The Algarve Wine Society is a non-profit organization of about 200 members, representing many different nationalities but all of whom have a home in the Algarve. English is the lingua franca.
None of the members are wine professionals but most are quite knowledgeable and all appreciate good wine and the finer things in life that go with it. The Society organizes a number of tastings in the Algarve during the year, each of which is followed by a lovely dinner.
There are also:

a) a special goumet dinner;
b) a black tie gala dinner following the AGM in late February;
c) a summer party; and,
d) a Christmas lunch each year.

In addition, the Society annuallty organizes 1-2 "short" 2 or 3 night trips to various wine producing areas in Iberia and usually a "long" 1 or 2 week trip to an area of particular wine-related interest abroad.

Recent trips have gone to the Ribera del Duero and Jerez in Spain, the Vidigueira and Portalegre areas in the Alentejo, Setubal/Sado, the Douro and Porto, Provence, Burgundy and New Zealand and the Veneto and Friuli in northeastern Italy. In planning are trips to the Loire and Madeira.

As an informal trip organizer the Algarve Wine Society does not, in any way, act as a travel agent or otherwise take responsibility for problems with travel arrangements or mishaps or accidents that may occur during the trip.