Newfoundland and Labrador

Welcome to the Newfoundland and Labrador branch of the Opimian Society. I am the Area Secretary, and with my spouse Joan's help, we take care of the Society's members in this province.

• The Opimian Society
  We are the largest wine society in Canada with more than 15,000 members, over 300 in Newfoundland and Labrador. We purchase wines on behalf of our members from all the major wine-growing regions of the world based on the recommendations of a selection of recognized experts. Besides wine purchases, members enjoy access to wine-tasting events, wine education, tours, and other interesting experiences.

• Contact Information
  

  • Phone: 709-579-2342
  • Email: sdelaney@nfld.com
  • Write: 126 Topsail Road, St. John's, NF A1E 2A8

• Assistant Area Secretaries

  • Clarenville: Blaine Pearce 709-466-1914
  • I am actively recruiting Assistants for Corner Brook, Grand Falls/Gander, Burin Peninsula, Happy Valley/Goose Bay, and Labrador West. If you are interested in learning about the details, get in touch!

• Advantages of Membership

  • A choice of over 400 wines every year
  • The opportunity to attend tastings
  • A subscription to Tidings, Canada's national wine magazine
  • Opimian News, The Society's newsletter
  • Organized Tours to the Wine Regions of the World
  Contact me about my special membership promotional deals.

• Tasting Events
  I host numerous wine tasting events in the form of dinners or simple tastings over the course of the year in St. John's, Clarenville, and other locations. Get in touch for a list of upcoming events.

• Cellar Nights
  Joan and I will be home regularly on Monday nights. Give us an advance call and drop by after 8:00pm to take care of Opimian business or inspect the local cellar.

• Email List
  I maintain an emailing list for those members who have an email account. The purpose of this list is an addition to the regular methods of notifying members of events, dealing with issues, and sounding out event ideas. If you are interested, please email me at sdelaney@nfld.com and I will add you to my list.

• Buying Buddies
  Sometimes you don't want to order a full case of 12 wines, or perhaps you are interested in sampling several different wines in one offering but don't want to order several cases. Buying Buddies is your answer! Many members already coordinate their orders with other members and split up cases when thay arrive. If you are interested in getting into a similar arrangement with another local member, just let me know. I will try to match you with another interested member in your area.

Offerings

Opimian members purchase wine from a series of annual Offerings provided by the Society. Usually seven Offerings featuring some 400 wines are presented each year. The Offering 'season' begins in November with a Special Offering and is followed by six regular Offerings in the winter, spring, and early summer. Members purchase wines by the case, consisting of six or twelve bottles. Any member in need of ordering assistance is encouraged to give me a call.

Status of Offering Releases and Pick-Ups

In the Opimian system you will receive a pick-up notice when your wine has arrived at your local distribution centre. Check here for the status of the wine shipments which include your selections.

2005 Deliveries have started, so please be prompt in picking up your cases. If there is a problem with missing wine, broken bottles, or an incorrect case, please get the store clerk to note it in the correct space on the pickup form and get in touch with me.

Our Local Opimian Cellar

To provide wines for tastings and replacement of breakages or spoiled wines, we maintain a small collection in our local Opimian cellar. Members are encouraged to drop by and pick-up surplus wines by the bottle. If you can't find the right wine at the NLC or in your own cellar, try us! To get a list of the current surplus wines, send me an email.