Events

Founded in 1818, Leander Club inHenleyis the largest, most historic and successful rowing club in the world. It is recognised globally for its extraordinary achievements at the Henley Royal Regatta, the World Championships and the Olympic Games.

Home to heroes like Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Matthew Pinsent, James Cracknell, Debbie Flood and Steve Williams as well as to the champions of tomorrow, the Club attracts and develops high-potential young oarsmen and women by providing state-of-the-art facilities and world-class coaching.

So where better to hold our Opening Ceremony?

Set with a view overlooking theThames, we will occupy the member’s balcony dining room and start with a reception with canapés. We will then move on to a three course meal cooked by the Leander’s excellent chef, followed by coffee and petits fours.

For those that wish, we have also secured limited accommodation in the Leander’s four star bedrooms (English breakfast included) 

The Olympic 100 metres sprint determines the fastest man and woman in the world. To win the Gold Medal, the runners must have youth on their side, get off to a good start, keep up the pace and put on a great burst of speed at the finish. These runners are top of their class over a short distance but haven’t got the staying power to last the course like a long-distance runner.

 In keeping with this event, our wines tonight are racy, zesty, zippy whites with a great burst on the finish. Definitely not long-distance runners and won’t last the distance but ideal for drinking now and good value for money. Like their athletic counterparts, these wines will have youth on their side and will peak this summer but will probably keep their strength for another year.  

 This is usually the first event of the Olympic Games after the Opening Ceremony and our London Branch Programme therefore follows the Games Programme with this being our first track event.

 In selecting tonight’s wines, the organiser has paid great attention to how they are described by their suppliers, particularly looking for words such as ‘zesty’, ‘racy’, ‘freshness of youth’, ‘zingy fresh acidity’ and ‘considerable length on the finish’  in the descriptions.

Our 9 wines tonight are as follows:                                                         

Bouquet de Nos Vignes Blanc, Van* de Pays, 2010

Riverlands Run, Marlborough, Sauvignon Blanc, NZ, 2011

Greywacke, Marlborough, Sauvignon Blanc, NZ 2011

St Hallett, Poachers Blend, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon & Reisling, Australia, 2010

Awakena, Chardonnay, Chile, 2011

Montes Alpha, Chardonnay, Chile, 2010

Yaluma, Viognier, South Australia, 2011

Domaine La Bastide, Viognier, 2010

Staete Landt, Viognier, 2011, Marlborough NZ

   Synchronised Swimming is a relatively modern addition to The Olympic Games and is all about poise, elegance, grace and balance. Our fine wines tonight follow that ethos as all have been described as wines of great elegance, balance, style and charm.

  The event was to have been led by John Avery who was very enthusiastic about the concept and felt that it should apply to ALL types of wine - not just French and red!  John was a keen supporter ofNew Worldwines and promoted these even when they weren’t fashionable. He was also a wine judge in Australasia andSouth Africa.

 The organiser has therefore chosen to lead this event herself as a special tribute to John and has selected wines that John would hopefully have approved of, including Château Pichon Lalande, plus Chile’s greatest Chardonnay and best Pinot Noir and, of course, a wine from the Avery’s Pioneer Range. 

 We are hoping that either Sarah or Mimi Avery will be able to join us on the night but await a response at time of going to print.

 Our wines tonight are as follows:

 1996 Louis Roederer Champagne

2009 Maycas del Limari Quebrada Seca Chardonnay

2008 Avery’s Pioneer Range Chardonnay Yarra Valley

1996 Chassagne Montrachet, Louis Jadot

1983 Anjou Moulin Touchais

2008 Cono Sur Ocio Pinot Noir

2003 Boekenhoutskloof Syrah Coastal

1998 Penfolds RWT Barossa Shiraz

1997 Château Pichon Lalande

1991 Grato Grati Toscana IGT

An unexpected and extremely rare find will round off this tasting and will enable us to toast a great man who would have loved to have been with us tonight:

1986 Delamain Early Landed Grande Champagne Cognac

Please note that as this is a varied tasting of different wines, no food will accompany this event but coffee will be served with theCognac.