Wine Tasting - A Vintage Evening with TASH and The Arts Society Wokingham, March 2026

On the evening of 11th March, the Henley Town Hall—a venue that has seen its fair share of history, though perhaps rarely this much "research" into the grape—played host to a collaborative wine tasting between TASH and The Arts Society Wokingham.

The event was staged at the request of the national Arts Society as part of an initiative to enrich the membership experience. It was a high-profile affair, graced by the presence of Hilary Kay (National President), John Benjamin (TASH President), Michael Shirley (National Vice-President), Jeremy Thomas (National Chairman of Trustees), and Ian Arnold (National Chief Executive). One might say the evening had a "full-bodied" guest list to match the cellar.

The Guide and the Glass

Our guide for the evening was Grant Hedley from Laithwaite’s, a man who has spent enough years in the trade to know that wine is essentially "sunlight held together by water," though it tastes significantly better after fermentation. Grant’s expertise shone as he detailed the geography, geology, and climate of each vineyard, accompanying his insights with vibrant imagery of the estates and the winemakers who toil within them.

Beyond the technicalities, Grant delved into the psychology of the pour. He explained how our palates are deceptively social; we are often influenced by the opinions of our neighbours, the tempo of the music playing, and even the ambient hum of the room. It turns out that if you play a heavy cello suite, that Malbec might just taste a little more "serious."

Navigating the "Taste Wheel": To assist the assembly in identifying what, exactly, they were swirling, Grant introduced the Taste Wheel. For the uninitiated, a taste wheel is a colourful visual map that helps drinkers move from broad sensations (like "fruity" or "earthy") to specific nuances (like "wet slate," "crushed raspberry," or "that hint of pencil shavings you didn't know you liked"). It serves as a vital linguistic bridge, ensuring that when one guest says "it tastes purple," they can eventually find their way to "dark plum and violet."

The Selection: A Journey from Henley to Bordeaux

The evening featured six exceptional bottles provided by our local Henley neighbours, Laithwaite’s:

1. Wyfold Vineyard English Sparkling Brut (South Oxfordshire, UK): We began on home turf with this award-winning sparkler. Grown just a stone's throw from Henley, these vines were planted by Barbara Laithwaite herself. It’s a crisp, elegant testament to the fact that English weather is finally good for something besides small talk.
2. Hunter’s Home Block Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand): Moving to the Wairau Valley, this wine represents the "Home Block"—the original vineyard site of the Hunter family. It provided a zesty, tropical punch that woke up any palates still lingering in the Chilterns.
3. L'Épiphanie Côtes de Provence Rosé (Provence, France): A sophisticated rosé from the spiritual home of pink wine. Sourced from elite parcels in Provence, this wine offered a delicate salmon hue and notes of summer berries—essentially "vacation in a glass," minus the airport security.
4. Gabel Pinot Noir Kalkstein Pfalz Organic (Pfalz, Germany): This organic Pinot Noir hails from the limestone (Kalkstein) soils of the Pfalz region. It proved that German reds are a force to be reckoned with: light, silky, and surprisingly complex.
5. Opi Malbec Reserve (Mendoza, Argentina): Crafted by the legendary Rodolfo "Opi" Sadler, this Malbec is a powerhouse from the high-altitude vineyards of Mendoza. It brought a depth of dark fruit and spice to the table, or as some might call it, "steak’s best friend."
6. Château La Clarière (Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, France): The grand finale was a Bordeaux from Tony Laithwaite’s own prize-winning estate. Situated on the same limestone plateau as Saint-Émilion, this wine offered a structured, velvety finish to the flight.

Fellowship and Fine Notes

Accompanying these pours was an array of canapés, which served the dual purpose of pairing with the wine and ensuring the membership remained upright.

As the evening concluded, it was clear that the fellowship was as sparkling as the Wyfold. To quote an old cellar hand: "Age is just a number, unless you’re a bottle of wine—then it’s a price tag." On this evidence, the Arts Society’s mission to enrich the membership experience is aging very gracefully indeed.