Homemade Wine Anyone?

If you enjoy learning about and tasting new wines, you may be tempted to make your own, and there's help at hand at the local Tonbridge Winemakers who are based at K College in Brook Street. Every month this friendly bunch of wine making enthusiasts get together to discuss, advise and taste different wines. The group are opening their doors to new members, and you don't have to have any experience in winemaking, as there are plenty of members who will help you on your way to making your first bottle of wine.

Cathy Rishman

Member Cathy Rishman has been making wine for many years. She says 'I started winemaking in 1974.  The first I ever made was dandelion wine. This was from a recipe in an old cookbook that belonged to my grandmother, “Mrs Beeton’s All About Cookery”.  At that time I made medium to sweet country wines.  Later I favoured grape based wines, but in recent years I have reverted to producing country wines.'

Cathy will be talking about her experiences of making wines at the club meeting in June, when there will be tastings and recipes for wines which have been made from ingredients bought in supermarkets and winemaking shops.

Les Maskrey

The July meeting is certainly something to look forward to as member, Les Maskrey who apparently has an inimitable style will be giving a talk which he promises to be a blast from the past. He calls this “Some of our Yesterdays – plus Yankee Doodle Dandy”.  The event will feature photographs of past club activities including fancy dress parties, barn dances and trips abroad, and there’s a bonus, Les’s talk coincides with American Independence Day, so he proposes putting up some American wines for tasting, “just to help the evening along”. Sounds good doesn't it.

If all this whets your appetite for getting involved, and you want to know more or contact the group, take a look at Tonbridge Winemakers on http://www.tonbridgewinemakers.com/148003674  The next meeting is in April.