March 2017 Contra Costa Wine Group Newsletter
Our last meeting was held on Friday, February 17th at the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s Parish Hall. It was the meeting for the White and Dessert Wine winners to tell us a
little more about how they made their winning wines. There were six First Place wines tasted and all of the winners were well
prepared with their handouts explaining their “trade secrets” on how they made their
wines.
There were 41 people in attendance at this meeting. As there was no “Host Family” for the meeting, everyone had been asked to
bring along a plate of Appetizers with them. We had a great
spread!
The cleanup at the end of the day went “swimmingly!” All of the empty and partial bottles of wine were taken out, the chairs
collected, the tables wiped down and we left the place spotless. Thanks to
all who lent a hand. It saved the CCWG $125.00 in cleanup fees that the church typically
charges.
They trust us!
The wine judge’s notes for those that didn’t pick them up on February
17th will again be
available at the next meeting. Please plan on coming to the meeting and thus save the CCWG the
substantial mailing costs for the notes and ribbons that don’t get picked
up.
At our next meeting, all of the First Place Red wines will be tasted and
the winning winemakers will make a short presentation on how they made their
wines.
They’ll each have between 25 and 30 one page handouts for those in
attendance. Here is the order of the tasting for
the evening:
1)
Bob Joakimson
Mourvedre
Dry Creek Valley
2)
Dan
Boykin
Cabernet Franc
Northern Sonoma Co.
3)
Russ
Kaufman
Merlot
Dry Creek Valley
4)
Geoff Linder
Zinfandel/Primitivo
CoCoCo
5)
Al Turner
Petite Sirah
El Dorado County
6)
Bonneau Dickson Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma County
7)
Steve
Abbanat
Syrah
CoCoCo
8)
David Hicks
Super Tuscan
Red Hills AVA
9)
Tom Warriner
Meritage
California (Best of Show-Red)
I trust that each of the
winners above will bring two bottles of their wine along with a one page handout on how they
made the winning wine. If any of you cannot make this meeting,
you need to get two bottles of your winning wine and your one page handout to another CCWG
member that will be attending this meeting. You may call me for assistance in this
matter.
I consider this to be a “Big Deal!”
All of the Second, Third
and Honorable Mention ribbons will also be handed out at this meeting. It’s always a
great time and the big winners will really be showing their “stuff.”
The meeting will be held
at the home of Michelle Beason, in Walnut Creek. The
meeting will start with hors d’oeuvres at around 7:00 p.m. on Friday night, March 31, 2017. We’ll start the “Winner’s Tasting”
right around 7:30 p.m.
DIRECTIONS:
From the North: On Highway 680
in Walnut Creek going South, take the North Main St. exit (Exit #47). Keep left
to take the San Luis Rd. ramp toward North Main St. northbound. Turn left
onto San Luis Rd. After about ½ of a mile, turn left
on Sky Rd.
Michelle’s home will be on your right at 2459 Sky Rd., Walnut
Creek.
Should you get lost, her telephone is (925)
262-4739.
From the
South: On Highway 680 in Walnut Creek going
North, take Exit 47 toward North Main St. Merge onto Penniman Way (automatic?) and
then take the first right onto North Main St. Take the
first left onto San Luis Rd. After about ½ of a mile, turn left
onto Sky Rd. Michelle’s home will be on
your right at 2459 Sky Rd., Walnut Creek. Should you get lost, her telephone
again is (925) 262-4739.
Things to
bring: 1) A folding chair and 2) a wine
glass.
You need not bring any wine to
this meeting.
Our beloved Wine Czar will be bringing three cases of wine that remained
after the Potluck Dinner on January 21st.
I hope to see lots of
you there.
Purple tongues at the end of the evening are
GUARANTEED!
Again, the next meeting will be held on Friday night,
March 31, 2017 starting at around 7:00 p.m. at the home of Michelle Beason in Walnut
Creek.
Respectfully
submitted,
Al Turner, Secretary,
Contra Costa Wine Group
WineMaker Magazine’s
2011, 2012, 2015 and 2016 International Club of the Year.
p.s. Mike Orton of the Valley Vintner shipped 69 of our entries to this
year’s WineMaker Magazine International Amateur Wine Judging. They have arrived in good shape in Manchester Center,
Vermont.
There may have been other CCWG wines sent in also so it would seem like
we have a decent shot at “Three-Peating” for this title. al
t.