A Sydney tasting group based on the Lower north shore

Brucer · Post by **Brucer** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:53 am

I am interested also. I live in Concord, which is pretty central to Sydney/Parramatta.
Bruce

dlo · Post by **dlo** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 12:02 pm

The rate you lot are going, you'll have 7 localised tasting groups with probably around 28 members in each, in no time. Perhaps jeroboams should be the minimum sized bottles allowed to be served to avoid bottle variation, unnecessary disappointment and bucket loads of bickering? :idea:

BTW, thanks for un-hijacking my thread. :lol:

cuttlefish · Post by **cuttlefish** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 12:19 pm

Brucer, send me a PM with your email address, please.

I have received details from ACG, Alex F, GRB, redvelvet, and odyssey.

Those who have expressed interest, but are yet to supply me with their email address are:

Eurocentric, monghead, DJ, Christo, Bacchaebabe, Loztralia, pc79, and Brucer

Dave Vino, I think I have yours somewhere, but if you want to remind me, that would be fine.

That's 14 people interested which means we're almost always going to have enough people for it to be a successful event each month, with absentees, etc. Nice one ! How easy was that ??

I think we should hold an inaugural meeting somewhere (the lower north shore end of the inner west sounds like it would suit most), and decide our themes for the coming year, elect a treasurer, work on the handshake, etc. Not everyone need attend this first meeting, but the more the merrier.

I propose Wednesday 19th August. How does a pub or cafe in Glebe sound (unless someone wants to donate their house) ?

Alex F · Post by **Alex F** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:58 pm

I propose Wednesday 19th August. How does a pub or cafe in Glebe sound (unless someone wants to donate their house)

This day is good for me, as is any other day next week really (with the possibility of Thursday being excluded).

One of the challenges is to find enough space to seat everyone. My initial suggestion of Thai was an attempt to find this space at the lowest possible cost and going by the model that we would taste the wines before having food. For example I know of at least one thai restaurant in Newtown that would be happy for us to have (part of) the upstairs area at lunchtime on Saturday. The best thing is, lunch only costs $6 there.

Anyway, in Glebe I can suggest Naggy's, they have a gigantic table that will comfortably sit all of us (maybe too gigantic), eatability entry here:

http://www.eatability.com.au/au/sydney/ ... resso_bar/

Having had breakfast there multiple times and dinner there once I can heartily recommend the food, and they allow byo at $2.50 a person iirc, although the coffee is variable at times.

As for other pubs in Glebe, I've heard good things about food at the Toxteth (and read horrible reviews), and the AB hotel where they have half price meals on Wed, but obviously not byo, AB hotel has a bad wine list and gets loud.

bacchaebabe · Post by **bacchaebabe** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:58 pm

Sounds good cuttlefish.

Just a couple of points. I agree if it's on a Saturday, it will almost guarantee I won't ever be able to come, especially over summer.

I think you'll find there will not be one pub in Sydney where you will be able to BYO but there should be heaps of cafes. Buzzzbar in Newtown is not too bad. Quite good mod oz food, plenty of room and BYO. For pizzas, Wedgetail in Newtown do fantastic ones. Their glasswasre is little better than vegemite jars though.

To be honest though, I'd probably prefer for the tastings to be held in someone's home most times, occasionally in a restaurant or cafe and maybe once a year, somewhere half decent.

If it's going to be a tasting group, I'd rather concenrate on the wine and I'm keen to continue with the occasional offlines at restaurants where all forum members are welcome and it's more of a food and wine event.

Re the kitty idea, I'm personally a little ambivalent about that too. I guess because I have a substantial cellar, I don't entirely see the need to put money into a kitty to buy wine when I have a cellar full of the stuff. I certainly won't mind bringing along the occasional premium and have no expectation that others do the same. Everyone will be at different stages of their wine journey as well as ages and income and cellar. I'd rather that we set a theme for each evening and people bring whatever they like and what they can afford or obtain in the time available. As long as they make some effort, that's all I really care about.

I don't mind chipping in, if as a group we decide to taste a specific wine for a particular night that no member already has but I think the people that are there that night and actually drink it, should contribute rather than contributing every time we meet. What happens if you come 11 months out of 12 but can't make the bought wine night tasting? And someone else who's only been able to make it 2 times during the year but can make the night when the kitty has paid for the wines. I'm not sure how you could manage this unless you just buy a wine for a particular night and the people drinking it cover the cost.

Another priority for me would be to have each tasting reasonably easily accessible by public transport as I'm not keen on driving after a wine tasting

Anyway, this is all stuff we can discuss at the first meeting.

Loztralia · Post by **Loztralia** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:38 am

I am interested but won't be able to make any inaugural event this month. Please keep me informed though.

GRB · Post by **GRB** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:22 pm

I can make it next Wed if that works for enough people.

Glen

cuttlefish · Post by **cuttlefish** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 5:44 pm

Hi Gang,

Thanks to all who have PM'd me their email addresses. I've been snowed this week, but will try to shoot something off this weekend. I'd planned this Wednesday night 19th August just for a get together to nut out the tasting themes for the next 12 months, not to actually run a formal tasting. That's why I suggested a pub or cafe in Glebe. It should take an hour or so to decide how we can best run the group, manage the kitty, venues, and themes. There's a pub on St Johns Road called the Roxbury Hotel. It's at 182 St Johns Road. Why don't we plan to meet there at 7:30pm on Wednesday night ? I've got my name on a space upstairs, aparently..that we can use...

If you can make it, say "Aye !"

Eurocentric · Post by **Eurocentric** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:17 pm

I'm in NZ for two weeks and would probably be an infrequent attender given work and travel. Not keen on the kitty idea either for the reasons Kris mentioned, but that's cool if you're doing that. I have done a similar thing for icon wines I couldn't afford on my own. Quite happy to have the most recent purchase under lock and key for more than a year now but the grumblings are increasing from people wanting to crack it!

monghead · Post by **monghead** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 6:18 pm

Hmmm, likely not able to attend the pub meet and greet.
Hope it all goes well though.

Wines under $50 sounds reasonable.
If I could throw in a few suggestions:
- French vs Aussie vs Kiwi pinot noir from recent vintages '04-'07
- Aussie '96 vs '98
- Rieslings old and new (eg. 3yr, 5yr, 10yr old from a few producers)
- Great quaffers- show us your best sub $20 plonk
- Big and Bold- wines to stain the innards

odyssey · Post by **odyssey** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:56 am

Aye !

Alex F · Post by **Alex F** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 5:22 pm

Christo · Post by **Christo** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:47 pm

unbale to make it, have a service awards dinner at work.
c

ACG · Post by **ACG** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:34 am

Nay, but still will be drinking wine

DJ · Post by DJ » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:49 am

Sorry guys would love to be able to join but the timing and the distance how just won't work for me. :cry:

And I'd even been granted permission to attend :roll:

Hope it goes well.
May be once I have a permanent home I'll try and organise an upper north shore group.

GRB · Post by **GRB** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 1:30 pm

cuttlefish · Post by **cuttlefish** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:12 pm

OK Everyone,

I've sent out an email to all those who gave me their email address.

Roxbury Hotel confirmed for this Wednesday night at 7:30 pm. My phone number is in that email so if you come to the Roxbury Hotel and can't find us, call me.

Hopefully it won't be noisy. They have some sort of entertainment on, but it's supposed to be in it's own room, so shouldn't affect us.

I expect this meeting to last 1-1.5 hours. All ideas welcome.

Cheers,

Cf

cuttlefish · Post by **cuttlefish** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 11:19 am

Righto, as far as I can tell, we have GRB, Odyssey, Alex F, and me attending tonight. Anyone else ?

If any of you three is thinking of not coming tonight, let us know, and we might can it. Three may not be enough. Sorry if this all sounds a little dramatic, but to accommodate everyones availability, tastes, etc, we need as many there as possible.

I think we should expect a bigger turnout in future should we wish this group to succeed.

Alex F · Post by **Alex F** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:33 pm

Still looking forward to meeting the rest of you tonight

odyssey · Post by **odyssey** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:45 pm

I've some bad news in that I have a dreaded stomach lurgy.

Unfortunately it would be best for me to take a rain check as I don't think I should be out and about tonight!

Sorry to shrink the group size by even more! I'm still serious about being a part of this though so keep me in the loop please...

cuttlefish · Post by **cuttlefish** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 5:55 pm

Sorry to hear you're not well, odyssey !

I'm still going, so it looks like there'll be just the three of us to kick things off.

Cf

Loztralia · Post by **Loztralia** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 5:10 am

Please do report back. I spoke to my wife about it last night and she's keen to come too so I hope to help grow the numbers in future...

TiggerK · Post by **TiggerK** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:50 am

Just found this thread, been keen to join a tasting group for quite a while now. We're upper north shore, and not keen to drink drive of course, so ideally the venue would be near a train line. Certainly interested in being involved. No doubt if it goes well and grows, a break away North Shore group might even eventuate....

Cheers
TiggerK

bacchaebabe · Post by **bacchaebabe** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:20 pm

So...what happened? Any decisions made?

Alex F · Post by **Alex F** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:49 pm

Hello guys.

It was a very nice meeting.. We decided on 10 broad themes and raised 3 possible venues.

Cuttlefish has all the info written down, which I am sure will be passed around soon.

rooman · Post by **rooman** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:56 pm

Could someone please point me in the direction of the discussion for the tasting group out East. It is bad enough the ALP discriminate against anyone east of Macquarie St without fellow wine drinkers ignoring us. :twisted:

RedVelvet · Post by **RedVelvet** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:46 pm

Awaiting the outcome as i was unable to attend due to work commitments.

cuttlefish · Post by **cuttlefish** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:14 am

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the delay in posting. I'll try to post it up tonight.

Cheers,

Cf

WW Country Boy · Post by **WW Country Boy** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:14 pm

Far Nthn Beaches at moment here so Upper Nth Shore best but would like to see how the IW night went as well

Only have a limited cellar atm but willing to buy wines within reason

Softie · Post by **Softie** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:13 pm

Hi All,

Have been busy lately and just caught up with this thread. I'd like to be involved and have a home that might be suitable: Redfern (6-7 mins walk from the station, 1 minute from bus stops, empty nest, good entertainment area.

I'll send cuttlefish a PM.

John