THE WHAKATANE WINE APPRECIATION SOCIETY.

 In 1962 David Bull attended a dental conference in Australia and met up with a member of a small wine group that met monthly in members’ homes.  On returning to Whakatane he discussed with a number of friends the possibility of forming a similar group.  Thus the Whakatane Wine and Cheese Society was formed in 1963 with twelve members.

In January 1967 the Society was accepted as a branch of the International Wine and Food Society and was presented with a fine charter document.

Since then, as the emphasis has been more on wine, the Society has been renamed the Whakatane Wine Appreciation Society.  It still meets in the members’ homes on a monthly basis, which limits its membership to less than sixteen.  The monthly meetings are augmented for both members and partners by dinners at restaurants in the Bay of Plenty at least twice a year, as well as visits to wine-producing areas in New Zealand and overseas.

Webmaster Ray Toms ray@nzwineandfood.org.nz