The festive season started in style at Thursday’s meeting with a delicious wine tasting event hosted by DBWI member, Julie Campbell of Vinvixen on Kingsland Road. Julie’s passion and enthusiasm for wine is infectious and her philosophy is simple – find the style of wine you like and enjoy it! We tasted seven wines,  all sourced by Julie from individual growers who ‘exemplify ingenuity and excellence in their wine production’.

Here is what we generously sampled:
Sparkling: Riva De Milàn – Prosecco, Italy;
Colet Grand Cuveé – Spain (not like any cava you have ever tasted and a great value alternative to christmas champagne).
White: San Clodio – Spain; Encostas Penalva Branco, Portugal.
Red: Encostas Penalva Red, Portugal; Anthocyane, Mas des Caprices, France.
Fortified: Morgadio da Calçada Ruby Reserve Port, Portugal.

Julie sells delicious cheeses as well as wine. If you need some help making a dinner party or christmas day special get down to see our very own wine specialist.

The ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FAIR at St. Peter’s Crypt is next Saturday 13th between 11am-5pm. Organised by the DBA there will be over 40 stalls where you can do your christmas shopping whilst supporting small local businesses and crafts people. Entrance £1.

We have a stall and will be selling items made by members (knitted christmas stockings, cakes, preserves etc) as well as gift WI memberships for 2015. We are still looking for further donations for the stall so any handicrafts or home made food gifts that you can contribute will be gratefully received (deliver to the stall at the crypt at 10am or email DBWI for details of where to drop them off). We’ve promised not to sell anything to be eaten there and then so if you are baking please make it full size cakes!

St PETERS CAFE
Every Friday the lovely Judith runs a community cafe in the crypt 12.00 noon until 4.00pm. She serves delicious home cooked food in a very friendly atmosphere. She is also looking for a volunteer to help her serve every other Friday so email her HERE if you are interested.

You can details about the next three meetings HERE. January is all about feeling good about our own bodies so we hope to see you then. Its also the start of the new WI year so please bring your 2015 subscription of £36 with you (cash or cheque). We’ll also be discussing next year’s nominated campaign so make sure you read about them in the latest copy of WI Life.