MEMBERS of the Greater Malvern Wine Society are looking forward to some new experiences this year which aim to tickle their taste buds.

The society, which has only been running for two and a half years and currently has 44 members, is venturing into pastures new to give members a slightly different slant on the world of wine.

The club meets once a month and regularly uses a function room at the Manor Park Sports Club, Albert Road North, Malvern, for its wine tasting evenings.

Club treasurer David Street explained the usual format is that members are presented with eight wines – four red and four white (which may include a sparkling or dessert wine) – and can learn about the grape, how the wine is made, each one’s characteristics and their effects on the palate.

The presentations are given by professionals from the wine trade or some of the club members. The club boasts one member – its president Mark Savage – who is Master of Wine, the top qualification in the world of wine. Others have Wine and Spirit Education Trust qualifications or are simply very experienced and knowledgeable about wine.

However this year the club will be looking at the wines on offer at local restaurants, selecting a cross section from their lists, buying them from trade suppliers and tasting them. They will be judged on bouquet, flavour and value.

David explained: “If you are going to a restaurant and there are wines ranging from £20 to £60, you are not going to risk spending more than £20 if you don’t know what it’s going to taste like.

“Our restaurant wine tasting programme will give members the opportunity to taste the more expensive wines at trade prices.”

The society, which has its own website - https://sites.google.com/site/thegreatermalvernwinesociety/ - plans to publish the results, although David admitted taste is very subjective and in the world of wine there is a divide between old world such as France, Spain and Italy, and the new world such as the Americas and Australasia.

The other new event this year is an evening marking the 2016 Olympic Games, when the society will have a Brazilian BBQ with Brazilian Wines at one of the member’s homes in Malvern.

“We were approached by a lady who lives in Worcester and supplies Brazilian wines,” said David. He wasn’t quite sure how a Brazilian BBG differed from any other, but said he is really looking forward to trying some Brazilian wine.

Another event in the society’s 2016 calendar is a nine-day trip to Portugal with wine tasting and sightseeing. The society members visited Sicily and Hungary in previous years.

The society welcomes new members from complete beginners to those with some knowledge and experience of the world of wine. The club aims to promote the enjoyment and understanding of wine in an affordable, relaxed and unpretentious way.

For more information visit the society’s website.