The second Wine Tasting Group met for the first time

The second Wine Tasting Group met for the first time on Monday 17th September at Kim House,Chinham Road,Bartley and started at 7 pm.
Members present were: Margaret and Brian Gilby, Michael Page, Sue Hucker, Kathie Horner, Lesley Bywater, Valerie Westall, Lyn Sleep, Jean Symes and Liz Taylor. On the table was a small selection of cheeses and biscuits to help the pallet.

Our first wine was an "Isla Negra Sauvignon Blanc". (White Wine)..reactions were mixed and a final overall score of 6.4 out of 10 was given. Isla Negra is a seaside village famous for the artists and writers who come to be inspired by the ocean and the mystical landscape. Aromas and flavours of grapefruit,lime and gooseberries combine in this Sauvignon Blanc, Perfect for drinking with seafood and salads, Serve chilled.

Our second wine was an "Tronos Shiraz" (red wine)..reactions varied and a final overall score of 5.3 out of 10 was awarded. This wine is produced in the vineyards located in the Chilean Central Valley, where they enjoy exceptional soil and climate, with high temperature variation between night and day. This bright ruby-like Shiraz has attractive aromas of blackberries,chocolate and vanilla. It is full bodied and aromatic wine with a long lasting finish. Enjoy with grilled meat,lamb,cheese and pasta serve from 15c to 18c,

Our first meeting was a great success and the next one will be on Monday 15th October at Sue Huckers commencing at 7pm.
We already have 2 people on our waiting list.

regards
Michael Page

REPORT FOR HISTORY MEETING ON 17.9.2012

At this meeting we talked about Explorers and their journeys..when you look back in history for thousands of years people have explored by land or boats hugging the coasts, however it was not until about the middle of the 15th century were ships big enough to venture across the big oceans of the world, mind you big at that time was about 85 tons.
By about the fifth century B.C. the Pythagorean school had evolved the theory of a spherical earth,a theory which although deduced on philosophical rather than empirical grounds ,has been followed by liberal minded students ever since. Only in the early Christian times of the dark ages was this globular hypothesis ruled out, and even then there were a few daring souls, who, by defying the Church, kept alive this geographical truth, which was to be of such epoch-making importance in the 15th century,
In 325BC Pytheas of Greece had heard of these Islands on the edge of the known world inhabited by one eyed men and griffins, but whom supplied tin to the continent which when smelted and alloyed with copper- produced bronze. So he travelled around the European coast to the white cliffs of Dover.
The inspiration according to one theory for the country's earliest recorded name of Albion which comes from the Celtic word for white.
He travelled across around Albion and described the shape as a wonkey triangle-rival geographers scorned Pytheas but his findings still survive to this day.
We also talked about Cortes in Mexico, the famous explorers who in 1803-after France had sold Louisiana to the new USA- travelled and explored its breath and depth.
Lesley talked about Yuri Gargarin the famous Russian astronaut who circled the earth once in 1961 but was killed in a plane crash in Siberia area in 1968.
Various other famous explorers were talked about and all enjoyed the meeting.

The next meeting will be the combined History meeting at Copythorne Parish Hall with Totton Souths History Group where will enjoyed a digital slide show on Queen Victoria on Wednesday 17/10/12