For the first tasting of our autumn season, we welcome Tom Ellis, Managing Director of First Class Products. Tom is young, lively and enthusiastic and we look forward to tasting his selection of new world cabernet and shiraz from their portfolio.

In 1930, at just 20 years old, Serge Hochar founded Chateau Musar in Lebanon, inspired by the country's 6,000 year winemaking tradition and his travels in Bordeaux. Today, the legendary wines of Chateau Musar live on with Gaston now managing the day-to-day running of the Chateau Musar winery. This month we welcome Jane Sowter, Chateau Musar's UK Managing Director. Jane will present wines from across the Musar range. Tasting the wines of Chateau Musar is always a pleasure and this should be a fascinating tasting.

Quentin has not presented to us for over 10 years. So it's especially appropriate that we will welcome him back in our 30th anniversary year. Quentin will present a tasting of wines from the hidden corners of Italy, which is expected to include both whites and reds from regions such as Campania, Marche, Piedmont, Trentino and Veneto.

This year the boys will be up against the girls - Liz's team of four girls and Terry's team of four boys will each present a wine of their choice. So we can expect to taste some great wines and the evening is guaranteed to get us in the festive spirit! Full details of our Christmas tasting will be published in our Christmas newsletter.

Our first tasting of 2018 promises to be a very special evening. We are delighted to welcome Master of Wine Richard Bampfield to present to us. Richard is a wine buying consultant at Lidl and he is going to give us a fascinating behind the scenes insight into the thinking behind wine buying at the supermarket. Richard's talk will feature his pick of what's really good on the shelves at the time.

It's Valentine's day, so you'll need to decide between spending the evening with your lover or coming along to a great wine tasting. No contest, is there? If you're likely to get into trouble by choosing the tasting, then why not bring your lover along to the tasting? Jim "Order please" King and Keith "The Magnum" Cooper will present their wine gems. The tasting will be preceded by a brief AGM.

If you think that Australia is only about Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon (and perhaps Semillon and Riesling), then think again! The Australian wine scene is bursting with new arrivals and lesser known grape varieties, which are grabbing the attention of critics, sommeliers, and wine-drinkers around the world. Richard Bost is now a favourite speaker at our Society and we look forward to welcoming him back.

Robert Boutflower is a very popular speaker at our Society and tonight he will present his pick of wines from Spain. Tanners is one of the UK's longest established wine merchants and tasting wines from their portfolio is always a viticultural pleasure.

Spy Valley is a family-owned winery based in the beautiful Marlborough region of New Zealand. Tonight, we are very pleased to welcome Tony Cloke on his first visit to our Society. Tony is European Sales Manager for Spy Valley wines and is their primary representative in the UK. He will guide us through a tasting exclusively featuring Spy Valley wines.

Tonight we welcome Victor Maguire, who is presenting to our Society for the first time. The wines of Bordeaux are loved by many wine enthusiasts. Prices for the big name wines are prohibitively high, but there are plenty of great wines to be had at more sensible prices. Victor has put together a flight of wines which represents the various styles across Bordeaux and his tasting will include both white and red wines.