Dalton
Wine Circle
Dalton
Wine Circle – Programme 2020
Chairman – Ann Marchbanks
Secretary –
Chris Flowers
T. (01325) 718355 T. (01325) 377381
DATE EVENT
(Organiser)
JAN 28th Burns Night Supper (Ann &
Jackie)
FEB 25th "Down The Douro" with Ramos Pinto
(Allan Flowers)
MAR 24th
Portuguese Wines - Alan Proctor
APR 18th 50th
Anniversary Dance
MAY 26th
Tutored Wine Tasting – Andrew Coghlan
JUNE 23rd Wine & Cheese at Stoneygate
Farm
JULY 23rd Summer BBQ
SEP 22nd "Nosing
Wines" - Chris Wilkinson
OCT 27th A.G.M. Followed by monthly
meeting
NOV 24th Wines
of South West France - Mike Chappel
DEC — Christmas Dinner
All meetings are held in Dalton &
Gayles Village Hall unless otherwise stated.
Visitors are welcome to all meetings –
just come along.
We would especially like to invite
people to the 50th Anniversary Dance on April 18th.
Competition winners will receive a trophy at the
AGM to keep for a year.
Meetings are held in Dalton and Gayles Village Hall at 7.30 p.m. unless
indicated above.
.
Present day members hold monthly meetings which take the form of wine tastings, or a talk on wines or a quiz and there is always plenty of wine and supper to enjoy and share. Occasionally these days there might be a demonstration on making wine however not many members now make their own wines.
Periodically a brewery or a vineyard in the north of England might also be visited. Since the year 2000 tours to vineyards, by coach, have been arranged and have included three in the south of England, one to the Champagne region of France and two to vineyards in the Burgundy and Alsace regions of France.
History of the Wine Circle
The inaugural meeting of the Dalton Wine Making Circle was held on April 16th 1970 at 7.30 pm in Dalton & Gayles Village Hall. Eighteen people attended and apologies were received from five.
The Chairman of the Parish Council introduced two guests Mr & Mrs Blacklock, who were members from Heighington Wine Club, and opened the meeting. Mrs Blacklock explained to the meeting how a Wine Circle was run and the benefits to members from attending the meetings and the benefits of being affiliated to the National Association of Wine Making Federation. Following a lengthy discussion it was agreed that The Dalton Wine Making Circle be formed. The first wine to be made at the newly formed Wine Circle was a rice and raisin wine which was demonstrated to the meeting by Mr & Mrs Blacklock who then kindly donated a tray as a trophy which is still presented annually and referred to as the Blacklock Trophy.
Founder members were Dalton residents Mrs Alice Dent (postmistress), Nancy Collinson (Broaches Farm), Mr & Mrs Sidney Fisher (Dalton House), Eric Coulthard of Barnard Castle & Mr & Mrs J T Powell of Richmond.
After the first three years, members had started to amass a collection of home-made wines and beers it was decided that a show would be held by the Circle one Saturday afternoon. Classes included wine, beer, larger, liqueur and many home baking classes as well as classes for children. With entries accepted from approximately nine other clubs, as far away as Stockton, Redcar and Whitley Bay there were as many as 600 bottles on display at the show. The show day ended with a supper dance at night which was well attended.
A total of 14 trophies, which were collected over the years, are held by the Wine Circle and awarded. Even though the wine club shows have ceased a Summer Supper Dance is still held and other wine club members are invited to join us.
