'Sussex Wine Appreciation Society (SWAS)'

History

The Society was created in about 1975/6 when Henry Butler, son of Gillian & Geoffrey Butler, of Butler’s Wine Cellar in Brighton started Tastings to attract custom. A newspaper report at the time suggests that its popularity grew “out of control” and the tastings were hived off to create the Society. It has continued very much in its original form ever since.

Membership

Our current membership is 30+, gathered from a catchment area extending from Rustington to Lewes, and to Henfield in the North. Like any club, our membership has waxed and waned over the years and we are always looking for new members to replace those who have moved from the area or are no longer able to attend our tastings. The annual membership fees remained static until their first increase in 2022 and are currently £5 for one person, or £10 for a couple. These funds help cover the costs of our website.

Format

Our tastings, which are always informal and relaxed, are generally held on the first Saturday of each month in the home of a volunteer member. We normally have a programme of 8/9 wines, of which 3 are white and 5/6 are red, although this is not cast in stone. The host will make appropriate comments on each wine and a general discussion will ensue. The tasting is followed by a meal which is entirely at the discretion of the host(s). Members are informed by the “Bin Ends” email of the food that will be available at each Tasting. In recent years we have normally enjoyed a simple hot meal followed by cheeses and pudding – the Menu is always at the discretion of the host(s). There are no fixed rules…!

Organisation

On average, each member hosts a tasting once every 12 to 15 months and for that tasting, is responsible for choosing the overall subject matter, the constituent wines and for providing a snack or a meal for all attendees as they wish. However, there is no obligation ever to hold a tasting, it is a matter of choice. The Society operates on a non-profit making basis and therefore the cost of the wine and food is apportioned amongst those taking part in the tasting. Experience shows that an average cost of around £20-£25 per person is normal, although this varies according to the cost of the wines. At present there is an included food allowance of £10 per person attending (not including the host/s who does/do not pay for the evening). There is a minimum number of 10 for people attending tastings and generally 16 people is the most that can be accommodated depending on the space available in our hosts’ homes.

Our activities are promulgated by email which is sent to members as appropriate with details of the next Tasting, showing the title, the venue, the time (normally 19.30hrs) and the cost per person. During the Summer months afternoon Tastings are encouraged.  Those wishing to attend the advertised tasting are asked to pay by bank transfer after informing the Secretary by email of their wish to attend. Numbers attending each tasting are generally restricted to a maximum of 16, plus the hosts, with allocation of the places being in order of receipt of payment. We have a website at www.swas.club/ where previous and future tastings are recorded.

Day to day running of SWAS is by our Secretary and our Treasurer. Each is an annual appointment voted for by members at the SWAS AGM held for many years in December but now (since 2022) in July each year.

As of December 2021 our Secretary is Sally Holmes (Sec.SWAS@swas.club) and our Treasurer is Peter Holmes (peterjamesholmes@yahoo.com). All correspondence should, however, be directed to our Secretary who also coordinates our Tasting Calendar.

Our website can always be found at https://www.swas.club, website queries should be directed to mike.brook@btinternet.com 

Page last updated 19.05.2024