Newsletter - October 2026
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Tara Glumac
As we enter the final few months of 2026, I find myself reflecting on what an extraordinary year it has been for Friends of the Vine—and feeling incredibly grateful for every person who continues to make this club so special.
This year has been filled with memorable wines, exceptional food, beautiful venues and wonderful experiences. But as much as we may gather around a shared appreciation for wine, it is truly the people who are at the heart of Friends of the Vine. It is friendships, laughter, conversations and the sense of community that keep us coming back year after year.
Recently, while speaking with some dear friends about the club, I realized that I have been a member of Friends of the Vine since 2003. It is hard to believe that more than two decades have passed since I first joined—and that I have now had the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors for the past 16 years.
It has been quite a journey, and one that I continue to cherish. What has kept me so deeply connected to Friends of the Vine is the same thing that makes our club remarkable today: the people and the exceptional quality of our events.
Over the years, Friends of the Vine has built an outstanding reputation within Calgary’s wine community. That recognition has not come from our name alone; it has been earned through the experiences we create, the relationships we have nurtured and the warmth with which we welcome both long-term members and new guests. Our events are thoughtfully planned, beautifully executed and designed to offer something beyond a traditional wine tasting. They create opportunities to learn, connect and make lasting memories together.
We still have some outstanding experiences ahead of us before the year comes to a close.
On Friday, September 25, we will gather at Willow Park Golf & Country Club for Plates & Palates — one of our most popular and delicious events of the year. With more than 30 wines to explore alongside eight tapa-style dishes, it promises to be a lively and memorable evening of tasting, pairing and discovery.
On Wednesday, October 21, we will host our Harvest Winemaker’s Dinner at Bar Chouette. This exceptional five-course wine-pairing dinner will feature premium château wines from Gérard Bertrand, paired with a menu created by award-winning Chef Duncan Ly. With only 3 seats still available, this intimate evening is expected to sell out.
Then, on Saturday, November 14, we will raise a glass together at our Bubbles Brunch at Cassis Bistro—the perfect way to celebrate another wonderful year with Friends of the Vine.
Our events often sell out quickly, so I encourage you to reserve your tickets as soon as possible. Please also share these upcoming experiences with friends and family who may enjoy discovering what Friends of the Vine is all about. Some of our most valued members were first introduced to the club as the guest of someone who wanted to share a great bottle of wine and a wonderful evening.
I must extend my deepest gratitude to our Board of Directors. The dedication, creativity and collaboration of this remarkable group are truly best in class. Every event represents countless hours of planning, coordination and thoughtful decision-making behind the scenes. Without their hard work and commitment, none of what we accomplish would be possible. It is an absolute privilege to work alongside them, and I thank each of them sincerely.
Finally, thank you to all our members for your enthusiasm, loyalty and continued support throughout 2026. It has been an absolute honour to steer the ship this year, but it is all of you who give our club its spirit, energy and heart.
Let’s make these final few months of 2026 truly memorable. I look forward to raising a glass with you at one—or hopefully all—of our upcoming fall and winter events.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Tara Glumac
President, Friends of the Vine Society
TO DECANT OR NOT TO DECANT
Phil Lo, FOV Volunteer
Hi, I’m Deb Johnstone, Director of Member Services with Friends of the Vine. I was at a wine tasting recently and was sitting with Phil Lo and his wife, Goretti. Phil is the main author of our blog, Wine Ramblings. You can find all of Phil’s ‘Ramblings’ on the FOV website.
At any rate, I was curious as to when I should be decanting some of my wines; so why not ask our resident expert!
Here is Phil’s response …
TO DECANT OR NOT TO DECANT
Usually only red wines need to be decanted. It also depends on whether the wine in question is young or old. For very young wines, the only reason you need to decant is to let the wine react with air, to open it up. To me it is artificial aging or maturing the young wine so that it is more enjoyable. So, in this case you pour the wine into the decanter with rigour. Gurgling sound is good as it increases air contact.
For older wines which have a chance to mature in the cellar, there is only one reason to decant; when you observe that the wine has developed a deposit. The decanting in this case is to keep the deposit staying in the bottle and the wine in the decanter for enjoyment without the deposit. In this case, you pour the wine gently, as gentle as you can so as not to disturb the grand old lady in the bottle!
HOW LONG SHOULD YOU OPEN THE BOTTLE BEFORE SERVING THE WINE
From experience, I always open the bottle at least 10 to 15 minutes before serving, even for white wines. With reds, I find that opening the bottle for at least an hour and let the wine breath makes for better enjoyment. I have on occasion opened even old red wines for hours before serving to let it develops more before consuming.
THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS
As Tara mentioned in her President’s Message, a special thank you to our Volunteers. You may not see them, but they are quietly scurrying behind the scenes at many of our events. We could not do as much as we do without them.
If you are interested in volunteering, let us know how you’d like to help out … ‘many hands make like work’!
UPCOMING EVENTS
October 21 (Wednesday) - Harvest Wine Makers Dinner - Bar Chouette - SOLD OUT!
November 14 (Saturday) – Bubbles Brunch at Cassis Bistro
MEMBERSHIP
2027 FOV Membership Renewal
Here’s your chance to renew your annual FOV membership and/or to give it as a gift to a friend or colleague. The 2027 membership cost remains the same at $40/person, plus administration fee, and expire on December 31, 2027.
How to Renew: Please submit your $40/person membership fee here!
Memberships are not transferable nor refundable.
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.
EXCESS PORT
An FOV member has more Port than they can use. The bottles are an:
· 1985 Grahams Vintage Port;
· 1991 Grahams Late Bottled Vintage Port; and,
· 2 bottles of 1999 Muratie South African ‘Vintage Port’.
All 4 bottles can be yours for $180. Email Doug Crapo, Director, Industry Wine Coordinator, at crapodoug@gmail.com with your phone number and he will arrange payment and pick-up.
A RECAP OF FOV’s 2026 EVENTS
We would appreciate your feedback on the 2026 events that we’ve held so far. Please send your comments to info@friendsofthevinecalgary.com.
February 2026 – Mountain Escape at the Chateau Lake Louise
March 2026 – Annual General Meeting at RGO Treehouse at cSPACE Marda Loop
May 2026 – Wine and Cheese Tasting at The VIN Room West
June 2026 – Annual BBQ at The Hampton’s Golf and Country Club
July 2026 – Summer Sippers at MetroVino
September 2026 – Plates & Palates
IDEAS FOR CLUB ACTIVITIES?
Your FOV Directors are looking for new ideas, venues, activities, etc. for member events. What would be fun, helpful, and of interest to you? Give us your suggestions and we will try to make it happen. Just email them to info@friendsofthevinecalgary.com
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
Are you aware of the Blog on the FOV website? It features lots of information on regional wines among other things. The majority of the articles are written by Phil Lo, a Volunteer and former Board Member. Check them out here!
If you are interested in sharing your wine stories to this Blog, contact Janelle Baldwin-Maher, Director Wine Education, at info@friendsofthevinecalgary.com.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS – 2025-2026
Feel free to contact the Board at any time by sending an email to
Tara Glumac | President | |
Mary Kupchenko Hill | Vice-President | |
JC Cornell | Secretary | |
Sheena Woodhead | Treasurer | |
Doug Crapo | Industry Partnering | |
Debra Johnstone | Membership and Systems | |
Helen Upchurch | Marketing | |
Ray Todd | Past-President and Volunteer Coordinator | |
Janelle Baldwin - Maher | Wine Education Coordinator |
A FINAL SIP OF WISDOM
"Autumn pours its colors into the glass, and every sip tastes like falling leaves and golden sunsets."
"A crisp breeze, a warm sweater, and a glass of wine — the perfect harvest for the soul."
“Until next time, may your glass be full, your friends be near and your next great wine discovery be just around the corner.”
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