Newsletter - March 2026
- FOV Board
- Mar 30
- 5 min read
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Tara Glumac
Dear Friends of the Vine,
I hope this message finds you well.
As we move into 2026, I want to share my commitment to honoring the rich history of our Society while continuing to evolve alongside the ever-changing world of wine. It’s important to me that we preserve the traditions that make this club so special, while also bringing fresh experiences and new energy to our members.
Our February Mountain Escape was a wonderful example of that balance. Reviving this historic event was incredibly rewarding—it was so nice to see both familiar faces and new ones come together in such a beautiful setting. We will continue to build on this experience and make it even better in the years to come. We also recently had the pleasure of hosting a Chilean wine tasting, which offered a fantastic opportunity to explore new regions and flavours together.
Looking ahead, we have several exciting events on the horizon. I would like to personally encourage you to join us for our Annual General Meeting on April 29—your participation is an important part of shaping the future of our Society. This is a ‘members-only’ event.
We are also pleased to be hosting our Annual Barbecue at the Hamptons Golf Club on June 7. This long-standing favourite continues to be a highlight of our calendar, and we are delighted to return to the Hamptons Golf & Country Club after such a positive response to the venue last year. It’s a beautiful setting, and we expect it to be a truly special event—so I encourage you to sign up early.
One of the most rewarding things I’ve seen this year is the growing number of members who want to become more involved. Whether through volunteering or sharing ideas, your enthusiasm is what keeps this Society vibrant, and it is sincerely appreciated.
I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Board of Directors, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to enhance our events and strengthen our community.
We’ve had a strong start to the year, and I’m excited for what’s ahead. I hope to see many of you at our upcoming events in the months to come.
If you have any questions or would like to confirm event dates, please visit our website. And if you haven’t yet renewed your membership, this is a gentle reminder—we would love to have you continue with us for another wonderful year.
Thank you for being part of such a special community.
Warm regards,
Tara Glumac
President, Friends of the Vine Society
INTERESTED IN BEING ON THE BOARD?
If the answer to that question is ‘YES!’, then please send a note to Tara Glumac, President of FOV, at glumact@outlook.com or to info@friendsofthevinecalgary.com. Tara will connect with you personally.
HOW WE’RE EXPERIENCING WINES
Wine trends are becoming more interactive and social.
· Curated tasting flights
· Story-driven events
· Immersive wine experiences
· Guests want connection—not just consumption.
Perfect for FOV as this trend directly supports our experiential events like tastings, dinners, and the Mountain Escape.
It’s no longer just about what’s in the glass—it’s about who you’re sharing it with.
Did you know?
· Some wineries are pre-selling wine before it’s even made due to market pressures.
· Climate change is reshaping where wine is grown—even boosting regions like the UK.
· The fine wine market is stabilizing after a correction—good news for collectors.
MEMBERSHIP
Renew Your 2026 Friends of the Vine Membership
If you have not yet renewed your 2026 FOV membership, then there is no time like the present.
The Member-Only Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29th, but you must be a member to attend.
How to Renew: Please submit your $40/person membership fee here!
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 29 (Wednesday) – Annual General Meeting – Free to Members – Members-Only Event – You must be a member to attend – RGO Treehouse @ cSPACE Marda Loop – Register here!
May – Planning Underway
June 7 (Sunday) – Annual BBQ Brunch – The Hamptons Golf & Country Club
July 24 (Friday) – Summer Sippers Tasting
August – Planning is underway
September 25 (Friday) – Plates & Palates – Willow Park Golf & Country Club
October – Planning is underway
November 14 (Saturday) – Bubbles Brunch at Cassis Bistro
DIETARY RESTRICTIONS
Some events include cheese, charcuterie or plates of food. If you have any dietary restrictions, please send an email to info@friendsofthevinecalgary.com with your restrictions and we will do our best to accommodate.
OUR WINE STORE PARTNERS
The best way to stay abreast of what each of our ‘Wine and Liquor Store Partners’ has to offer is to sign up for their Newsletters. Most of them offer fantastic sales and events throughout the year that you would hate to miss out on. It is as simple as going to their stores or respective websites and sign up for yourselves. FOV does not share our membership list with any of these Vendors; hence you need to take the initiative personally.
Cork Fine Wines, Liquor and Ale
20% off regular prices
183, 250 – 6th Avenue S.W. (Bow Valley Square)
Craft Cellars
17% off regular prices
1345 – 32nd Avenue N.E.
5111 Northland Drive N.W. (Unit #2120, Building 5)
Crowfoot Wine & Spirits
15% off regular prices
Crowfoot Signature – 7414 Crowfoot Road N.W.
Aspen – 130, 366 Aspen Glen Landing S.W.
Bowness – 400, 8435 Bowfort Road N.W.
Downtown – 1402 – 14th Street S.W.
Altadore – 103, 3505 – 14th Street S.W.
Heritage Pointe – 200, 412 Pine Creek Road
Cochrane – 3101, 1010 Sunset Drive, Cochrane
Highlander Wine & Spirits
18% off regular prices with registration below
Apply for discount / newsletter offers using the link below (please note, only one person can be registered at a time using this method). You will receive an email confirming your discount within a few days: Highlander Wine & Spirits Corporate Sign-Up … https://highlanderwine.com/corporate-program/
Aspen – 1000, 10 Aspen Stone Blvd. S.W.
Bin 905 – 2311 – 4th Street S.W.
Eighth Avenue Place – 225, 555 – 8th Avenue S.W.
Marda Loop – 2112 – 33rd Avenue S.W.
North Hill Plaza – 2033 – 16th Avenue N.W.
Richmond Plaza – 2919 Richmond Road S.W.
Seton – 182, 19489 Seton Crescent S.E. (Building A3)
Kensington Wine Market
10% off regular prices
1257 Kensington Road N.W.
Market Wines
15% off regular prices
South – 520, 77th Avenue S.E.
University District – 4109 University Avenue N.W.
West – 110, 55 Greenbriar Drive N.W.
Metrovino Fine Wines
10% off regular prices
722 – 11th Avenue S.W.
Richmond Hill Wines
15% off regular prices
108, 3751 – 51st Street S.W.
Rocky Mountain Wines, Spirits & Beer
10%–25% off regular prices
225 – 58th Avenue S.E.
Vine Styles
15% off regular prices
1127B Kensington Road N.W.
Willow Park Wines & Spirits
15% off regular prices
10801 Bonaventure Drive S.E.
FOV’S BLOG
If you are wondering what wine(s) to serve this season, Phil recently published a great Wine Ramblings on this topic … Holiday Wine Pairings … https://www.friendsofthevinecalgary.com/post/holiday-wine-pairings
Stay in touch with our BLOG articles … catch them on the website … http://www.friendsofthevinecalgary.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS – 2025-2026
Feel free to contact the Board at any time by sending an email to
Tara Glumac | President |
Margo Frederickson | Vice-President |
JC Cornell | Secretary |
Sheena Woodhead | Treasurer |
Doug Crapo | Industry Partnering |
Debra Johnstone | Membership and Systems |
Mary Kupchenko Hill | Marketing |
Ray Todd | Past-President and Volunteer Coordinator |
Phil Lo | Wine Education |
“Cheers to a wonderful holiday season, filled with warmth and good friends and family … and wine.”
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