Cambridge University Wine Society

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The Cambridge University Wine Society (CUWS; formerly known as the Cambridge University Wine and Food Society) is a traditional membership club, one of the Registered Clubs & Societies of University of Cambridge, England, founded in 1792. [1] [2] The society aims to introduce university students to the world of wine through regular tastings during the academic term, and other activities and events. Membership is open to the public.

A number of past members have entered the international wine trade. [3] Prominent wine writer Hugh Johnson joined as an undergraduate at King's College, Cambridge in the 1950s, with his roommate and fellow member Adrian Cowell. [4] Members participate in the annual Varsity blind wine tasting match, sponsored by champagne house Pol Roger. [5] [6] [7] and other blind wine tasting competitions. [8] [9] [10] [11] The society and competitions were described in detail in the 2013 book "Reds, Whites & Varsity Blues: 60 years of the Oxford & Cambridge Blind Wine-Tasting Competition".

In January 2013 the Society marked the 350th anniversary of the day diarist Samuel Pepys "drank a sort of French wine called Ho Bryan, that hath a good and most particular taste that I never met with." Pepys graduated from Magdalene College in 1654. [12]

CUWS alumni

Notable alumni include: [13]

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References

  1. ↑ "Cambridge University Wine Society". www.cuws.co.uk.
  2. ↑ "Registered Clubs and Societies". University of Cambridge. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  3. ↑ Roger, Pol (2013). Reds, whites and varsity blues : 60 years of the Oxford & Cambridge blind wine-tasting competition. Pavilion. ISBN   978-1-909108-28-8.
  4. ↑ Sale, Jonathon (17 January 2008). "Passed/Failed: An education in the life of Hugh Johnson, the world's bestselling wine author". The Independent. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  5. ↑ "blind wine tasting an exam for students". www.wsj.com.
  6. ↑ "Wine talk: scholarly rivalry cambridge noses vs oxford palates". NY times.
  7. ↑ "The wine race". Financial Times.
  8. ↑ "Left Bank Bordeaux cup winners 2017". Decanter.
  9. ↑ "Imperial College London Business School and University of Cambridge qualify for Left Bank Bordeaux Cup final". Decanter.
  10. ↑ "Resultats Left Bank Bordeaux Cup 2013" (PDF). Commanderie du bon temps.
  11. ↑ "SPIT tasting". Sciences Po.
  12. ↑ "Haut-Brion celebrates 350th anniversary of Samuel Pepys connection in Cambridge". Decanter.
  13. ↑ Roger, Pol (2013). Reds, whites and varsity blues : 60 years of the Oxford & Cambridge blind wine-tasting competition. Pavilion. ISBN   978-1-909108-28-8.
  14. ↑ "Robin Don". The Institute of Masters of Wine. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
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