This winteredition seesus tackle oneof Spain’smost impor-tant grapes –Tempranillo.

E n j o y i n gsomething ofa resurgence,the grape is

now being grown more widelyacross the new world, especiallyin Argentina and even Australia. Itis in northern Spain however, thatTempranillo has traditionally feltmost at home and has helpedcreate some fantastically oakyreds.

The name Tempranillo isderived from the Spanish wordtemprano, meaning early, since itripens several weeks before mostother red varieties. This grape istraditionally blended with three orfour other varieties to makeRioja, although a typical Riojablend will usually contain at least70% Tempranillo. Its acidic andageing qualities mean it canproduce long-lived and complexwines, although only the finestRioja will go on to keep fordecades.

2005 was a fantastic year soget tasting!

Ben Gibbon, Wine Editor

Diary notesLivery Dinner 28th FebruaryFor the Junior Livery

United Guilds’ Service 7th MarchFor selected Livery (by ballot)

Lenten Dinner 17th MarchFor the Active Livery

Company Golf Day 15th AprilAt The Berkshire

Company Lunch 21st April

Freemen’s Dinner 8th MayFor Active Freemen

A word from the editor

TheSILVER SWANNews from the Vintners' Company Tempranillo issue: Winter 2007

Can I start my inauguraledition as editor with a wordof thanks to my pre-

decessor, Martin Mason. I’d like tothank him for his hard work, andexcellent editorship of the first twoeditions, although I’m not so sureI’d like to thank him for promisingyou all Olympian heights ofjournalism under my stewardship!

The winter is fast approachingas I write this and will no doubthave taken a firmer hold than anervous trapezeartist by the time youread it. Thankfully,we will always havewine to warm usduring these coldspells.

I must say that Ihave been surprisedand delighted by thesheer number ofcontributions I havereceived for thisissue. Please docontinue to send inyour articles, anec-dotes, cartoons andcaption competitionentries in the months to come. TheSilver Swan really is yourmagazine and I am merely aconduit to its production.

Features in this issue include anexcellent piece by GeorgiaJameson to unravel any confusionamong readers about thedifferences between charitabledonations of The Company, theVintners’ Company CharitableFoundation (VCCF), and theconnection with The Benevolent.

If you are thinking of moving tosunnier climes, you will beinterested in an article written byRos Koch, who headed for SouthAfrica two years ago to start herown vineyard with husband Peter.Ros also has a regular diary foranyone wishing to follow herprogress more carefully.

Also in the post bag for this issuewas some sad news from theRoyal Tank Regiment, with whichthe Company is affiliated. Foursquadrons are currently serving onoperations in Basra, both in thearmour and infantry role, as wellas in Baghdad as infantry and inAfghanistan as reconnaissancetroops. Regrettably, one of theRegiment’s Challenger Two tankswas attacked in Basra and thedriver, Trooper Shine, was badly

injured, losing a leg.Our thoughts are withTrooper Shine and wewish him well.

I do hope you enjoythis issue and I wouldwelcome all yourcomments and contri-butions. My mission isto provide you with aninteresting and livelyread, as well as asuitable method for allVintners to com-municate and sharetheir thoughts andideas.

If you have anythingfor the next issue, please submit itby 18th February toed@vintnershall.co.uk. We wouldalso like to hear from you if you areinterested in joining the editorialcommittee – please note thateditorial meetings usually includea delicious dinner!

We all have something incommon, in our love of wine – soplease raise your glass in onehand and your pen in the otherand between us we really willreach those Olympian heights –one way or another.

Michael Turner, Court Assistant

New Silver Swan Editor,Michael Turner

The Charity Dinner in Octoberresulted in a staggering £46k toNACOA and £19k to the VCCF.

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4 The Silver Swan

The Vintners’ quizA short quiz, just for fun. Theanswers are printed at the bottom ofthis page – so no peeking!1. Who was the model for theCompany’s new statue?2. What is one Isle of Canary worth?3. What is the full name of theBeadle?4. Is the Hall an ancient monumentor a listed building?5. Who provides the Company’scatering?6. When and where was theCompany’s recent charity walk?

Quiz answers: 1. Martin Spencer. 2. All of Peru. 3.Ron Hanley (ha, trick question). 4. AncientMonument. 5. Searcy’s. 6. Champagne

Inter-Livery TennisThe Vintnerswere again wellr e p r e s e n t e dthis year, withLiveryman GuyN i g h t i n g a l eand Freeman

Marisa Nicholes reaching thequarter-finals. Liveryman GrahamMitchell and his wife Nicola com-peted in the plate competition andalso reached the quarter-finals,where they were beaten by theeventual winners of the competi-tion (again!), the Tallow Chandlers.

Sailing – the Great TwelveRegatta 2007

Over the weekend of 15-17thJune, sailors from the GreatTwelve Companies gathered inSeaview, Isle of Wight, for theirthird Regatta.

The racing took place on theSaturday in fine weather with aperfect moderate breeze. Therewere four races in the 12 SeaviewMermaids with two crews fromeach Company broadly represent-ing the older and younger sailors.Additionally, there was one longerrace for those Companies whoentered a larger yacht in the

Handicap Cruiser Class.The Vintners’ contingent was

some 20-strong, including wivesand girlfriends. The sailors wereWilly Callingham, JamesHingston, Clive Hunt, JonathanJameson and Peter Mason for theOld Guard, and Andrew Blayney,Ann Hill, Alex Hingston (with girl-friend Helen Goodfellow) andAnnabel Hunt representing theYoung Guard. Mark Wagner repre-sented us in the Handicap Classwith his impressive catamaran.

The sailing was highly competi-tive throughout the day. In the end,the Skinners took the cup for thethird year. However, it also has tobe reported that, despite a numberof our crew having sailed inSeaview waters for many years,the Vintners were only able toachieve their natural place in theGreat Twelve. But… “Tis the cask,not the trophy, that holds the truewealth”, and a good time was hadby all.

GolfIn October, the Vintners took on theMerchant Taylors at Royal StGeorge’s, and the Vintners won thematch of two rounds of foursomesby a margin of 5 to 33/4. The matchwas played in the afternoon and fol-lowing morning. The standard ofthe Vintners was put under pres-sure in the morning round, whichwas played after a black tie dinnerat the Club.

It was noted that both Patricks,i.e. Cooper and Franklin Adams,lost their matches and it was theiridea in the first place! Battle will beresumed next October as theVintners are now two ahead.

Sports round-up

Caption competitionCongratulationsto LiverymanR i c h a r dDelaforce, whois the winner ofthe last CaptionC o m p e t i t i o nwith: “Do ask theSwan Warden togive me a ringwhen he is next up this way!”Congratulations Richard, a bottle ofVintage Port is winging its way toyou.

We will again be giving a non-spe-cific prize to the wittiest caption ofthis photo of American comedienneEllen Degeneres.

Send your entries to ed@vintner-shall.co.uk, or Dorothy Turner atVintners’ Hall, and please remem-ber, the Editor’s decision is final!

Andrew Blayney, Annabel Hunt, HelenGoodfellow and Alex Hingston

In a colourful ceremony, attended by HM TheQueen’s and the Dyer’s Company’s Swan Markers,together with our Swan Uppers and Members of theCompany, the Master, Anthony Edwards, unveiledthe statue of the Company’s Swan Marker outsideSt James Garlickhythe on 11th July.

The statue, which is made of bronze, is the gift ofPast Master David Robson. It was created by VivienMallock (www.vivienmallock.co.uk) the renownedsculptor.

Standing 1.83m high on a plinth of PortlandStone, the statue is a remarkable likeness of MartinSpencer looking down on one of his swans. ViviMallock has produced a very limited edition ofmaquettes, which are available to members of theCompany (price on request).

TUTORED WINE TASTINGDate: 18th February 2008. Further details to follow.

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The Silver Swan 3

charity you feel passionatelyabout, and which you would like toput forward to the VCCF. The othercommittee members are PeterMason, The Master, Ann Hill,Robin MacKenzie, Louise Daviesand The Clerk.

Updates and details on both ofthe above can be found at ourwebsite www.vintnershall.co.uk.

The Benevolent, on the otherhand, is the new name for the oldWine & Spirit Trades BenevolentSociety and, although it has aclose connection with theCompany, it is a charitable organi-sation in its own right. As the namestated, it represents the trade as awhole and the Company has asmall share in the Benevolent’sVintry Homes at Eastbourne,which means that we have a limit-ed facility to accommodate anyCompany pensioners there, or anyneedy pensioners who have previ-ously worked in the wine trade.

An often-asked question is: Whatis the difference between the char-itable donations of the Companyand the Vintners’ CompanyCharitable Foundation (VCCF),and what is the Company’s con-nection with the Benevolent? Inthis article, Georgia Jameson setsthe record straight.

The Company supports six char-itable categories – the disabled,hospices and hospitals, youth andyouth projects, the homeless ordisadvantaged, the elderly and theprevention of drug and alcoholabuse. The Charities Committeeof the Company meets every sixmonths and the categories aretherefore considered in a three-year cycle. This money comesfrom the Company’s income andfollows a long tradition of giving.

The VCCF, on the other hand, isa charitable foundation set up toreceive donations specifically frommembers of the Company, bydonating or through fundraisingevents, to support specific charita-ble areas chosen by members. Ifyou have an event or an idea toraise money for the VCCF, pleaseemail Kate Marshall at catherine@vintnershall.co.uk or call her on020 7651 0742.

She is also the person to con-tact, along with other members ofthe VCCF Committee, if there is a

Charity begins with Côtes du Rhône

The comedian Jasper Carrott onceasked what was so good about“strapping on a pair of EstherRantzen’s toothpicks and launch-ing yourself headlong down an icyslope”. He obviously hasn’t beento the Alps recently.

First, skis have advanced and,second, there wasn't an icy slopein sight this year. However, I amhoping 2007 was an anomaly andthat next season will see a return inthe Alps to the snow-dumps of old.

If so, would it not be enjoyable totake a party from the Vintners'Company to a chalet in Val d'Isèreor Meribel, Chamonix or Morzine?Willing participants could drivedown. Days would be lost to daz-zling skiing with long lunches,evenings to good food, good wineand better company.

I would welcome a show ofhands on this proposal and furtherplans could be put in place. If youwant to join, please contact me atalex.hingston@incisivemedia.com.

On a quintessentialEnglish summer’sday in July, the SwanWarden, MartinMason, hosted thisyear’s Swan Voyage,embarking at HurleyLock. The Companyentertained guestsfrom other LiveryCompanies, togetherwith a number ofLiverymen, to a per-

fect day on the river. Our trusty Swan Uppers did not disappoint andmade a tricky catch at a suitably early time to break open theChampagne. Due to the high river levels, there was only one cygnet,but Martin Spencer duly marked it as a Vintners’ bird.

Swan Upping

It’s another bird for the Vintners’

You’re nicked!

Please note that no swanswere harmed in the making

of this cartoon – the Ed

L i v e r y m a nMark Bower,C o n s u l t a n tOncologist andthe Company'sS u r g e o nA p o t h e c a r y,has been madeProfessor ofOncology byI m p e r i a l

College School of Medicine, inrecognition of his research and clin-ical work, especially in the field ofHIV-related cancers, where he hasearned a reputation as a leadingauthority. Professor Bower is son ofLiveryman John Bower and brotherof Liveryman Ann Hill.

Skiing is snowjoking matter

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2 The Silver Swan

The SuaveSwanwrites on THEATRE,ARTS and CINEMA

Theatre to look out fornext year includes

Eileen Atkins in Edward Bond’s com-edy The Sea at the Theatre RoyalHaymarket, which will also house thenew musical Marguerite, the WorldPremiere of a collaboration betweenAlain Boublil and Claude-MichelSchönberg (Les Misérables, MissSaigon and Martin Guerre) and theOscar award-winning musical legendMichel Legrand.

The Royal Academy’s From Russiaexhibition starts on 26th January andruns until 18th April. More than 120paintings by Russian and Frenchartists working between 1870 and1925 will be displayed together for thefirst time ever in the UK in an exhibi-tion that surveys the main directionsof modern art, from Realism and

Impressionism to Non-Objective paint-ing. Works will include paintings byRenoir, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguinand Matisse together with those byKandinsky, Tatlin and Malevich.

London is being used as the set fortwo new films. The futuristic thrillerFranklyn stars Ryan Phillippe andSusannah York, while DustinHoffman and Emma Thompson are toreunite on our screens in the romcomLast Chance Harvey – you may wantto play ‘Spot the Swan’ to add to thefilm’s fun. Currently showing isElizabeth: The Golden Age, which atlast brings the mighty Weston SuperMare back to our screens. All thatrubbish about Drake playing bowls –he was straight down to the crazy golfcourse!• The ice-rink season has started:Natural History Museum Ice Rink,SW7, to Jan 20Kew Gardens Ice Rink, TW9, to Jan 6Tower of London Ice Rink, EC3, toJan 13Somerset House Ice Rink, WC2, toJan 27

Know your staff

Carey Tylerhas workedfor theCompany for11 years. Heis currentlyresponsible,along with

the Beadle, for the maintenance ofthe cellar and the presentation ofwine at all Company events.

Prior to joining the Company,Carey served in the Army for fouryears (in the same Regiment asthe Clerk!), followed by 13 yearsas the manager of a delivery firm.

Carey lives with Trish inOrpington in Kent and he hasthree children and two expensivegrandchildren. He is a very keenand knowledgeable gardener.

Carey Tyler - Houseman

An African Adventure –Life on the FarmFreeman Ros Koch (née Avery) tells of a life-changing decision,a move to another continent, and the beauty of farming

Two years ago,my husband,Peter, and I tooka rather rashdecision. Withmyself eightmonths pregnant,and with a highly-active one yearold ‘at foot’, andfinances quitetight, life seemedto lack a sense ofchallenge. So we decided to moveto South Africa to live on, andmanage, a small wine farm. Whileour family may have been boom-ing, the grape growing industryhas not, so it really was rather acrazy thing to do!

However, two years on, althoughwe’re still a small operation (read:no manager/foreman, no perma-nent staff and, believe it or not, stillno tractor), catch me on a goodday and I can honestly say it’sbeen a hugely rewarding andenriching experience. I’ve learntso much about viticulture, which,as the daughter of a wine mer-chant, I naturally know nothing

about. At thesame timeI’m slowlygetting togrips with thewonderful lyexp ress i velanguage ofA f r i k a a n s(and yes, Iknow morethan just the naughty

words). I’ve also learnt a lot aboutthe farming community too – thehistory, the politics, the labourissues, the stories behind the peo-ple who put so much of their livesinto a product that they rarely getto enjoy.

All the while I’m learning themost important lesson of all – howto live life, how to slow down whenthe world around just wants to getfaster and how to tune into thesoothing paces of Mother Nature.In addition, I’m watching in wonderat the seasonal cycles of the vineand at our children growing up out-doors, climbing trees, runningbarefoot on grass and dirt tracks.

Ros and Peter’s African vines

Bobby Prentice, Foreman of theVintners’ Swan Uppers, is attempt-ing to compete in the AtlanticRowing Race 2007 in aid of MoveAhead, a charity for people withbrain injuries.

Bobby attempted the crossing in2005, but his boat capsized andsank mid-Atlantic and he spenttwo days in a life-raft before beingrescued by a container ship andtaken to the Gabon.

The 2007 race started in theAzores on 2nd December andBobby hopes to row into AntiguaHarbour some 60 days later. Youcan follow the progress of Bobby’sboat, Move Ahead II onwww.atlanticrowingrace.co.uk andif you feel that you wish to supporthis heroic effort, please send acheque payable to Move Ahead, toKate Marshall at Vintners’ Hall.

Transatlanticsuperstar

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