As an alternative to having presenters who are predominantly wine merchants, many Guild sections periodically schedule “members events” giving their section’s members the opportunity to talk about a favourite wine. At Hull, we are fortunate to have as a member Andrew Chandler, a professional photographer, who with his brother, Jonathan, travel around the world so Andrew can capture the places they go on film and Jonathan can find the local wines. So with Andrew’s photos and Jonathan wines, we were taken from “Pole to Pole” venturing from 40 degrees southern latitude (in New Zealand) up to 80 degrees northern latitude (in Svalbard, Norway) (see map).

We first travelled in the Southern Hemisphere from New Zealand to Australia and then across to South Africa. From there, we ventured north through Africa to Morocco and then across to Spain, followed by France. We detoured to Iceland and then finished our “travels” in Svalbard in Norway. Andrew’s photographs kept us enthralled as we got to see places and the local wildlife that many folks will never see. And all while sipping the delicious wines that Jonathan found along the way.

A very entertaining evening as we travelled vicariously ”from pole to pole.”