It was the last lunch for 2014, and members (and a few guests) came from far and wide: 62 in all. They were treated to some great food, a mixed bag of wines and festive camaraderie.

The event kicked off with good flavoursome canapes: a terrific terrine from James Hill made on pork and chicken with plenty of larding, served with a piece of cornichon on Iggy's sourdough; and some colourful roasted red and yellow capsicum served with an intense white anchovy on the same, from Graham Fear. All were washed down by a mix of aperitif wines: 2002 Rothbury Black Label Semillon with inevitable bottle variation; a 2012  Riesling from Clare, matched with, and out pointing, a 2008 Stoney Rise Riesling from Tamar in Tasmania; and a couple of our favourite Lustau sherries, the amontillado and the manzanilla.

An entrée appeared when we sat down: a nostalgic prawn cocktail, complete with shredded iceberg lettuce and a creamy tomato and Worcestershire sauce dressing. Somehow the Wine Master, Paul Ferman, had found time to prepare it, but not to find a more compatible wine than the main course reds to accompany it.

Then came the main course from Food Master Nick Reynolds: a traditional Xmas ham and turkey, but not as you know it. The ham had been hand- smoked in hickory by Nick, and was delightfully moist and smoky; while the turkey had been cooked, of course, sous vide with buttermilk, and came to the table soft and juicy. A degree of blandness was well overcome by a tasty cranberry chutney, and the plate was completed by some duck fat-fried potatoes and a helping of green beans. With it were a 2009 Les Courtilles Cotes du Rhone, acceptable but uninspiring, and a 1999 Lindemans Hunter River sparkling red, smooth and sweet of fruit but surprisingly fresh for its age.

Once again Cheese Master Ross MacDonald intrigued and delighted with his offering. Guesses at the cheese varied from local to NZ to Europe to England, but we were still too far south, the cheddar coming from the Isle of Mull in the Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. Strong and salty, with a nicely crumbly texture, it went extremely well with the Iggy's sourdough, and with some plain roasted almonds.

As to the wines, they were a contrast in local styles: a 2011 Shiraz by Farr showed spice from a touch of viognier and a lighter savoury berry character; whist a 2002 Chapel Hill cabernet from McLaren Vale and Coonawarra was in the bigger fruitier Oz style, but with complex characters indicating its age and the quality of the vintage.

The Coffee Master, Spencer Ferrier, chose to end the year with a look back at the classic Illy pre-ground blend: plenty of flavour with a definite hit of caramel beans, but a bit flat at the end. It went down well, however, with a nicely developed "vintage character" port from the home of that style, Portugal.

And so we bade farewell to the Society for 2014, with many fond memories, and the anticipation of 2015, to sustain us through the season of good will and excess.