) £9.25 Waitrose
4 Austria Muller Rose (Loss & Schotter ) £7.49 Lidl
5 Lebanon Cuvee Pierre Brun, Bekaa Valley £14 Majestic
6 Spain Guv’nor Merlot £10 Majestic
7 Turkey Kayra Buzbağ Reserve £20.20 On line
8 Italy/Tunisia Passito Di Pantelleria £12.99 Lidl
Groups listed alphabetically
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Art (Friday Group)
Status: Active
On Friday mornings
10.00 am to 12.00 noon -
Art (Thursday Group)
Status: Waiting list
On Thursday mornings
10.00 am to 12.00 noon -
Book Club
Status: Active
On Thursday mornings
Second Thursday at 10.30 am -
Bookworms
Status: Active
On Thursday afternoons
Second Thursday at 14:00 Fiona's Home -
Bridge
Status: Active
Weekly on Thursday afternoons
Weekly at 2.30pm -
Canasta
Status: Active
On Monday mornings
10.00 am to 12.30 pm except Bank Holidays -
Carpet Bowls
Status: Active
Fortnightly on Thursday afternoons
2 pm to 4 pm -
Creative Writing
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Wednesday afternoons 3:00 pm-5:00 pm
First Wednesday of the month -
Cribbage
Status: Active
On Tuesday afternoons
Alternate Tuesdays at 2.00 pm -
Cycling
Status: Active
On Friday mornings 10:00 am -
Family History
Status: Active
Monthly on Monday afternoons
3.45pm to 5.30pm -
Flower Arranging
Status: Waiting list
On Friday mornings
Every Third Friday from 10.00 to 12.00 -
French - Bavarder et Boissons
Status: Active
Monthly on Wednesday afternoons
Last Wednesday of the month - 3:30 to 4:30 -
French Beginners
Status: Waiting list
Weekly on Thursday afternoons 2:30 pm-4:30 pm -
Garden
Status: Active
Monthly on Thursday afternoons
At 2.00 pm -
General Crafts
Status: Active
Monthly on Monday afternoons 1:30 pm-3:30 pm
Third Monday of the month -
Geology
Status: Active
On Thursday mornings
Third Thursday at various times. -
Golf
Status: Full
Weekly on Tuesday mornings
10.00am -
Golf 2
Status: Active
Monthly on Wednesday mornings -
Grow Your Own
Status: Active
Monthly on Wednesday afternoons
First Wednesday of the month at 2:30 pm -
History & Local Interest
Status: Active
Monthly on Thursday afternoons
Second Thursday of each month -
Italian Conversation
Status: Full
Weekly on Wednesday mornings
10.00 am to 11.30 am -
Italian Conversation 2
Status: Active
Weekly on Friday afternoons
2.00 pm to 4.00 pm -
Line Dancing
Status: Waiting list
Weekly on Tuesday mornings
11.15am to 12.45 pm -
Line Dancing 2
Status: Waiting list
Weekly on Wednesday mornings
11.15 am to 12.15 pm -
Luncheon Club (First Wednesday)
Status: Waiting list
On Wednesday afternoons
First Wednesday of the month -
Luncheon Club (Friday)
Status: Active
On Friday afternoons
Last Friday in the month -
Luncheon Club (Second Wednesday)
Status: Waiting list
On Wednesday afternoons
Second Wednesday of the month at 12.00 for 12.30 -
Luncheon Club (Third Tuesday KR)
Status: Active
On Tuesday afternoons
Third Tuesday of the month -
Luncheon Club (Third Tuesday LF)
Status: Active
On Tuesday afternoons
Third Tuesday of the month -
Mah Jong
Status: Active
Weekly on Monday afternoons
4.00 pm to 6.00 pm -
MOTO (Members On Their Own)
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Friday mornings 11:00 am
on the second Friday of the month. -
Music Appreciation
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Wednesdays
4.00 pm -
Needles and Pins
Status: Active
Fortnightly on Tuesday afternoons
2.00 pm to 4.00 pm -
Photography
Status: Active
Monthly on Wednesday afternoons 2:15 pm-3:15 pm
The first Wednesday of the month. -
Pickleball (Friday)
Status: Active
Weekly on Friday afternoons
3.00 pm to 5.00 pm -
Pickleball (Thursday)
Status: Active
Weekly on Thursday afternoons
5.00 pm to 6.00 pm -
Rummikub (Friday)
Status: Active
Weekly on Friday afternoons 3:00 pm-5:00 pm -
Rummikub (Tuesday)
Status: Waiting list
Fortnightly on Tuesday mornings 9:30 am-12:00 pm -
Science and Society
Status: Active
On Tuesday evenings
every couple of months -
Scrabble
Status: Full
Weekly on Thursday mornings
From 10.00 am to 12.30 pm -
Scrabble 2
Status: Active
On Wednesday mornings
Fortnightly from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm -
Sequence
Status: Active
Fortnightly on Tuesday afternoons
From 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm -
Table Tennis
Status: Waiting list
Weekly on Friday afternoons
From 12.30 pm or from 2.30 pm -
The Page Turners
Status: Active
On Wednesdays
At 2.00 pm on the third Wednesday of the month. -
Walking
Status: Active
Weekly on Monday mornings
10.00 am -
Walking - 3 Milers
Status: Active
Mornings
10.00 am on Wednesdays or Fridays -
Whist
Status: Active
Fortnightly on Tuesday afternoons
2.00 pm -
Wildlife Photography
Status: Active
This group meets on an ad-hoc basis at various times and places -
Wine Appreciation Group 1
Status: Active
Monthly on Tuesday afternoons
Last Tuesday of the month -
Wine Appreciation Group 2
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Tuesday evenings 7:30 pm-9:30 pm
First Tuesday of the month at 7.30 pm -
Wool and Waffle
Status: Active
Fortnightly on Tuesday mornings
9.30 am to 11.30 am