THE FESTIVAL
The Festival organised by the Wales and West Federation is one of the largest amateur wine and beer makers’ events in the U.K. and attracts competitors from wine and beer circles throughout the country. The Festival is now in its 45th year and over that time has grown from a one-day show held in the Function Room of a pub to an event that starts with dinner on Friday evening and ends with the Federation’s AGM on Monday morning.
Over the years, the Festival has been staged at a number of different venues and at different times of the year. It is currently held at Sand Bay Holiday Village, just north of Weston-super-Mare, on the weekend of the late Spring Bank Holiday.
The Show is the most important part of the Festival and this year there are a record 66 classes which include not only those for wines and beers but also mead, liqueurs, cookery and art associated with wine making. Judging in all the wine and beer classes is by qualified judges and in the other classes by judges who have the relevant experience. Most classes are open to all competitors, whether or not they are members of circles that are affiliated to the Wales and West Federation, but some classes are restricted to affiliated circles and to novice wine makers. . . . next>>