Past events

Chantal Moser is the Deputy Ambassador at the Embassy of Switzerland in London. She has spent almost 20 years working for the Swiss Economy Ministry and Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with postings in Brussels, Lima, Warsaw and Bern before arriving in London in autumn 2020. She runs the Political, Legal and Communication Department of the Embassy and also supervises the Economic, Finance, Science and Innovation Department.

Lots of people have a stereotype of a diplomat as someone who attends cocktail or dinner parties with top-level officials, but the truth is there is so much more to the role of diplomats! Most people’s interactions with an Embassy are limited to getting a visa for their next trip abroad or renewing their passport, but the work of an Embassy is critical for deepening the relationship with the host country, in supporting companies to succeed and build networks in a new country, plays a vital role in defending its country’s interests and much, much more.

We will hear from Chantal, whose family runs a wine business, about her career and what diplomats really do. She will talk about the priorities of Switzerland in the UK and we will also taste some of the wines from her family estate - as well as some other Swiss wines - after all, she is also a great Ambassador for Swiss wines!

This event will start at 18:30 on February 23rd at the IOD, 116 Pall, Mall, SW1Y 5ED.

The price includes a sit-down dinner with 6 Swiss wines to be announced later, some of which will be coming from Chantal's family winery

You may remember that we held an event at Cult Wines on November 2nd, as requested by many of you who wanted to invest in wine and understand the dynamics of wine investment. After this event, a number of you continued to express interest in investing together in wine as a London Women and Wine group. 

Olivia has agreed to set up a new meeting on January 18th to finalise the details of a possible group investment with Cult Wines. A proposal of what the terms of engagement would look like will be sent to all of you. So please do make yourself known if you are interested before the January meeting - either by registering or by sending Laurence or Anne an email (if you cannot make the date).

The minimum collective investment is 25k£ for 5 years, so we are looking for 5-10 women willing to invest 3,000-5,000 £ for 5 years in the wine asset class.  And willing to meet together once a year to review the investment strategy with a glass of wine or two!

The event will start at 18:30 and finish by 20:30 latest.

This meeting will be for those who have decided to invest as well as those who are still hesitating.

Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Fees for this event are at the minimum level we can indicate on the website and to cover a couple glasses of wine!

This is the version of the event that will be held physically at Trivet restaurant, a really great restaurant. The price includes dinner. Please get there at 6:30 pm for drinks (dinner at 7 pm).

We are very pleased to listen to Susie Partridge, an amazing modern adventurer who has brought it all back to business

In 2013, aged 32, Susie left a successful career in marketing to pursue her ambition to sail around the world. Motivated by a natural curiosity about people and cultures, Susie set off with her now-husband, Tom, on an adventure of a lifetime. A story that has been featured in several books and magazines, they spent four years sailing around the world, exploring off-the-beaten track places on their 46-foot yacht, Adina.

Susie will talk to us about the highlights – from crossing the Panama Canal, to spending a month at anchor amongst the wildlife in the Galapagos Islands, living as part of village communities in remote Pacific islands and getting engaged at a vineyard in Franschhoek, South Africa – and how she approached the challenges – from learning to live self-sufficiently on board with supplies sometimes days or weeks away, sailing 24-hours single-handed to get Tom to the nearest hospital when he fell seriously ill, and the challenges regularly thrown at Adina and her crew by the weather.  

Susie will share what it taught her, how it changed her perspective on life back on land and how it gave her the confidence to set-up her own marketing consultancy, focused on helping people and brands succeed.

To complement Susie's round the world tour, we will taste 6 very unusual wines.

TRIVET is a collaboration of Isa Bal MS, Jonny Lake Chef and Melissa Furgus Restaurant Manager all from The Fat Duck. It is an amazing restaurant where food and wines complement each other. A unique opportunity to experience the best of both world at a very reasonable price. It is just before Christmas so join us for a fantastic evening!

Price: £145  includes dinner and a glass of 6 unusual wines registration on the website

If you cannot register in the physical event, you can register to  just join and listen:

To join without wines and dinner for the online event: £10 to transfer to our account
Account
The London Women and Wine Club
Natwest
Sort Code: 502101
Account: 31022634
Quote: Susie and your first name

Physical Event ONLY

Please join us and Olivia who will explain the hidden secrets of Investing into Wine. The evening will be held at the Cult Wines office in Hammersmith. It will be an opportunity to discover what investing means and perhaps find a new way to invest as a club. So please come with all your questions!

Cult Wines

Cult Wines is one of the world’s leading ­fine wine investment companies with a global client base and assets under management exceeding £200 million ($265 million). Headquartered in London, the company was founded in 2007 by Philip and Tom Gearing and has since opened offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Toronto and New York.

Combining a love of fi­ne wine and market-leading industry knowledge with the latest technology, Cult Wines analyses and unlocks the market for investors around the world. Long-term wine collectors and novice investors alike choose Cult Wines not only for the extensive ­financial expertise, but for the shared passion for ­fine wine, and access to likeminded wine lovers, exclusive tastings and engaging trips. The company tailors each investor’s portfolio to their specifi­c risk appetite, investment level and target returns. The Firm’s rigorous due diligence and investor protection measures help to ensure that only the highest-quality assets are included its investors’ portfolios.

Olivia Souto

Olivia Souto brings relationship management skills and diverse sales experience to her role as Relationship Manager at Cult Wines. She deftly guides clients through their investment journey to meet their targeted financial objectives. A keen networker and serious wine lover - Olivia is working on obtaining her WSET Level 3 Award in Wine – she is well known for hosting brand events full of interesting wines and conversation. As part of her role, she has created a series of all women events, building a network for successful women over food pairings and champagne tastings. Prior to joining the Cult Wines team, Olivia learned the wine trade while working as a sales representative at Treasury Wine Estates in Melbourne, Aus. Olivia holds a criminology degree from Cardiff University (UK). 

Unique price for all: £45

From 6.30 - 8.30pm (no diner, just nibbles)

DEADLINE TO REGISTER: Friday 29th of October 5pm

Limited to 24 people

This is the version of the event that will be held physically at 67 Pall Mall. The price includes dinner.

A citizen's view of the US political system from across the Pond

What happens in the US can be both confounding and consequential. Take for example, how the US elects its Presidents. Counter to popular belief, US Presidents are not elected by popular vote. Instead, the US chooses them via an indirect process called the Electoral College. This process permits minority positions to have outsized influence. This can lead to unlikely results and Presidents who win the election while losing the popular vote.

Maureen Sweeney is a dual US and Irish citizen who has lived and worked in the US, UK & Ireland.  She has seen how the US is perceived around the world and been asked many questions about the US political process. Now based in Boston, she will share her perspective on recent US Presidential elections from an engaged citizen’s point of view with the desire to provide some insight for people who live elsewhere.

Professionally, Maureen is an experienced board director and independent consultant. Currently, she sits on the University at Albany Foundation board. Previously, she served on the CopperPoint and Sitel Group boards. Also, she mentors startups that use digital and data to disrupt and enhance traditional industries.

Maureen spent most of her career with Liberty Mutual, a Fortune 100 global company working in the Insurance and Asset Management industries. While there, she ran multiple businesses and was an SBU CFO. While living in the UK, Maureen led a digital insurance startup that developed pricing models using data analytics in real time. This new business shaped Liberty’s digital pricing strategies globally.

When not working or engaging with civic organizations, Maureen enjoys combining her love of travel and wine. She earned her WSET Level 3 (Advanced) Wine Certification and enjoys traveling for field research

We will be tasting 6 wines (sample size) from the Oregon part of the USA

Wine list

2019 Sauvignon Blanc: Patricia Green Cellars 

2019 Ribbon Ridge Estate Dry Riesling: Trisaetum

2018 Eyrie Vineyard Chardonnay: Arterberry Maresh

2018 Estate Pinot Noir: Shea Wine Cellars 

2015 Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir: Arterberry Maresh 

2018 Bednarik Pinot Noir: Hundred Suns Wine

Price: 95£  includes dinner and a glass of the above wines registration on the website

ONLY 1 PLACE LEFT

If you cannot register in the physical event, you can register for the online version with a sample of the wines shipped to your home (no dinner)

This is the online version of the event with Maureen (Maureen will be joining us online from the USA where she lives)

Please join us in welcoming Maureen who will lead us through American politics, a hot topic! We will taste some  wines from Oregon which are elegant and well balanced, a great discovery for those who love Burgundy at a much more reasonable price.

What happens in the US can be both confounding and consequential. Take for example, how the US elects its Presidents. Counter to popular belief, US Presidents are not elected by popular vote. Instead, the US chooses them via an indirect process called the Electoral College. This process permits minority positions to have outsized influence. This can lead to unlikely results and Presidents who win the election while losing the popular vote.
Maureen Sweeney is a dual US and Irish citizen who has lived and worked in the US, UK & Ireland.  She has seen how the US is perceived around the world and been asked many questions about the US political process. Now based in Boston, she will share her perspective on recent US Presidential elections from an engaged citizen’s point of view with the desire to provide some insight for people who live elsewhere.
Professionally, Maureen is an experienced board director and independent consultant. Currently, she sits on the University at Albany Foundation board. Previously, she served on the CopperPoint and Sitel Group boards. Also, she mentors startups that use digital and data to disrupt and enhance traditional industries.
Maureen spent most of her career with Liberty Mutual, a Fortune 100 global company working in the Insurance and Asset Management industries. While there, she ran multiple businesses and was an SBU CFO. While living in the UK, Maureen led a digital insurance startup that developed pricing models using data analytics in real time. This new business shaped Liberty’s digital pricing strategies globally.

When not working or engaging with civic organizations, Maureen enjoys combining her love of travel and wine. She earned her WSET Level 3 (Advanced) Wine Certification and enjoys traveling for field research”.

We will be tasting 6 wines (sample size) from the Oregon part of the USA
2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Patricia Green Cellars
2018 Eyrie Vineyard Chardonnay, Arterberry Maresh
2019 Ribbon Ridge Estate Dry Riesling, Trisaetum
2018 Estate Pinot Noir, Shea Wine Cellars
2015 Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir, Arterberry Maresh
2018 Bednarik Pinot Noir, Hundred Suns Wine

Price: 80£ with wines registration on the website (NO EU Delivery)
Deadline to order wines UK Delivery : Monday 27th of September midnight

To join without wines: 10£ to transfer to our account
Account
The London Women and Wine Club
Natwest
Sort Code: 502101
Account: 31022634
Quote: Maureen and your first name

After a year and a half without a physical meeting, Laurence and Anne have decided to do a pure networking and mixing event to celebrate the pleasure of being together.

One of our members, Kristin Hellegjerde, has generously offered us the use of her London Bridge gallery for this "welcome back" event.

Everyone is welcome for a fee which covers catering cost, so please feel free to invite your friends to join us. Everyone will need to register online on our website (no need to be a member).

We will be tasting some of Dawn Jones Cooper's wines.  She is the owner and winemaker of Château de Monfaucon (Nobody's perfect wines) and has kindly offered some of her wines for our evening. https://www.chateaudemonfaucon.com/nobodys-perfect

Emma Nielsen from Le Grappin has also kindly offered us some of her delicious wines so we will taste as well her 2018 Fleurie-Poncie and 2019 Macon-Villages . You can find more info about her wines: http://www.legrappin.com/

Regarding Covid : We will of course be following the government rules in place at that time. Assuming there is no change from today, there will be no checks at the entrance of the gallery (just a hand sanitiser), but we know everyone will use their own common sense and personal criteria for distance to keep us all safe.

Established in 2012, Kristin Hjellegjerde quickly gained recognition as an international gallery dedicated to exhibiting a roster of innovative, international artists, both emerging and established, with strong theoretical and aesthetic bases.

Known for its multicultural curatorial approach, the gallery has, over the past years, fostered close and cooperative relationships with museums and curators worldwide, maintaining a deep devotion to the artists it represents.

Drawing on her own international background, Kristin Hjellegjerde seeks to discover new talents by creating a platform through which they can be exposed to local and international clients.

In April 2018 the gallery opened its first space in Berlin. Following this exciting advancement, a second space was opened in London at the vibrant location of London Bridge (in addition to her original space in Wandsworth).

In 2019 she curated 'Kubatana', a museum exhibition focused on African artists at Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium, Norway. 

In June 2020, Kristin Hjellegjerde opened an annual summer space in the beautiful coastal town of Nevlunghavn, Norway, followed by the opening of a second summer space at Schloss Görne, Germany, in 2021.

In November 2020 Kristin Hjellegjerde joined forces with Jacqueline Goldenberg to launch JK Masters, with the intent to present secondary market artworks of a certain calibre for those who are looking for something unique and special of the highest quality and/or historic value. 

Anne is passionate about the role that business and its leaders can play in the world.  She has over two decades asset management experience, is a seasoned board director, and a thought leader on corporate culture and the role of business in society.  In all her roles Anne is focuses on the delivery of both financial and social returns to all stakeholders.

Anne is a Partner at Leaders’ Quest (LQ), where she is co-director of Countdown Finance – an initiative that is working in partnership with both TED Countdown and COP 26 to drive the finance sector towards Net Zero. At Leaders’ Quest she also works with corporate senior leadership teams on culture change, embedding values, and aligning profit with purpose.

Anne is a non-executive director of Man Group plc and of Summit Materials. She was previously a Non-Executive Director for John Laing plc, and of Holcim. She is a trustee of Big Society Capital, the UK’s £600 million social investment bank, and of Heron in New York. Anne previously spent 17 years with The Capital Group, a global asset management firm where she was a Senior Vice President and Director with responsibility for European-based infrastructure companies.

Anne divides her time between the US and London. With her husband Gil and their twins, Anne can be found happily walking on beaches or mountains, white water rafting in Idaho or travelling the world.

Anne will be talking to us about the role of Finance in Climate Change and how she is influencing that.

We will be tasting 6 wines (sample size)

Nathan Kendall Riesling 2017

Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Calera Mt Harlan Viognier 2017

Migration Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2018

Laurel Glen Counterpoint Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Decoy Sonoma County Zinfandel 2018

Price: 85 £ with wines registration on the website (NO EU Delivery)

Deadline to order wines UK Delivery : Tuesday 15th of June midnight 

To join without wines: 10£ to transfer to our account

Account

The London Women and Wine Club

Natwest

Sort Code: 502101

Account: 31022634

Quote: Anne W and your name

Raquel Seabra is an Executive Board Member at Sogrape since 2018, where she heads Sustainability and Public Affairs and oversees the Group’s International Distribution Units. With a broad professional and personal experience, Raquel has lived in 5 different countries and worked extensively across a dozen more.

Prior to joining Sogrape, Raquel had a successful career at the Boston Consulting Group where she reached the level of Principal. As a strategy consultant, Raquel supported global and local clients in Portugal, Spain, Angola, Brazil, the U.K and the US, working on a wide range of strategic and operational issues across several industries such as Retail, Consumer Goods, Industrial Goods, Financial Services, Insurance, Energy, Travel and Leisure and Media.

As an independent advisor, Raquel also provided pro-bono strategic guidance to Start-Ups in Portugal and to NGO's and small entrepreneurs in Argentina and Colombia. 

In parallel to her activity as a strategy consultant, Raquel contributed to published books and was one of the authors of the award winning INSEAD Case Study, "Renova Toilet Paper: Avant-garde Marketing in a Commoditized Category" published in 2010.

Raquel graduated from INSEAD (Singapore/ France) in 2009 and from Catolica Lisbon School of Business and Economics (Portugal) in 2005. She was awarded with "Prémio Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira" in 2012 and with "Prémio Primus InterPares" in 2005.

 In 2017, Raquel was named one of the “40 under 40” Portuguese leaders of the future.

Based in Porto where she lives with her husband and their three children, Raquel travels frequently to the several countries where Sogrape has a relevant presence.

We will taste wines from the Sogrape portfolio (sample size): (Liberty Wines):

• Quinta da Romeira ‘Morgado de Santa Catherina’ Bucelas Arinto 2019
• Casa Ferreirinha ‘Vinha Grande’ Douro Branco 2019
• Quinta dos Carvalhais Dão Branco Reserva 2018
• Quinta dos Carvalhais Dão Touriga Nacional 2017
• Casa Ferreirinha ‘Quinta da Leda’ Douro Tinto 2017 
• Sandeman 20-Year-Old Tawny Port 

   

Price: 85£ with wines registration on the website (100£ EU delivery)

Deadline to order wines: Monday 17th of May midday for UK Delivery

Deadline to order wines: Wednesday 12th of May for EU Delivery

To join without wines: 10£ to transfer to our account

Account

The London Women and Wine Club

Natwest

Sort Code: 502101

Account: 31022634

Reference: Raquel

Ever considered packing up your career and doing something for fun?!  Why not work with wine?  Everyone loves a nice glass of wine!  Working in wine must be great!  Visiting beautiful vineyards, dining in fine restaurants, having fabulous drinking experiences – what is not to love?!  Working in wine is all of these things.  It is also a business.  A business in a highly competitive and highly regulated industry subject to the winds of change of taste and trend.  Michelle Forczek has been involved in the business of wine since 1999 and will share her perspective on what it is like to consume and be consumed by wine on a daily basis.

Michelle is a Director of Top Selection Ltd and 9 Elms Wines.  Top Selection was founded in London in 2000 as a specialist importer of fine wines and spirits.  The company has scrabbled its way to Fine Wine Merchant of the UK for 3 years in a row (2018 – 2020), as chosen by true industry experts – sommeliers.  It built a reputation for sourcing innovative and exclusive products from passionate producers around the world and supplying them to some of the finest restaurants, hotels, retailers and private clients in the UK.  Michelle will share her perspective on the joys and challenges of working in the wine business and how it compares to her previous career on Wall Street, the City and management consulting. 

We will be tasting wines chosen by her that reflect her taste and history in the business: (sample size)

Kanta Riesling 2015

Nathan Kendall Chardonnay 2018

David Duband Bourgogne 2017

Capanelle Chianti Classico  Riserva 2015

Clos Le Comte Sauternes Cuvée Emilie 2017

Price: 60£ with wines registration on the website (No EU delivery)

Deadline to order wines: Tuesday 20th of April midnight

To join without wines: 10£ to transfer to our account

Account

The London Women and Wine Club

Natwest

Sort Code: 502101

Account: 31022634

Reference: Michelle