AWS News – October 2024

Oct 20, 2024

IN THIS ISSUE

From the desk of the Executive Director

Natalie Dippenaar updates members regarding touring, tech, and travel.

Traveling with AWS in 2025 and beyond

Members have their choice of venues and modes for experiencing wine in the near future. New excursions are on the horizon.

National Tasting Project: Looking forward already to next year

The theme for 2025 is announced, and ‘crowd sourcing’ makes its debut.

Inflation has finally caught up with us

After 14 years, the Board voted to increase dues.

The countdown clock is ticking for this year’s National Conference

Headed to the 57th Annual AWS National Conference in Winston-Salem, North Carolina? Consider volunteering.

AWSEF gears up for its fundraising events

Attendees to the National Conference can help the Silent Auction succeed, but even those not attending can participate in the pre-conference raffle for a 6-liter bottle from Banfi.

Winemaker’s corner: Five steps to a successful fermentation

Kevin Kourofsky discusses how to accomplish a red wine from whole grapes without needing to purchase expensive winery equipment.

Chapter events

How many ways are there to enjoy and learn about wine? A lot, judging by your fellow members’ tasting recaps.

From the desk of the Executive Director

Hello!

Here we are in October, just a couple of weeks from the annual National Conference. It is hard to believe it has been almost a year since I started with the American Wine Society. It has been an incredible year, working on the financials, insurance, starting to organize our processes, replacing the database, and planning for this year’s conference. Almost 600 people plan to attend the National Conference, which is a great number, and we hope for as many, or more, next year in Virginia!

For those not attending the National Conference, I hope you have seen and enjoyed the newest issue of the Journal. We are just now kicking off production of the December issue. Articles are being proofed, and ads being organized.

A benefit for you

The re-invigorated Welcome Here program has added a number of wineries where you can visit and feel welcome. If you have local wineries that are not part of the program, tell them about it. It’s a free marketing opportunity for them to reach wine-loving folks — our members. In return, we can help by being polite and appreciating the privileges offered. And, remember to mention you are from the American Wine Society so they know we told you.

Natalie Dippenaar, AWS Executive Director

Natalie Dippenaar, AWS Executive Director

Back-end website update

Our new database software has been challenging to implement and now that we are using it, we are fumbling a little with where to find things we used to know very well. Please be patient if you call and we take a while to figure out how to find your information! We will get up to speed soon.

Members will be able to log in from the Login link on the website soon. You will need to “set up your account” the first time you log in, and it will ask you to verify your email address. It’s a little clunky to get people signed up, and you need to confirm and save your account details once logged in. Please call or email the National Office if you have any questions, and we will help!

Another important note is that, for security reasons, we don’t store any credit card numbers directly in the database, and we were not able to transfer this information between the old and new database systems. This means you will have to give us your card info to renew at the end of this year. We will also try to send renewal invoices that you can pay hopefully without even logging in, once we figure out how!

New travel options

The other exciting item to mention is we have just signed two new tours — a land tour to Argentina in late 2025 (see the nearby article) and a Mediterranean cruise in early 2026. Details on the cruise will be provided in an upcoming newsletter, through chapter chairs, on the website, and on social media.

Regarding social media and travel, if you go anywhere fun, send me a photo or two and a description so I can share with other members. I won’t mention your name or any personal details, but let’s see what fun places we go.

Until next time,
Natalie

Traveling with AWS in 2025 and beyond

AWS members have their choice of venues and modes for experiencing wine in the near future

Cruise the Seine River in France

Act now to secure your spot for this amazing experience from May 8‒15, 2025.Wine Cruise to France

The 7-night cruise features renowned wine expert, author, and storyteller Paul Wagner. And, of course, you’ll experience some of the best wine available while enjoying the company of your fellow AWS members.

You’ll visit Paris, Les Andelys, Le Havre, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, and Vernon. You’ll travel aboard the finely appointed AmaLyra cruise ship and have access to three seminars featuring wines from the Champagne, Alsace and Loire Valley regions. Plus, take part in three wine-and-food-pairing dinners led by Paul, featuring wines from those regions.

Only a few staterooms remain for this extraordinary trip, so don’t delay. To get started, call 877-651-7447 or email wineclub@expediacruises.com.

Tour essential South America

Come along with AWS as we visit Chile, the Mendoza Wine Region of Argentina, and Buenos Aires from October 9‒18, 2025. Highlights include

  • A tour of Santiago, Chile;
  • A hands-on cooking experience following a visit to Mercado Central de Santiago.
  • A vineyard tour followed by a wine tasting and chef-prepared lunch in Mendoza, Argentina.
  • Sampling a family-owned vineyard’s wines in the Luján de Cuyo wine-producing sub-region.
  • A tour of Buenos Aires along with other city activities.

You can register for a no-commitment webinar on Nov 11 at 6 p.m., Eastern time, that will present full details.

Mendoza wine regionYou can also learn more here or by calling 800-581-8942 and referencing booking number 1275101.

Note that all prices include round-trip transfers in destination, taxes and airfare out of EWR (Newark International Airport). Alternative airport pricing is available upon request.

The trip is fully refundable until March 10, 2025!

Still more to come

AWS will feature a Mediterranean cruise in early 2026. Stay tuned for more information!

National Tasting Project: Looking forward already to next year

The National Tasting Project (NTP) schedule has changed for 2025. We usually announce next year’s theme at the National Conference, but this year we’re announcing early.

Mike Blake

Mike Blake, NTP coordinator

This national event has hundreds of chapters across the country taste the same wines and compare scores. Next year, the theme will be (drum roll) Australian wines!

The wine list will be available late January or early February for purchases.

“Crowd sourcing” makes its debut

If you’re not familiar with the concept of crowd sourcing, we essentially want your input for the NTP wine selections.

If your chapter tasted and scored any highly rated Australian wines, we would like to know! They might be included in the 2025 NTP.

Please send your wine list or presentation, with medal awards or average scores, to Mike at NTP@AmericanWineSociety.org.

Get ready now

If you would like to join us, please register at NTP Registration.  Your registration will be approved within 24 hours.

If you already have registered, no need to register again.

Inflation finally caught up with us

After 14 years of zero dues increases, the AWS finally has to raise dues rates. We don’t like it anymore than you do. But we have trimmed everywhere we can over the past few years—closed the physical national office in Scranton, PA, re-negotiated vendor contracts, etc. It just can’t make up for increased costs of just about everything we rely on to serve our members.

When does this go into effect?

The increase will take effect immediately for new members who join. For existing members, it will be when your current membership expires. For some, that will be Dec. 31. But those with memberships that expire in the following three years won’t incur the new rate until they renew. Don’t worry, there is no auto renewal, so you will need to log into your AWS profile and accept/pay the new dues.

Current and Future Dues Rates

You may ask yourself, what am I paying now? And what will my new rate be? Here are the current and the future rates approved by the AWS Board of Directors.

Membership Type Current Dues New Dues
1- Year Individual $49 $59
3-Year Individual $124 $159
1-Year Household $62 $89
3-Year Household $158 $239
Professional $99 $199
Student $25 $25
Lifetime $950 $1,200

What do you get for that?

AWS membership is still the greatest deal in the wine world!

  • Wine discounts through the AWS Welcome Here We’ve revived this program and are adding new wineries all the time.
  • Programming assistance for local chapter tastings that you enjoy every month.
  • Access to wine travel
  • Wine Journal magazine subscription.
  • AWS News subscription.
  • Host insurance for chapter events to protect you and your members.
  • A National Office staff to help with starting and running chapters and tastings.
  • Eligibility to attend the National Wine Conference
  • Discounted entry fees for the AWS Amateur or Commercial Wine Competitions.
  • Wine Judge Certification Program
  • Online wine education materials

And let’s not forget our favorite membership benefit—learning about wine and making new wine friends along the way!

What are next steps?

We have a new database management system, so, as mentioned, there is no auto-renewal of your membership. You can wait for membership renewal emails closer to your expiration date, or if you know you are expiring this year, you can login from the website and get started. The first time you access the login, you will need to “Set up your Account” with your email, a password, and your first and last name. Once your account is located, you will need to verify your email, then log in with your email and that password. With all transitions like this, there will be complications, please be patient with us!

One exciting feature for new members is calendar renewal. When you join, future renewals will be based on that date, not on Jan. 1, as in the past.

If you have questions about our cost-cutting efforts, membership benefits, renewing your membership, or any AWS topic, don’t hesitate to connect with the National Office at memberservice@americanwinesociety.org or 888-297-9070 and they will be able to help once they are they back from the annual conference this week.

I drink wine because my doctor said I shouldn't keep things bottled up.

The countdown clock is ticking for this year’s National Conference

2024 National Conference logo

Just a few days remain until the 57th Annual AWS National Conference in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, from November 1-3.

You can still volunteer to help

The National Conference would not be possible without volunteers from our membership who give their time and effort. In addition, our volunteers help hold down the cost of the conference.

If this is your first conference, know that volunteering is easy, and we provide instructions on what to do. Volunteer assignments do not take time away from your conference experience.

To volunteer, first log in to your AWS account and see what sessions you received. This is important because you can volunteer only for those sessions.

The positions we need are from Friday evening to Sunday evening. We need general session volunteers and meal/reception volunteers. You can read a description of each here. Then, select a link below to volunteer.

Session room volunteer

Meal/reception volunteer

These volunteer opportunities are fun and social and you will get to meet AWS members from around the country.

Ongoing volunteer position available

Conference planner Diane Meyer is looking for a volunteer to handle pre-conference wine procurement for future conferences. The volunteer will train with Tom Wallman, who handles that task currently. Interested members can reach out directly to Diane for more information at diane@americanwinesociety.org

Conference tour winery logos

 

Take your experience up a notch with CRU 100

Besides signing up for the pre-conference tours, plan to join AWS President Bill Stefan and members of CRU 100 on Friday evening for an intimate tasting of Bordeaux wines, sponsored by Union Grands Crus Bordeaux.

By participating, you will support the AWS education mission. All money raised during the Presidential Reception will be invested in the Cru 100 effort to develop relevant educational resources for use by AWS chapters.

 The cost is $125 per person.

Register for the CRU 100 Presidential Reception (AWS login required)

AWSEF gears up for its fundraising events

The AWS Educational Foundation (AWSEF) counts on you to be successful, and you have two ways to chip in. (As a member of AWS, you also are a member of the AWSEF.)AWSEF logo

Help the Silent Auction succeed

A Silent Auction held at the AWS National Conference each year is the foundation’s main source of revenue to fulfill its mission of providing scholarships.

You can get involved now by donating wine-related books, tools, and other miscellany — and, of course, wine — to be auctioned.

To donate, simply complete the 2024 Silent Auction Donation Form with your donation information, and then email it to Therise Collier, AWSEF vice president for private development, at therisecollier@aol.com. If you’re attending the National Conference, you can bring your donation to conference registration on Friday, November 1. If you’re not attending the National Conference or don’t want to bring it with you, you can mail it in advance (see the donation form for details).

And just as important…be sure to bid on items at the Silent Auction at National Conference! Bid often! Out-bid your friends! Help the AWSEF have the most successful Silent Auction yet.

Participate in the pre-conference raffle!

AWSEF sponsors a pre-conference raffle, which is an important tradition that offers the opportunity to participate in fundraising for those unable to attend the National Conference.

Once again, Banfi Vintners Foundation has donated a bottle of wine as the grand prize for the raffle. This year, it is a 6-liter bottle of Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino (that’s the equivalent of EIGHT 750-ml bottles, more than enough to share with friends). This beautiful wine is 100% Sangiovese, fermented in hybrid French oak and stainless-steel Horizon tanks, then aged for 2 years in 80% French-oak casks and 20% in French-oak barriques.

Winemaker’s notes say this is “an intense and elegant Brunello. Ruby red with light garnet-colored nuances…intense and fruity bouquet…sweet notes of plums, sour cherries, orange and spicy hints of myrtle, juniper and incense…full-bodied and powerful, soft and smooth tannins are well-integrated…”

Raffle tickets are on sale through Saturday, October 28, at $10 each, and are available by contacting Bonnie Lance at 631-806-7234 or Walt Rachele at 443-280-2319. Or, you can Venmo to Walt-Rachele. No matter how you choose to purchase your ticket, be sure to provide your name, phone number, the number of tickets you want, and the name of your AWS chapter.

Winemaker’s corner: Five steps to a successful fermentation

Kevin Kourofsky

Kevin Kourofsky

Yeast is designed by nature to ferment fruit juice, especially grape juice. Yeast enjoys the acidic medium, the plentiful sugar and the nutrients that are within the grape berry.

Kevin Kourofsky writes that the trick to great wine is first and foremost to have a clean and complete fermentation. To develop and maintain the fermentation, yeast must be stewarded through stages in the life of a fermentation, from birth, early days and eventual death. To become a successful winemaker, you must master this process.

In his latest column, he provides a beginner’s guide to fermentation.

Read more here

Wine is so much more than a breakfast drink

Chapter events

To have your chapter’s event included in the AWS News, e-mail your tasting results to chapterevents@americanwinesociety.org. Sending it to any other email address risks getting it overlooked. Be sure to follow the format specified for Chapter Events, which you can download from the AWS website. Include the cost of the wines you tasted, plus scores or rankings. This information lets other members know what you liked and which wines were good values. AND … please send us sharp, interesting pictures from your event. We would love to share those, too.

JULY

The Napa Solano (CA) Chapter tasting on July 27 was themed Sipping Rosé By The Pool. Hosts Cindy and Perry did an outstanding job of curating Rosés from the Americas, Provence, Bordeaux, and Sicily in a semi blind tasting. We were all asked to surmise what grape(s) went into the making of the various wines.

The tasting began with a lovely comparison of two of California’s best sparkling Rosés, Mumm Napa Brut Reserve Rosé (NV; Pinot Noir) and Roederer Estate Brut Rosé (NV; Pinot Noir and Chardonnay).

The next flight featured Rosés of the Americas, both North and South, including a commercially available Rosé; one prepared by a home winemaker who is new to our group; and a Rosé from Mendoza, Argentina.

  • 2022 Santa Julia Innovac!ón Rosé (Malbec and Syrah)
  • 2023 Matthiasson (Grenache, Barbera, Mourvèdre and Counoise)
  • 2021 Stafford Vineyards Rosé, sourced from the home winemaker’s own Barbera fruit in Amador County (the Sierra Foothills)

Our third flight was split into 2 sections.

Section 1 was 2023 French Blue: Pretty in Pink Rosé from Bordeaux (Cabernet Franc and Malbec) and 2023 Planeta Rosé from Sicily (Nero D’Avola and a touch of Syrah).

Section 2 featured two European Rosés from Provence: 2023 Kirkland Signature Rosé (Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Vermentino, Carignan, Tibouren, and Ugni Blanc) and 2023 Cotes de Provence Rosé from Domaine Cadeniere (Syrah)

The Myrtle Beach (SC) Chapter met July 18 for That’s Greet to me! with Chair and co-chair Richard & Mary Berezinsky and 40 members/guests. Members Larry and Joann Garner presented.

We started with a “mystery” non-Greek welcome wine and were asked to guess the varietal. It was a refreshing off-dry Moscato from a local North Carolina winery. Then we sampled 5 Greek wines, comparing 3 of those in a blind tasting to 3 non-Greek wines that taste similar. Attendees guessed which one was ‘Greek to them.”

Pairing 1

  • 2021 Silver Coast Moscato, $17
  • 2022 Santo Wines Santorini Assyrtiko, $37

Pairing 2

  • 2021 Gaia Monograph Moschofilero, $20
  • 2022 Italo Cescon Pinot Grigio, $25

Pairing 3

  • 2017 Lafazanis Nemea Agiorgitiko, $32
  • 2021 Vignobles Lassagne-Le Big Boss Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon, $29

Pairing 4

  • 2020 Domaine Zafeirakis Limniona, $32
  • 2019 Castello di Neive Langhe/Cortini Pinot Nero, $35

Final wine

  • 2017 Kokkinos Xinomavro, $31

The Fleur de Lis Chapter of Louisville (KY) July tasting was hosted by David and Alicia Scheu. The theme was “Santa Barbara County.” Six wines were poured blind and given to the members for tasting. The wines were all small production and made with Santa Barbara County grapes. Below are the ratings from highest to lowest score

  • 2017 Peake Ranch Grenache, Peake Ranch Vineyard, Santa Rita Hills, $75
  • 2020 Kunin Pape Star, Rhône blend, Kunin Wines, Santa Barbara, $35
  • 2018 Cambria Clone 4 Pinot Noir, Cambria Estate Winery, Santa Maria, $58
  • 2022 Frequency Graciano, Frequency Wine Company Los Alamos Vineyard, Santa Barbara, $43
  • 2019 Potek Bien Nacido Syrah, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Municipal Wine Makers, Santa Barbara, $55
  • 2018 Silver Nebbiolo, Los Alamos Vineyard, Silver Wines, Santa Barbara, $38
AUGUST

The 50 Shades of Grapes (NJ) Chapter, hosted by Therese and Bob Maher, met on August 16 at the beautiful, rustic Sperlak Barn and Sculpture Gardens in Cape May for a Southwestern Themed dinner and tasting.50 Shades of Grape in August

After self-guided tours of the grounds, guests gathered on the porch for bubbles and pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres.  The seated dinner featured Southwest wines, paired with a Tapas style menu by KARA catering.

The wines featured were:

  • NV Gruet Brut, New Mexico, $16 (2-tie)
  • 2022 Storm Cellar Double Switchback Rose, Colorado, $28
  • 2023 William Chris Vineyards Marg Ruth, Texas, $32 (2-tie)
  • 2021 Inwood Estates Illumina Touriga Nacional, Texas, $40 (2-tie)
  • 2022 Vivac Winery Tempranillo, New Mexico, $24 (1)

On Sunday, August 18, the Venice (FL) Vinos Chapter held a tasting at the home of Deb and Mike Watchowski in Venice. 18 members and guests were treated to 7 wines from Domaine Bousquet winery from Argentina, presented by Carlos Smith of Origin Organic Imports. Carlos showed the group pictures of the winery at the foothills of the Andes and explained the organic nature of their winemaking process.

  • Brut sparkling Chardonnay/Pinot Noir, $14 (favorite white/pink)
  • 2023 Rose, $14
  • 2023 Chardonnay Reserve, $17
  • 2022 Pinot Noir Reserve, $17
  • 2022 Malbec Reserve, $17 (overall favorite)
  • 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, $17
  • 2020 Amerl Cabernet Sauvignon, $30

Ocean Isle Beach in AugustOcean Isle Beach (NC) Chapter welcomed Doug and Susan Zucker of Bridgewater Wines to our August membership meeting. Their recent trip to Australia focused on sampling many special wines, and we were privy to some of the fine ones they added to their collection.

We were interested in their comparison of the Australian continent in size to the continental United States. The country has a massive expanse of unpopulated turf, which makes travel between wineries on each coast a challenge.

This most enjoyable tasting was interspersed with photos from the Zuckers’ recent trip to Australia, including a great picture of a kangaroo with two joeys in one of the vineyards.

  • 2021 Jim Barry Watervale Riesling, $18
  • 2020 Howard Park Margaret River Miamuf Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon, $23
  • 2022 Tyrrell’s Hunter Valley Semillon, $20
  • 2021 Yalumba Family Winemakers Barossa Bush Vine Grenache, $19
  • 2020 Farm to Table Shiraz, $18
  • 2019 D’Arenberg The Footbolt Shiraz, $22
  • 2021 Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Sauvignon, $22

The Keuka (NY) Chapter met on Sunday, August 11, at the Rushville Fire Hall. Our focus was a hybrid grape that naturally emerged in 17th century southwestern France as a cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc — namely, Cabernet Sauvignon. This versatile wine grape has thrived in diverse countries and climates all over the world.

After an introductory social period, and before a congenial dinner, we tasted and evaluated eight wines:

  • 2021 Prejean Cabernet Sauvignon, Finger Lakes, NY, $24
  • 2021 Fox Run Cabernet Sauvignon Seneca Lake, NY, $25
  • 2021 Josh Cellars “Hearth” Cabernet Sauvignon, CA, $13 (1)
  • 2021 Perseverence Cabernet Sauvignon, CA, $10
  • 2020 Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon, South Africa, $9
  • 2021 Whale Route Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia, $10
  • 2021 Montes Classic Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile, $14
  • 2022 El Esteco Don David Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina, $14

We followed the formal tasting of 8 wines with a special bottle: 2017 Cimarossa Buriana Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA, $143.

The South Sound (WA) Chapter in August was hosted by the newly relaunched wine bar, Wines by the Valley in Olympia’s neighboring city, Tumwater.South Sound Chapter in August

Owners Lisa and Patrick Ward, along with their wine specialist, Daniel, took members on a trip to the Beaujolais region where members sampled the following wines (preference order in parenthesis):

  • 2021 Domaine de Thulon Beaujolais-Villages – $19 (3)
  • 2022 Bouland Cailloux Morgon $38 (1)
  • 2022 Bouland Sable $38 (4)
  • 2022 Bouland Cuvée Mélanie Cote to Brouilly $36 (2)

Daniel started the event with a bonus pour of an Italian sparkling wine, Lucchetti Sparkling Rosé ($16) to get the tasting party started.

The presentation was filled with interesting information about the region including historical and geographic contexts. Most people think of Beaujolais nouveau, a lighter style of red made with the use of carbonic maceration. Chapter members instead explored a more complex side of the Gamay varietal with aging potential. The tasting also included an unusual Chardonnay (white wine makes up only one percent of Beaujolais’ production, mainly from Chardonnay grapes).

Complimentary food bites rounded out the tasting so members could experience the impacts of food with the wines.

The Northampton (PA) Chapter tasting on August 11 was themed Italian A-B-C Wines. Many thanks to Bob and Kim Hale for another wonderful tasting. The weather cooperated and we enjoyed a lovely afternoon in their gorgeous backyard, tasting and discussing some excellent wines.

We sampled wines from several regions, pulling from the ABC theme including. Amarone, Chianti, Barbara, Barbaresco, Brunello, Barolo, and a few lesser-known wines. It was followed by a great meal prepared by Chef Kim. All-in-all, a great way to spend an afternoon with great conversation and wines.

  • 2021 Alta Moro Etna Bianco (Carricant grape), $30
  • 2022 Romero Arneis Piedmont (Arneis grape), $38
  • 2020 La Spinetta Barbera d’Asti Ca Di Pian (Barbera grape), $26
  • 2019 Cavallotto Barbera d’Alba Vigna del Cuculo Superiore Piedmont (Alba grape), $34
  • 2016 Molino di Grace Chianti Classico Riserva, Tuscany (Sangiovese grape), $30
  • 2018 Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona, Brunnello di Montalcino (Sangiovese grape), $64
  • 2016 Meridio Arundo, Sicily, Alicante grape estate grown, $46 (2)
  • 2019 Allegrini Amarone Classico Veneto Corvina, Corvione, Rondinella, $90 (3)
  • 2017 Prouttori del Barbaresco Ovello Riserva, Piedmont, $80
  • 2016 Marchesi di Barolo Sarmassa, Piedmont (Nebbiolo grape), $90 (1)

On August 25, the North Wake (NC) Chapter conducted the second half of the National Tasting Project. Some 44 members rated the Chardonnays and PinotNorth Wake NC Silent Auction Noirs at Heritage View Clubhouse in Wake Forest. We also held the final installment of our fundraising silent auction, which included wines, glassware, wine and food vouchers donated by restaurants, a wine tasting at a local wine retailer, a meal at a North Carolina winery, and various wine-related crafts.

The silent auction netted over $1700. So far, in 2024, we have raised over $2600 which will be donated later this year to the AWS Educational Foundation.

Lehigh Valley PA in AugustThe Lehigh Valley (PA) Chapter members enjoyed summertime in August by tasting fruit wines among the vines at Bonnie & Dean Scott’s beautiful Bergeist Vineyard. Our guest speaker was AWS Regional Ambassador for Central PA and the most decorated amateur AWS winemaker Mickey Krause. He educated us on the importance of quality of the fruit, importance of sanitation, balancing acid and sugar, and taste testing.

Mickey grows most of his own fruit, and over the years has perfected his wines. We had to guess the fruit ice breaker of 60% strawberry (most guessed) and 40% gooseberry (no one guessed). We also had 2 icebreakers from Lily’s Vineyard and Winery, a dry Cherry and Dry Raspberry. We tasted 7 of Mickey’s fruit wines: cherry, black currant, red currant, blueberry, red raspberry and black raspberry.

The groups’ favorites were the black raspberry, red raspberry and third blueberry.Lehigh Valley PA in August

After the tasting, members feasted on a delicious buffet lunch. We had a special quest: Zeke Warren and his fiancée from Penn State. Zeke is the recipient of an AWSEF scholarship that was donated by the members of Lehigh Valley Chapter. It was interesting to hear what great things Penn State and Zeke are doing to help the wine grape industry.

Lots of thanks to Bonnie & Dean for hosting, and to Lazeez Mediterranean Grill as our BYOB venue.

SEPTEMBER

The September meeting of the Shallotte (NC) Chapter was titled “Provence & Côte du Rhône Wines.” In attendance were 25 people, which included 1 guest (showing interest in joining AWS).

Shallotte NC tastingWe learned about one of the oldest wine growing regions in Southwestern France and how the Mediterranean and mountain regions contribute to the varied styles of wine. The Provence region produces all manner of wine styles; its reputation relies on its crisp, refreshing rosés. The region also has two distinct climates, Mediterranean and very hot summers.

The Rhône valley is one of the oldest producing wine regions in France. Here the climate is warm and steady, resulting in consistent wines and distinctive character and flavor. It is also home to the world-famous Chateauneuf du Pape appellation.

The Northern region has harsh winters and warm summers, while Southern region has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summer and fall.Shallotte NC tasting

In all, we tasted 5 wines: a white, rosé, and three reds accompanied by food bites appropriate for the wines.

  • 2020 Chateau De Nages Joseph Torres Nimes Organic Rouge, $28 (1)
  • 2019 Guigal Cotes Du Rhone Rouge, $14 (2)
  • 2022 Halos De Jupiter Costieres De Nimes Blanc, $17 (3)
  • 2021 Nobles Rives Cave De Tain Crozes Hermitage, $25
  • 2022 Olema Rose Cotes De Provence, $15

The Myrtle Beach (SC) Chapter met September 19 for a zoom presentation by Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton, Virginia. Chair and co-chair Richard and Mary Berezinsky, and 38 members and guests, began with an eclectic assortment of welcome wines and then moved onto the tasting of 6 from Paradise Springs.

Paradise Springs is the first bicoastal winery. The same winemaker travels from Virginia to their second location in Santa Barbara, California. We compared the Virginia wines with their Santa Barbara versions as two staff members talked about differences in climate and soil between the two coasts.

  • 2022 Virginia Chardonnay, $35
  • 2021 Santa Barbara Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay, $59
  • 2021 Virginia Cabernet Franc, $41
  • 2020 Santa Barbara Cabernet Franc, $48
  • 2019 Virginia Petit Verdot, $37
  • 2020 Santa Barbara Petit Verdot, $48

On the evening of September 22, 26 members and guests of the North Wake (NC) Chapter met at Lynch Creek Farm cabin, where our host, Bob Radcliffe,North Wake NC in September made delicious pizzas for us in his wood burning outdoor oven. It was a ”bring your favorite pizza wine” event.

Chapter Secretary Fran Torigian started us off with two tastings of Cava, brought home from his recent trip to Spain. Our chapter held three charity events this year (wine raffle, charity luncheon, and silent auction), raising $2,650 which we plan to donate to the AWS Educational Foundation.

The Piedmont Wine and Vine (SC) Chapter met on September 22 at the Sterling Estates Clubhouse in Boiling Springs. The tasting theme was international wines under $17 with 90 points or higher as the rating.

The hosts were the Booths and MacDonalds, with 19 members attending. The tasting included a pot luck dinner. Wines were from Europe and South America. Ratings ranged from 90 to 95 (last wine from Spain with highest rating.)

  • NV, Kirkland Signature Asolo, Prosecco, Italy, $7
  • 2022 Winzer Krems, Gruner Veltliner, Austria, $16
  • NV, Gattavecchi Vernica Gimignano, Italy, $17
  • 2022, Mascota Vyds La Mascota , Cabernet, Argentina, $16
  • NV, Alamos, Malbec, Argentina, $9
  • 2021, San Gregorio El Vergal, Tempranillo, Spain, $13

The Hammonton (NJ) Chapter met on Sunday, September 20, at the home of Anne and Mark Orthner. The theme of the meeting was “East Coast Cabernet Francs.” We worked our way north from the Eastern Shore of Virginia to the Finger Lakes of New York. The following wines were tasted and ranked:

  • 2021 Church Creek Cabernet Franc, Chatham Vineyards, Virginia, $24
  • 2021 Stone Tower Winery Cabernet Franc, Loudoun County Virginia, $50
  • 2015 Working Dog Winery Cabernet Franc, New Jersey, $38
  • 2019 White Horse Winery Cabernet Franc, Outer Coastal Plain, New Jersey, $42
  • 2020 Whitecliff Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Hudson Valley, New York, $30
  • 2021 Lamoreaux Landing Unoaked Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes, New York, $24 (2)
  • 2014 Red Newt Cellars Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes, New York, $32 (3)
  • 2016 Shaw Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes, New York, $45 (1)

South Sound WA in SeptemberThe South Sound (WA) Chapter members got to know each other through shared wines and stories in September. Member Kris Parce hosted us at the beautiful Executive Lounge of the Views on Fifth apartment building in Olympia.

Attendees were encouraged to bring a bottle and share why they selected it — a fun and informative experience to learn more about members and some wonderful wines, which were:

  • Lovo Prosecco, Veneto, Italy
  • Framingham Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
  • Marques de Caceres Rioja Gran Riserva, Rioja, Spain
  • Mas Gourdou, Pic Saint Loup AOC red blend, Languedoc, France
  • Patterson Cellars Late Harvest Roussanne

The group ended the tasting flight with a lovely late harvest Roussanne. In addition to the wines, members brough small bites to complement the tasting.

The Northampton (PA) Chapter featured wines from Slovenia, Armenia, and Croatia – at its September tasting, organized by Debbie and Paul Weaver.

Debbie did a fantastic job for this challenging tasting in many ways- first for going to great lengths to purchase these wines, for incorporating much educational information about the countries and their wines and grape varietals into many PowerPoint slides, and also by doing an admirable job of attempting to pronounce many formidable sounding names of places and grape names!!

  • 2022 Steyer Winery Ranina, $13.50
  • 2022 Kobal Blaufrankisch, $13
  • 2022 Pust Winery Zametovka, $9.50
  • 2018 NOA Winery Voskehat, $24
  • 2019 Van Ardi Winery Dry Red Blend, $33
  • 2020 Karas Winery Single Vineyard Areni, $38
  • 2021 Terra Madre Winery Posip Premium, $31 (3)
  • 2022 Fakin Winery Teran, $34 (2)
  • 2016 Bibich Winery Babic, $64 (1)

Lake Washington (WA) Chapter members participated in the National Tasting Project (NTP) for their September event. Members Gary and Ann hostedLake Washington in September members at their beautiful home in Sammamish.

Members enjoyed the cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines of Sonoma County. They found it especially interesting to be able to enter their scores and compare results nationally in real-time.

Forty-seven members and guests of the King George Wine Society and Northern Neck Uncorked (VA) Chapters were led on a Riedel Experience presentation led by Elizabeth Hossfeld, a Riedel Ambassador, at the American Legion on September 13.

King George in SeptemberThe purpose was to demonstrate how the Performance glassware, which has optic ridges for greater surface, enhances the sensory experience of see, smell, taste, touch and hear that is influenced by the diameter and shape of the bowl of glassware.

Teaming with Treasury Wine Estates, the provider of the wines, attendees experienced Sauvignon Blanc, oaked Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon in glassware targeted for those varietals.

Individuals noted how the smell was more defined in the “proper” glass. Through the process of pouring wine between plastic and glass, Elizabeth highlighted that aromas indicative of that varietal remained in the proper glass. There were skeptics at the start. By the end of the night, there were true believers. Just another way wine enthusiasts could be educated.

The September 2024 Fleur de Lis of Louisville (KY) Chapter tasting was hosted by Chris and Robin Zaborowski. The theme was “One Place.” Seven wines given to the members for blind tasting. The wines were not only from one place, but also one varietal. Below are the ratings from highest to lowest score.

  • 2021 Markham Vineyards, Merlot, Napa Valley, California, $24
  • 2018 Rombauer Vineyards, Merlot, Napa Valley, California, $64
  • 2021 Duckhorn Vineyards, Merlot, Napa Valley, California, $40
  • 2022 Oberon Merlot, Napa Valley, California, $25
  • 2018 Long Meadow Ranch Merlot, Estate Grown, Napa Valley, California, $40
  • 2018 Frog’s Leap Merlot, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, $38
  • 2018 Clos Pegase Merlot, Mitsuko’s Vineyard, Napa Valley, California, $30
OCTOBER

The Shallotte (NC) Chapter tasting in October was titled “Australian Wines and Food,” and was held at Sorella Pizza and Pasta in Holden Beach. In attendance were 23 people, including 4 guests (all showing interest in joining AWS).

We learned the history of Australian wine, just over 200 years young. The first attempt was in Sydney (1788) where it was soon discovered the poor vineyard management and humidity were not ideal conditions. They relocated to the Hunter Valley region.  In the 1800’s Australia produced mostly fortified wines.

Australia is the 5th largest producer of wines (vying with Argentina). Sixty percent of its wine production is exported to 111 international markets. Imported wines account for less than 20% of market share.

It has 65 wine regions (Margaret River being the most remote in the world) and more than 100 different varietals. Shiraz and Chardonnay are grown in every region. The most popular wines sold in the country are Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Sparkling white,

In all we tasted 4 wines — a white and three reds — accompanied by food appropriate for each.

  • 2022 Yalumba Y Series – Shiraz-Viognier, $22
  • 2021 Yalumba Y Series – Cabernet Sauvignon, $25
  • 2024 Yalumba Y Series – Pinot Noir, $20
  • 2020 Yalumba Y Series – Viognier, $19
NOVEMBER

The East Las Vegas Valley (NV) Chapter is coming back to life!!  We have a new board that is working hard on fun and educational wine events for you and your friends!

If you are in the area, please join us at our first event, “Pass the Cork,” scheduled for Thursday, November 14, at Grape Expectations, 7360 Eastgate Rd #125, Henderson, Nevada.  Doors open at 6 p.m., and the event begins at 6:30.

The cost will be $10 for AWS members and $15 for non-members. Please bring cash. (Note that there will be a cost, to be determined, for all attendees at future events.)

Stop by and meet the new board, drink some wine, eat some charcuterie and watch our “Pass the Cork” event.

For further information about the chapter and future events, get in touch via email at elvvaws@gmail.com.

 

AWS News Staff We welcome your comments and suggestions.
Jack Kraft, Editor AmericanWineSocietyNews@gmail.com
Natalie Dippenaar, Publisher ExecutiveDirector@americanwinesociety.org
Chapter Events Editor ChapterEvents@AmericanWineSociety.org
Mike Blake, NTP Coordinator NTP@AmericanWineSociety.org
Kevin Kourofsky, Winemaker’s Corner carolynandkevinathome@gmail.com
Larry S. Jackson, AWSEF President@AWSEF.org
Diane Meyer, Conference Planner Diane@AmericanWineSociety