The Wine Circle was set up in 2001. Its prime purpose is to encourage liverymen to
increase their enjoyment and knowledge of wine. Its other purpose is to advise the
cellarer on his responsibilities to decide the laying down stock, to select wines for
livery functions and manage the Company’s cellar.
Due in part to not having a Hall and partly to financial considerations, wine had
been chosen on an ad hoc basis to match the food at each event. But a few years
ago it was realised that if the Company began to lay down some well chosen bottles,
liverymen could benefit in future years from drinking mature wines from our own
cellar at an affordable cost.
Since 1998 this policy has enabled us to acquire, both by Company purchase and
also through generous gifts from retiring Masters, a number of good honest clarets,
red burgundies and ports which will be shown in the years to come. The Court each
year authorises a sum of money for continuing expenditure. The wines are chosen
by a Court nominated Cellarer who is advised by the Committee of the Wine Circle.
Details of expenditure and management of the cellar are given to the Company at
the annual Common Hall.
Each year a series of tastings and wine related dinners are organised. The tastings
normally take place in various wine merchants’ cellars on specific themes.
Examples are claret at Berry Brothers and Spanish wines at Corney and Barrow.
Dinners are sometimes held after tastings or at restaurants, which are specifically
noted for their wine lists.
The Circle is run by a small committee, which includes the current Master and a
representative of the Luncheon Club.
Membership of the Circle costs £10 to join and an annual subscription of £10. Both
these charges are waived to new liverymen in their first year. Events cost in the
region of £30 per head for tastings and £50 per head for dinners. Guests are
normally allowed depending upon numbers.
The Circle wants to promote the essential fun and delight in tasting, drinking and
appreciating wine. It also allows liverymen to get to know each other on a more
personal basis than can always be attained in the more formal events that the
Company holds.