The Independent reported today that Malvern St James School for Girls in Worcestershire has introduced a wine-tasting club for its students in an attempt to curb binge drinking.
The new club – introduced by Rachel Huntley (who teaches critical thinking at the school) – is one of the most popular out-of-school activities for sixth formers (NZ seventh form).
The girls can join the club once they have turned 16 and has been a selling point for some girls to stay on for their last year.
“We want to introduce the girls and their friends to good wines and their complexity, and educate them to develop an interest in the making of the wines rather than them seeing wine as something that you knock back in the summer holidays without thinking,” said Mrs Huntley.
During the wine-tasting sessions the girls take notes and are urged to comment on bouquet, colour and taste. The wines are accompanied by regional foods.
“Far better to enjoy a candlelit dinner with boys in the form of a quiz night blind wine-tasting than rely on the awful discos which are the standard diet in many schools,” said Mrs Huntley.
