I thought I'd start this thread, as it looks like there are a few interested parties. I'm not entirely sure how it'd be run.
A theme, a date, a venue, the wines, the participants would probably cover it.
We'd set up a kitty possibly, to fund icon wine purchases, and to cover the cost of snacks during the tasting.
Would anyone like to add their thoughts on this ? I've been a participating member of a tasting group before, but not ever "run" one. It can't be that difficult, can it ?
A Sydney tasting group based on the Lower north shore
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cuttlefish
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- Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2005 1:46 pm
- Location: Sunbury
A Sydney tasting group based on the Lower north shore
Smack my [insert grape type here] up !
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bacchaebabe
- Posts: 1222
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- Location: Sydney
For either area (LNS or IW), any thoughts as to expected price bracket, location, group size, nights of the week and the like?
Have to say I'm a little curious, but tentatively. LNS would probably be easier, I'm not sure what public transport to take from here to inner west and I guess I'd go over the limit so will be leaving the car at home.
However the cellar only begins at roughly 97 and 98 vintages and "the other half" ensures I'm on a tight budget, so it could easily all be out of my league.
Have to say I'm a little curious, but tentatively. LNS would probably be easier, I'm not sure what public transport to take from here to inner west and I guess I'd go over the limit so will be leaving the car at home.
However the cellar only begins at roughly 97 and 98 vintages and "the other half" ensures I'm on a tight budget, so it could easily all be out of my league.
Last edited by odyssey on Mon Aug 10, 2009 5:02 pm, edited 11 times in total.
dave vino wrote:Where's the outer west group? I'm sure we could rustle up some nice Queen Adelaide and Fruity Lexia, and discuss the strengths of casks versus flagons...
I would be interested in either LNS or IW however the Inner west is probably more preferable. I would have thought that a regular tasting group would be more about tasting current wines rather than those which have been cellared. Then again the guys in adelaide have themed tastings quite regularly with well cellared wines.
Lets just start by saying im interested in attending.
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cuttlefish
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At the end of the day, the inner west wouldn't upset me too much. I am not afraid of a little bridge-toll. We in the north are used to the complaints of those from the south regarding the toll, and we have learned to live with it. The cost of living in paradise, I suppose 
First and foremost, I'd like the group to be openminded enough to enable all interested parties to attend, regardless of how much they earn, or how deep their cellar is, or whatever.
There is no expectation to bring really expensive wine each month, or whatever.
First and foremost, I'd like the group to be openminded enough to enable all interested parties to attend, regardless of how much they earn, or how deep their cellar is, or whatever.
There is no expectation to bring really expensive wine each month, or whatever.
Smack my [insert grape type here] up !
cuttlefish wrote:At the end of the day, the inner west wouldn't upset me too much. I am not afraid of a little bridge-toll. We in the north are used to the complaints of those from the south regarding the toll, and we have learned to live with it. The cost of living in paradise, I suppose
First and foremost, I'd like the group to be openminded enough to enable all interested parties to attend, regardless of how much they earn, or how deep their cellar is, or whatever.
There is no expectation to bring really expensive wine each month, or whatever.
Agreed, it should be about all price brackets, varietals, regions and countries.
I think those interested should decide on location (peoples houses, or inexpensive BYO's), duration & frequency of gatherings, type of wine (aged, new releases, coubtries, etc..) & of course a cool name & secret handshake?! 
I should stop now as i do not want to organise. Anyone care to step up to the plate?
c
I should stop now as i do not want to organise. Anyone care to step up to the plate?
c
"You are what u drink!"
I'll be in it, I like themes within reason. I'm not a huge fan of verticals as it gets a bit 'boring' unless it's an iconic wine.
I liked the Chardy/Pinot one you did Cuttlefish. Maybe a Cool climate shiraz/Riesling, Sem/HV Shiraz etc, etc.
Maybe have a rule that wines should be $20-$60 unless someone is feeling extra generous.
I liked the Chardy/Pinot one you did Cuttlefish. Maybe a Cool climate shiraz/Riesling, Sem/HV Shiraz etc, etc.
Maybe have a rule that wines should be $20-$60 unless someone is feeling extra generous.
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Eurocentric
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Muscat Mike
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- Location: Sydney - North West.
Westward ho.
dave vino wrote:Where's the outer west group? I'm sure we could rustle up some nice Queen Adelaide and Fruity Lexia, and discuss the strengths of casks versus flagons...
Dave,
there are a few of us "Westies" who have graduated from the above.
Mike.
I thought a bit about what I would like to get from a tasting group, so I am happy to get the ball rolling if there are others in the same frame of mind as I am.
I am not looking for anything too expensive. I think $50-60 per meeting including wine and food is my budget. Foodwise, I know lots of places with byo where you can eat for $15-25, granted many of these are asian oriented, thai, japanese, indian, etc. but for something different somewhere like Naggys cafe in Glebe serves nice food for about $18-25 mains.
The premise for my budget is that the average cost of the wines I buy tends to fall in the 20-25$ range. The spread of this spending is probably quite a lot of wine in the range of $15-30 and occassionally I splurge for things like St Henri, Bin 389, Hunter premiums.
There are many wines in the $15-30 range I would like to try which I often find I do not get the opportunity to do so. E.g. some of the 'super' cleanskins floating around atm, Wynns cabernet, foreign rieslings <35>50) which I would love to try but probably will not buy until I actually have a proper job.
Anyway, if anyone is interested I am happy to attempt organising something. For one day every month I am pretty much happy to travel to the LNS and out to Strathfield, subject to the budgetary constraints above. Of course if I were to organise I only know good places to eat in Glebe/Newtown and a few in the city.
I am not looking for anything too expensive. I think $50-60 per meeting including wine and food is my budget. Foodwise, I know lots of places with byo where you can eat for $15-25, granted many of these are asian oriented, thai, japanese, indian, etc. but for something different somewhere like Naggys cafe in Glebe serves nice food for about $18-25 mains.
The premise for my budget is that the average cost of the wines I buy tends to fall in the 20-25$ range. The spread of this spending is probably quite a lot of wine in the range of $15-30 and occassionally I splurge for things like St Henri, Bin 389, Hunter premiums.
There are many wines in the $15-30 range I would like to try which I often find I do not get the opportunity to do so. E.g. some of the 'super' cleanskins floating around atm, Wynns cabernet, foreign rieslings <35>50) which I would love to try but probably will not buy until I actually have a proper job.
Anyway, if anyone is interested I am happy to attempt organising something. For one day every month I am pretty much happy to travel to the LNS and out to Strathfield, subject to the budgetary constraints above. Of course if I were to organise I only know good places to eat in Glebe/Newtown and a few in the city.
dave vino wrote:Asian/Thai/Indian are IMHO not the most conducive foods for tasting wines unless it's an Alsace/Gewurz/Riesling tasting. I'd be targetting Italian/French/Mod Oz/Proper Pizza type restaurants. Not sure how they stack up VFM-wise in Inner Sydney.
I just had a thought. Have to visit Frank's in Camperdown when over at Christmas. Its an institution!
cheers
Carl
Bartenders are supposed to have people skills. Or was it people are supposed to have bartending skills?
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cuttlefish
- Posts: 1011
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I am happy to lead the way, but will need assistance from time to time. I say we do one a month, and make it on a regular day, like always the first Saturday of the month, or something like that. These things can work really well at someones house, with just bread and cheeses on the table (but I don't have somewhere suitable myself, so I can't really talk !).
Restaurants are a great idea, but I wouldn't be interested in always having the group tasting at a restaurant.
There should be a kitty, and someone entrusted to manage that. Each attendee should throw in $10 or something like that at each tasting they attend, and we can buy a premium wine from time to time to fit whatever tasting theme we're having. I've done tastings with up to almost 16 or so people. It's easy if you just pour tasting samples, and not full glasses. Discussion is never frowned upon, and information is shared freely.
We can decide on the years tastings themes together and distribute that list to the members of the group.
Would the first Saturday of each month suit you lot ? There probably would be no tasting planned in January, and possibly none in December either, depending on peoples availability.
I think we should take it offline from here, too. It looks like we have an appropriate number of people to begin. Would you all like to start PMing me with your email addresses so I can send something out like a first draft ?
Cheers,
Tom.
Restaurants are a great idea, but I wouldn't be interested in always having the group tasting at a restaurant.
There should be a kitty, and someone entrusted to manage that. Each attendee should throw in $10 or something like that at each tasting they attend, and we can buy a premium wine from time to time to fit whatever tasting theme we're having. I've done tastings with up to almost 16 or so people. It's easy if you just pour tasting samples, and not full glasses. Discussion is never frowned upon, and information is shared freely.
We can decide on the years tastings themes together and distribute that list to the members of the group.
Would the first Saturday of each month suit you lot ? There probably would be no tasting planned in January, and possibly none in December either, depending on peoples availability.
I think we should take it offline from here, too. It looks like we have an appropriate number of people to begin. Would you all like to start PMing me with your email addresses so I can send something out like a first draft ?
Cheers,
Tom.
Smack my [insert grape type here] up !
Cuttlefish and All,
Not sure how everyone feels but my preference would be to do the tasting on a week night rather than a Saturday. I find it easier to attend on week nights as i have far less engagements than on Saturday nights.
Also many BYO restaurants will only allow BYO Sunday to Thursday.
What is everyone else's thoughts?
PS: I like the idea of kity and contributing $10 to purchase a premium every so often.
Not sure how everyone feels but my preference would be to do the tasting on a week night rather than a Saturday. I find it easier to attend on week nights as i have far less engagements than on Saturday nights.
Also many BYO restaurants will only allow BYO Sunday to Thursday.
What is everyone else's thoughts?
PS: I like the idea of kity and contributing $10 to purchase a premium every so often.