The Group was formed in 1988 under the initial guidance of The Wine Society, with a view to widening the growing interest in wine and wine-making. Initially, we moved around several venues taking in the major towns around Somerset but quite quickly the Group settled at the historic Vicars Hall in Wells, which remains our meeting place to this day. We owe a debt of gratitude to those founders including the late Bill Righam and Hugh Stafford OBE who established such a successful formula. 

Many of us joined the Group to learn more about wine in the hope we could avoid making the default choice of the second cheapest bottle on the wine list and whilst, over the years, we have had several members working in the wine trade, the vast majority are enthusiastic amateurs keen to learn more. In wine tasting there is no right or wrong - only “I like - you may like.” Inevitably, not every new wine will be to your taste although we hope our programme will, over time, ensure your wine knowledge both broadens and deepens so you will find new favourites.   

All of our wine tasting events are held in the historic city of Wells.  The Vicars' Hall is over 650 years old. It is accessed from Vicars Close, the oldest intact medieval street in Europe (1348).

The Vicars' Hall was completed in 1348 and included a communal dining room, administrative offices and treasury of the Vicars Choral. The building is now used by 

Wells Cathedral School.

We meet in Vicars Hall, as it is a lovely space in which to hold our meetings, however we are an independent group which is not connected to the Cathedral.