Year 31 In The HMWS

(1 September 2021 – 31 August 2022)

September 2021

Membership: Renewed without annual fees for the second year running. 29 members made donations.
Wine Offers: 15 cases of wine were sourced for 4 members from Armit Wines
Tastings: The first Post-Covid tasting (Mendel Wines) was held on the 30th attended by 23 members
HMWS Blog: There were 2429 views by 440 visitors
Accounts: Opening balance was £1586.49. Inflows were £313 (donations & wine sales) and expenses were £217.95 (wine & admin. costs). Closing balance was £1681.54

October 2021

Membership: Jane Lishman & Paul Hazell joined the Society on 10/10/21, introduced by Les & Mandy Wilson
Wines Sourced: 36 cases from Fells. 7 cases from Armit. 6 cases from Jeroboams. (Total 49 cases)
Tastings: La Rioja Alta tasting was postponed to 25 November due to insufficient uptake
HMWS Blog: There were 3346 views by 519 visitors from 25 countries
Accounts: The opening balance was £1681.54. Inflows were £1007.08. Outflows for wine were £1280.08. The closing balance is £1408.54.

November 2021

Membership: 83 including 19 Life Members
Wines Sourced: 8 cases (3/II) + 5 cases (10/11) + 5 cases (22/11) from Fells. 4 cases (22/11) from Armit. Total 22 cases
Tastings: La Rioja Alta tasting on the 25th was attended by 22 members and 3 guests.
HMWS Blog: There were 2901 views by 466 visitors from 30 countries. One blog post – “Tasting La Rioja Alta” was published
Accounts: Opening balance was £1408.54. Inflows were £1366.67. Outflows were £1530.24. Closing balance is £1244.97. Members’ Credit Account holds £2125.60

December 2021

Membership: 83
Wines Sourced: Armit: 2 cases (8/12), Fells 5 cases (9/12) & 4 cases on 13/12. Total 11 cases
Tastings & Lunches: Christmas Lunch was held at the Masonic Hall on Sunday 19 December, attended by 27 members & 6 guests
Tours: Wine/culture tour of Northern Greece for 2022 arranged with Odyssey Tours. Members’ response awaited
HMWS Blog: There were 2906 views by 411 visitors from 32 countries. One post – “2021 Christmas Lunch” was published. It has had 53 views
Accounts: Opening balance was £1244.97. Inflows were £ 2353.90. Outflows were £1306.56. Closing balance is £2292.31. Members’ Credit Account holds £2156.60

2021 In The HMWS

Wine Events: Only two tastings (Wines of Mendel & La Rioja Alta) and the Christmas Lunch were possible because of the Pandemic. Wine events would be possible in 2022 only when the Covid-19 situation improves
Wine Tours: No tours were possible. The Wine Tour of Romania was again postponed to May 2022. A wine/culture tour of Northern Greece with Odyssey Tours, probably in the autumn of 2022 is also in the books. Members have requested another Champagne Tour in October or November
Wine: The Society sourced 331 cases of wine for Members from Fells, Armit Wines, Enotria&Coe, Liberty Wines and Jeroboams. The Society hopes to continue sourcing fine wines for Members in 2022
The Blog: There were 30,141 views by 5802 visitors. 7 posts were published. The Hedonist will be published daily to inform and educate
Finances: The year ended with £2292.31 in the HMWS account and £2156.20 in the Members Credit Account

January 2022

Membership: Remains at 83 with 19 Life Members
Wine Events: No wine events were held.
Wine Tours: There is interest in wine tours to Romania, Greek Macedonia and Champagne
Wine: 29 wines were offered to Members including 7 ‘home tasting wines.’ 31 cases were sourced for 8 members
The Blog: There were 1851 views by 472 visitors from 33 countries
HMWS/Serendib Accounts: Accounts were submitted to HM Revenue & Customs by the accountant. Accountancy bill was paid. 1st January opening balance was £2292.31. Inflows (wine sales to Members) were £1186.65. Outflows (wines bought & admin. costs) were £1306.67. The Closing balance is £2172.29. The Society holds wine worth £164.20. Members’ Credit Account holds £2089.19

February 2022

Membership: 82 including 18 Life Members
Wine Events: No events were held in February. The first tasting in 2022 will be in April and the first wine tour (Romania) in May
Wine: 30 wines were offered and 26 cases were sourced for 8 Members
The Blog: There were 2248 views by 496 visitors
Accounts: Opening balance was £2172.29. Inflows (wine) were £1100.83. Outgoings were £1581.74. Closing balance was £1691.38. Members Credit Account holds £2213.68. The Cabernet Franc Tasting account holds £145. The Society holds 21 bottles of wine worth £362.50

March 2022

Membership: 82 including 18 Life Members
Wine Events: No tastings were held and the Romania Wine Tour was again postponed to May 2023
Wine: 46 wines were offered and 45 cases worth £3411.42 were sourced for 14 Members from Fells, Armit Wines and Jeroboams
The Blog: There were 1996 views by 447 visitors from 29 countries. No posts were published
Accounts: Opening Balance was £1691.38. Inflows (wine) were £2165.06. Expenses (Wine & admin.) were £2641.98. The closing balance was £1214.46. The Cabernet Franc Tasting account holds £619. Members Credit Account has £1981.52. The Society holds wine (Stock) worth £737.92

April 2022

Membership: Unchanged at 82 with 18 Life Members
Wine Events: One Tasting/Supper – “Cabernet Franc From Around The World,” tutored by Rob Buckley was held at the Masonic Hall, attended by 31 Members
Raffle: 11 Members bought 55 raffle tickets priced £1 each for 5 bottles of wine. The raffle helps the Society to reduce the surplus wine stock and improve cash flow
Wine: 57 wines were offered. 19 cases of 15 wines (26%) were purchased by 9 Members
The Blog: There were 1965 views by 562 visitors from 37 countries. The ‘Top Three’ were UK, US & Portugal. 2 posts were published – “Cabernet Franc From Around The World“ (32 views & 1 Like) and “First Taste – Domaines de Ladoucette Chinon Marc Brédif 2019″ (21 views)
Accounts: Opening balance was £1141.92. Inflows were £537.39. Outflows were £491.30. The closing balance is £1188.01. Members’ Credit Account holds £1999.52. The Society has 29 bottles of wine in Stock worth £463.43

May

Membership: Unchanged at 82 including 18 Life Members
Wine Events: No events were held. A “Small Group Tasting” and an early June Spring Lunch were cancelled due to lack of support
Wine: 23 wines were offered and the Society sourced 18 cases for members
The Blog: There were 2143 views by 569 visitors. 3 blog posts were published
Accounts: The opening balance was £1188.01. Inflows were £1850.64 and outflows were £2082.19. The closing balance is £956.46. Members’ Credit Account holds £2311.68. “First Taste – June 2022” account holds £123

June

Membership: Unchanged at 82 including 18 Life Members
Wine Events: Tasting “First Taste – June 22” was held on 30 June attended by 26 members and a guest. Wines were bought for the July “Natural Wine Tasting” and the November “Return To Portugal” tasting. Peter Murphy will present the September “English Sparkling Wine” tasting and host the October “Long Liquid Lunch – 3”. A Christmas Lunch at Sasso in December is planned
Wine: 12 wines from Fells & Armit were offered and the Society sourced 93 bottles for Members
The Blog: There were 2149 views by 505 visitors. 5 posts were published
Accounts: The opening balance was 956.46. Inflows were £1482.11 and the outflows were £1355.15. The closing balance is £1083.42. Members Credit Account holds £2297.70.

July

Membership: 82 with 18 Life members. Lynne Preston informed she is not renewing membership. 8 others did
Wine Events: “Natural Wine” tasting was attended by 20 members. 5 posted comments. September Northern Greek and October Champagne tours were cancelled because of poor uptake. A pre-Christmas Champagne Tour, “First Taste – August 2022” and a dinner at Where There’s Smoke in Masham were offered. 2023 Events Calendar was published. Planning for the June 2023 Porto tour started
Wine: 1 Warwick wine and 3 Vergelegen from Fells and 1 Chianti & La Rioja Alta Christmas Gift Boxes from Armit were offered. 4 members bought 20 bottles from Stock and 2 cases of Querciabella Chianti Classico. 4 cases of Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 were delivered from Jeroboams
The Blog: There were 2238 views by 451 visitors. 5 posts were published.
Accounts: Opening balance was £1083.42. Inflows were £1079.73 (wine £919.73, Subs. £120, Donations £40). Expenses were £1707.21 (wine £1696.87, admin. costs £10.34). July deficit was £627.48. The closing balance is £455.94. Members’ Credit Account holds £1946.89.

August

Membership: 54 renewed their membership of the Society. 6 members left the Society
Wine Events: Wines for an October tasting of Jura wines were purchased in Chateau Chalon and Clairvaux-les-lacs in Jura and brought to Harrogate. 24 members have registered interest in the tasting. A September dinner at “Where There Is Smoke” in Masham was arranged. 4 members have registered interest. Autumn Lunch at Sasso in September was cancelled. 16 members registered interest in a Pre-Christmas Champagne Tour. “First Taste – August 2022” was hosted on Saturday 27th by Drs. Alisdair & Elma Stewart at their home on Margaret Road. 11 members were present and 7 new wines were tasted. The August Raffle was won by Rob Buckley and Richard Fox
Wine: No wines were sourced in August for members
The Blog: There were 1958 views. 2 posts were published.
Accounts: Opening balance was £455.94. Inflows were £681.08 and expenses £445.64. Closing balance is £691.38. Members Credit Account holds £1862.89