The September meeting was at my home, and the theme was real world analogues of wines in Sci-Fi and fantasy. Karen and I (as a bit of fun and in line with the theme) also dressed up in steam punk regalia. Steam punk is a sub genre of Sci-Fi/Fantasy where steam and clockwork are still the main forms of power.
Vermouth
Dolin Dry De Chambery, Non-Vintage, 17.5%, £12.75, Amazon, Ugni Blanc grape. Crisp and lively with a slightly sweet yet dry white wine base. Dominant notes of toasted almond, genappe, and soft citrus are present.
Food pairing - Goats Cheese, Fried snacks and olives.
Analogue Locris Wine – Foundation by Issac Asimov
Locris wine (also called sunny wine) was a type of wine from Locris. As Locris had a permanently sunny side, grapes grown there were particularly sweet. After the Galactic Empire destroyed Locris in a nuclear bombardment, this wine was considered a rare vintage.
Sparkling
Cremant De Bordeaux Brut, Non-Vintage, 12%, £10.00 (8.75 with nectar), Sainsburys. Bordeaux grapes. White blends rely primarily on Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle. Notes of red apple, melon, and citrus, balanced by richer undertones of toasted almond and baked brioche.
Food Pairing - Sushi
Analogue – Alderaan Sparkling Wine - Star Wars – Lucas et all (Novelisations ghost written by Alan Dean Foster)
Alderaan sparkling wine was a type of sparkling wine that shared its name with the Core Worlds planet Alderaan.
White
Alsace Gewurztraminer, 2024,13%, £12.00, Sainsburys. Gewurztraminer pink-skinned grape. Ripe tropical fruits (mango, pineapple), ginger, clove, and honey.
Food pairing – Blue Cheese
Analogue – Elven Dorwinion Wine – Lord of the Rings - J R R Tolkien
Dorwinion Wine: Elves of the Woodland Realm (and their King Thranduil) were exceptionally fond of Dorwinion wine, which was imported from the fertile, sunny lands near the Sea of Rhûn.
Rose
Baron De Guers Rose.2024 12.5%, £10.00 (£7.75 2ith Nectar card), Sainsburys. Grapes Piquepoul & Grenache. Crisp and lively, balancing zesty lemon-citrus brightness with gentle red fruit flavours.
Food Pairing – Humous, Grilled Peppers
Analogue – Bornolla – Dune – Frank Herbert
The planet Caladan was known throughout the known universe for its fine wines.
Caladani wines were still regarded as excellent almost 5000 years after the days of Leto the Just. During the time of the Honored Matres, Danian wines were still popular choices for fine dining on various planets, including Gammu.
Red
Prestige de Calvet Bordeaux, 2024, 12.5%, £9.25, Sainsburys. Grape Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) Merlot (15%). Hints of blackberry and blackcurrant, supple, well-balanced, and fleshy
Food Pairing – Meat Board
Analogue – Chateau Picard – Star Trek – Gene Roddenberry (and others)
Château Picard is the legendary multi-generational vineyard and home of Jean-Luc Picard, situated in La Barre, France. Heavily featured in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard.
In the Star Trek universe, the vineyard dates to the 23rd century and is famous for its award-winning vintages, such as the 2305. The estate was famously tended by Picard's family, including his brother Robert and eventually Jean-Luc himself following his retirement from Starfleet.
Les Jamelle, 2024, 12.5%, £10, Coop. Grape Syrah. Full-bodied and velvety, with gentle black pepper spice and a touch of menthol.
Food Pairing – Aged Gouda
Analogue – Belter Synthetic Wine – The Expanse – James S A Corey
Because authentic Earth-grown grapes are extremely expensive to haul up the gravity well to the Belt and Mars, characters often rely on synthetic or localized variants.
"Belter" vibe, look for robust, rich red wines that pack a heavy punch: Syrah / Shiraz: These full-bodied, heavily spiced reds offer the dark, deep flavours fitting for a rough station life.
Port
Taylors Late Bottle Vintage Port, 2020, 19%, £20.75, Sainsburys. Grape: Touriga Nacional (intense flavour and colour), Touriga Franca (floral aromas), Tinta Roriz (structure), Tinta Barroca (body and sweetness), and Tinto Cão (acid and longevity). Rich, voluptuous, and full-bodied. Firm yet smooth, integrated tannins offer structure to support the intense dark berry, cassis, and spicy mocha flavours.
Food Pairing – Chocolate, berries or spice
Analogue – Port – Disc World – Terry Pratchet
In Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, the fan-favourite witch Nanny Ogg has a famously pragmatic and generous approach to port:
Topping Off: In Lords and Ladies, it’s noted that Nanny would happily top up her white wine with port merely because she had reached the end of the bottle.
Etiquette: In Nanny Ogg's Cookbook, she advises: "when offered port you should say, 'Ah, yes, I will have a little port.' Everyone says this. You have to say it even if what you intend is a lot of port".
The most popular wine of the evening was the Syrah. The next meeting will be on 27th October 2026 at Jane’s.