1 June 2023 We're republishing this in our Throwback Thursday series to remind you to get your modestly priced ticket in time for our fundraising event on 16 June, two weeks tomorrow. The dilapidated hall in the village I was brought up in, with the view over the River Eden above, desperately needs renovation. It now has its own crowdfunding page on JustGiving, as suggested by several kind readers of JancisRobinson.com, so you can donate whether you buy a ticket or not.
Reading the text there, submitted by the village hall committee, I suddenly realised that the hall is exactly the same age as me. I'm thinking of launching a crowdfunding page for my own refurbishment. (Just to explain one caption on the JustGiving page: welly-wanging is competitive throwing of rubber boots or galoshes.)
30 May 2023 Owing to popular demand, we intend to record the session and make the recording available to everyone who buys a ticket.
23 May 2023 A one-hour tasting and Q&A with Jancis over Zoom, to raise funds for a village hall on Hadrian's Wall.
I was brought up in a village of 40 people just west of Carlisle, Cumbria, on the Roman Wall that was once the border between the precursors of England and Scotland.
There was no shop, no church and no village centre except for a village hall, known as Beaumont Parish Hall, taking the name of the next village. When my mother died in 2012 it was natural to have her ashes buried in Beaumont churchyard and to celebrate her life with an all-comers tea party in Beaumont Parish Hall (she had a very sweet tooth and afternoon tea was her favourite meal). On display were some of the booklets she wrote, posters she drew and much of the evidence that she had been a Camberwell-trained illustrator.
As you can see above, the parish hall has a beautiful view of the River Eden, which furnished me with so much freshly caught salmon in my youth that I got thoroughly sick of it. But it is falling down and desperately needs repair, not least so that it can cater to the increasing number of walkers along the old Hadrian’s Wall.
Those who live there now have asked me to help them raise some money towards their target total of £300,000 for a complete renovation of the hall, so I suggested I host an online event on Friday 16 June.
It is open to anyone anywhere in the world who can join us at 6 pm UK time (1 pm EST, 10 am PST) for an hour on Friday 16 June.
I plan to show those who kindly buy a ticket to this interactive Zoom encounter (£21.98/€25.26/$25, or free for Gold members of our Purple Pages) how to taste wine like a professional, how to make the most of each glass, how to serve wine and how to find a bargain bottle. I also very much welcome questions.
It’s not necessary to sip a glass of wine during this online event but you may like to lay in a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough in New Zealand and one of red bordeaux so you can share some of my impressions.
Those based in the UK are advised to arm themselves with a bottle each of The Ned, Skyscraper Sauvignon Blanc 2022 Marlborough and Château Méaume 2019 Bordeaux Supérieur, which cost £14.99 and £12.99 respectively at Majestic if single bottles are bought. There are considerable discounts for purchases of six mixed bottles.
I hope to see you on 16 June. Here are the details of how to secure your ticket:
WHEN 6–7 pm UK time (1–2 pm EST, 10–11 am PST)
WHAT An online wine encounter with Jancis
WHERE Via Zoom
HOW TO BUY A TICKET
In the UK
In the US
In the EU
Upon purchase, you will receive a receipt with a link to the event. Follow the link up to 30 minutes before the start of the event to gain access.
