Message from the President

As I look out over a sparkling Sydney Harbour this February morning in the Southern Hemisphere, it is with optimism that this year will be a wonderful one for our Society, in its 90^th year, with a full year of exciting and uninterrupted events where we can all gather across the globe to renew friendships and make new ones in wine, food and friends. There are some wonderful festival and gatherings planned in our various Branches and Areas. I look forward to meeting many of you at the international events I shall be attending in the Willamette Valley, Catalunya and Sydney. 

The Chairman and I have indeed met twice recently to work on plans for the Asia Pacific Sydney Festival. Our meetings were held, as members would rightly expect, at restaurants where we were able to enjoy good wine and food. One was in Sydney and the other in Perth. Our meeting in Sydney was in a Chinese restaurant where we enjoyed Australian Riesling and Pinot Noir. The Chairman introduced me, at a Japanese restaurant, to some special and spectacular Western Australian wines from Margaret River, which I hope he will be able to repeat for all members attending the Sydney Festival. 

This is now planned for Wednesday 18 October to Sunday 22 October 2023 with the concluding dinner the night before and the APZ’s AGM on the morning of 22 October. Registration and hotel booking details will be available shortly but please mark your diaries, if you wish to attend, as places will be limited. 

In closing by wishing you good health and camaraderie this year we should be mindful that difficult days lie ahead if we are to maintain a peaceful world, though we are certainly blessed to live in an era of such wonderful opportunities.

Chris Bonsall.