ALPINE WINES, YORKSHIRE CHARM
There was a lovely buzz in the room last Monday as we settled into a new venue, a new presenter, and a line‑up of Swiss wines that instantly reminded us why the Swiss are fourth in the world for per‑capita wine consumption — and why they keep the vast majority of what they produce firmly to themselves. Elegant, quirky, and full of alpine charm, they certainly made an impression.
The Knapton Lion won instant fans too; several members declared it the best meal they’d had in ages, so it’s definitely staying on our rota. It’s been more than a decade since our last Swiss alpine adventure, but thanks to Phil and Julie’s impeccable organisation, the whole evening ran with the precision of, well… a Swiss watch! Michael Hayton from Yorkshire Vintners guided us through the wines in an easy, relaxed style.
chairman jason's corner...
My aim is still to encourage gentle, steady evolution, supported by a vibrant and imaginative programme of tastings and venues. We’re always trying to strike the right balance between the good fellowship we all enjoy and the wine education our speakers bring to each event. I hope the items and signposts that follow help to highlight that mission in action.
Website
You might have spotted that our website is evolving all the time, and we hope you’re finding the updates useful and interesting. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, Mike Harrison and Jason Valentine would genuinely love to hear them.
2026 programme
Our upcoming events right through to December 2026 are now live on the website. Have a look, pop the dates in your diary, and we hope to see you at as many as you can make. Click the icon at the top for a preview.
And don’t forget — you’re welcome to join events hosted by other sections as well.
Questionnaire
A gentle nudge from your committee before the AGM in March… we’ve been busy crafting a varied, interesting programme of events for the year ahead — you’ll see the fruits of that just below. As we approach the AGM, we’re still keen to gather as many responses as possible to the two quick questions we sent out in January. If you haven’t had a moment to reply yet, there’s still time. Your thoughts genuinely help shape where we go next, all in the spirit of gentle, evolutionary change — very much the motto of our section.
OUR AGM...
…takes place on Monday 2nd March 2026 at in The Grill Room at Middlethorpe Hall (YO23 2GB). We’ll gather from 6.30pm, with the Annual General Meeting (AGM) starting promptly at 6.45pm, followed by a tasting of an intriguing mix of Austrian and German wines by our friend Paul Tate-Smith, alongside dinner.
Paul always brings along interesting and affordable bottles, and it’s been eight years since we last enjoyed the country-house charm of Middlethorpe Hall — so this is a welcome return. Your committee looks forward to seeing you there.
Here’s to a bright, lively 2026 packed with fun, laughter, and plenty of seriously good wine!
