Christmas Cheer

So Christmas is just around the corner, yes, already… so to get in the Christmas spirit I thought I’d start with something traditional, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I know you are already thinking ‘She’s been on the sherbet, how on earth does this connect with our wine club” stay with me, all will become clear (hopefully)…

A Christmas Carol ~ This story of love, goodwill and mercy centres around Ebenezer Scrooge who receives three ghostly visitors – Christmas Past, Present and Future. These ghosts give Scrooge a glimpse of an unhappy future if he doesn’t open his heart to Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit.

Yes Geoff, you will have to watch a Christmas Carol with me before Christmas, its tradition, It has to be the 1984 film with George C Scott, no other version will do … “It’s tradition” that reminds me of Fiddler on the Roof, another good film.. its one thing Geoff and I would win a quiz with ‘lines from films’..sorry digressing slightly.

Are you sitting comfortable, so let us begin… (get the Jackanory vibes)

• LOVE – of friendship & wine (naturally)
• GOODWILL – to our hosts
• MERCY – to Marks humming (more of that later)

Our ghostly visitors –

• Christmas Past – Those who used to belong
• Christmas Present – Fun, laughter, wine & food
• Christmas Future – More great wine & plenty of laughter

I know its all a bit tenuous but it is Christmas so cut me some slack !

I was going for ‘Twas the night before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

But..really … a quiet wine club.. positively ridiculous !!!!

We all made it to Steve & Helens apart from Jacqui & Nick who are now on Santa’s Naughty List for missing the Festive Special. Although I think Jacqui’s name was already on the list for skipping work in the summer & heading over to the pub.

This year no dinner suits, dickie bow ties or evening dresses, however, Terry had thoughtful dressed to co-ordinate with the kitchen, I think Karen had ‘another’ new dress on, Helens slippers made her outfit, Mark had gone for the English Gentry look, myself kitted dress to hide the lumps & bumps, Linda a lovely necklace & a dress too in case you thought she’d turned into a naturist, Geoff some winter cords & Steve a fetching apron…

After a bit of bonjour, bonjour, pastis, pastis (its a line from a Year In Provence) we began the evening with the ‘Clinking of Glasses’, this made me wonder how this tradition emerged, a little bit of research followed:

Clinking wine glasses is one of those time-honoured traditions we perform without even thinking. Some claim it was originally meant to drive away demons. Others believe the idea was to slosh a little bit of wine into your drinking partner’s glass—that way, he couldn’t poison you without risking dying himself. (I’m thinking our bonus wine here, more about that later)

As exciting as those theories are, they’re just not true. The real reasons we touch our glasses are much simpler.

Back before clinking was invented, a toast involved four senses: touch, taste, sight, and smell. For some reason ears were left out of the equation. But as the manufacturing of wine glasses transformed into an art, people began appreciating the fine sounds of struck stemware, and voila, the clink was incorporated into the toasting routine.

Clinking also produces a sense of community. Back in olden days, partygoers would pass around a single bowl of wine, and everyone shared from this single vessel. (After the bowl worked its way around the circle, the host would eat a piece of cooked bread, a literal toast.) Today, we’re a bit too worried about germs to try that, so instead of drinking after our friends, we tap our glasses. It’s a way of saying, “Hey, I’m part of the group and sharing in the good feeling.”

Now moving on, the theme of the evening was Explosive Wines, none of us guessed the link but it was a good one, the first wine was from the slopes of Mount Etna, Sicily.

Nicosia Etna Rosso 2015 13% Sicily £11 (Marks & Spencer)

M & S: A rich, garnet coloured Italian wine with spicy truffle (didn’t get that) and red berry aromas and gorgeous array of cranberry and strawberry flavours on the palate.

We said: Tawny red, a dry wine, spicy, strawberry & cranberry flavours. It had the same dryness as drinking a glass of cranberry juice. We all voted this one 9 out of 10.

I suggest you go and buy this wine, we have, its excellent value, I would have paid more for it, although pleased not too. It will be on our Christmas table.

The second wine was one of the most famous from France, I said Chateauneuf du Pape but no it’s the other one, Margaux from the Medoc France.

Margaux Henri Lurton 2013 12% £22 ( Marks & Spencer)

M & S: A classic Bordeaux blend (informative then !)

We said: Delicious, gentle woody aromas, blackcurrants & plums. It was beautifully smooth with medium tannins with a long finish. We liked this one very much too… I did go to buy some yesterday, all sold out, so tells you something..

Then we had our oldest wine EVER………..

Margaux 1958 !

The bonus wine was a half bottle of Margaux 1958, the oldest wine we had ever tasted, well only the brave tasted it… it looked disgusting, like a glass of Bovril and the smell… I thought Sarsons vinegar ! More concerning was the lead seal, the days before lead poisoning was an issue I assume ?? So, not really sure it should be called the bonus wine but more of a booby prize !

You may wonder how we came by this wine.. Steve’s father used to have a restaurant in London ‘The Oxford’ back in the late 50s early 60s, so when he packed up he squirreled some wines away.

What a Cool Dude Bernie was..

If only this bottle of Margaux had been stored correctly.. what would it be worth today ..

https://www.frw.co.uk/wine/margaux-1958/39632?FRS=ws

A seasonal buffet complimented the wines, after all the buffet season is upon us, surely, you’ve seen all those adverts on TV.

Then we moved on to the most anticipated (on Marks part) fun part of the evening, the ‘Raffle’ game, yes our favourite Snatch & Grab as I have called it in the past.

Oh, just going back a step to a little earlier when we were all crying with laughter, in the crackers were tunes to be hummed & guessed… Mark was most certainly the star of the evening, sadly no video evidence but here hopefully is a rendition from Karen & Terry, I think Karen is looking to the Christmas angels for inspiration. (Nope can’t get the link to work) I shouldn’t laugh at all, I wouldn’t participate as I’m worse than he is.

Mark once again comes up trumps in entertainment value, he is not a lover of Christmas but somehow this games piques his enthusiasm, we get great joy taking his presents from him, even those he tries to hide on the floor ! Now remember Mark, as Karen said it’s the giving not receiving that counts !

So, I moved my wine and water glasses out of the way to the table behind so they didn’t get knocked over, I moved Marks too much, to his dismay, then I promptly knocked over the water glass that was out of the way, much to Marks amusement.

More presents followed as our Secret Santa gifts were handed round, mine is huge and yes, Mark HAD to open his there & then… as we all said you’ll have nothing to open on Christmas Day, we don’t want you Whatsapp’ing a sad face, its of your own doing.

Maybe he’ll be alright this year, Linda bought him a Christmas jumper ~ is that really all it takes to get into the spirit of Christmas ?

I thought it was a glass of Bailys !!

Whilst ‘surfing’ the net (do people still say that ?? ) found this too ~

Benjamin Franklin once famously declared that wine is “constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy”  and it makes us happy that a group of friends have a good excuse to gather each month to drink, eat & be merry.

Without a doubt, wine is one of the most beloved beverages of all time, popping up in Christian rituals, pagan celebrations, ritzy restaurants, and Paul Giamatti movies.

Well just time to say a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the coming year to you all.

See you all in 2018

Time to stick a cork in it.

Bye

S x