Claire Cuccio, Jerry Gatlin, Kenneth A. Haapala, Richard Kehoe, Gordon MacKay, Jeff Price
Pasquale “Pat” Pingitore
Grand Officers
Robert C. “Buddy” Hagner, Jr., Grand Commander
Gordon MacKay Grand Vice Commander
Claire Cuccio Grand Treasurer
Tom Webb Grand Administrative Officer
Grand Council
Robert C. “Buddy” Hagner, Jr., Grand Commander
Gordon MacKay | Grand Vice Commander
Claire Cuccio | Grand Treasurer claire.cuccio@gmail.com
Tom Webb | Grand Administrative Officer webbtom@bellsouth.net
Pasquale “Pat” Pingitore | International Emissary
Janet Hamilton | Vice Commander - LA Chapter
Trish Hagner | Executive Director
Provosts
Dave Barber, Northeastern US | Provost General dave.barber@earthlink.net
Thomas Storey, Southeastern US | Provost General tbs@esmhe.net
Peter Bosco, Northwestern US | Provost General bred1@att.net
Lois Van Vooren, Southwestern US | Provost General lois.vanvooren@gmail.com
We started 2024 celebrating our 60th anniversary and here we are finishing it up with so many great memories and so much more to look forward to! From our annual meeting in Sacramento (where it all started) to a 60th anniversary themed gala in Houston to a pier party in Monterey that has been going on for much of our history, KOV is positioned to continue to prosper in the years ahead.
Our “Friends of KOV” program continues to grow with the addition of Messina Hof Winery. These offers can be found in this issue and on our website under Membership & Benefits and we hope you will be taking full advantage of these additional benefits.
Please pay special attention to the article on our longest serving Master Commander, Ernie Grossman. In this volunteer organization, we are truly fortunate to have many outstanding people in leadership positions. From the national level to the chapter level to our members who help lead successful events, we want to thank them all and, in this issue, pay a special tribute to Ernie who has served as the Lake Tahoe Region Chapter’s only commander and has done it exceedingly well. Ernie has been a great friend of KOV and to so many of us personally.
Also in this issue, you will find chapter reports sharing news of interesting events across the country. I’m always impressed with the variety of events and creative ideas behind them. Get to know your fellow KOV members and remember that you are welcome at every chapter so check the KOV national calendar. Even if you can’t make an event, reach out to fellow members if you happen to be traveling in their area. There is a wealth of information available! Take advantage of it!
Our next annual meeting is coming up April 28 – 30, 2025. Organized by our North Carolina Chapter, our meeting will be held in the Winston Salem, North Carolina area and details will be shared soon. For now, please SAVE THE DATE and I hope to see you there.
Until then,
PER VITEM! AD VITAM!
Robert C. “Buddy” Hagner, Jr., Grand Commander
Desk
By George Mitchell
BANG! Gulf Coast
It’s how Knights of the Vine Gulf Coast started out in 2024. Not long after the strike of midnight and ringing in of the New Year, the festivities of Mardi Gras soon began. Our celebration started in style with a jazzy brunch at the famed White Pillars Restaurant and Lounge in Biloxi. Dressed in our Mardi Gras attire of feathers and beads, in all shades of purple, green and gold, the group was ready to celebrate in true Gulf Coast fashion. French 75 cocktails emerged as a crowd favorite adding a sparkling twist to the morning festivities. Talk of parades, upcoming balls, costumes, custom beads and kings and queens kept the conversations lively and vibrant throughout the brunch. The feast featured a Thai wedge salad and rich oyster with artichoke soup, teasing the tastebuds for courses that were yet to come. For the main course, the options were just as indulgent: the daring Chinese breakfast of savory pork with shrimp and grits or the ever- decadent French toast brioche with house made whipped cream, pecan syrup and fresh berries galore. Dessert did not disappoint as we were treated to the White Pillars king cake made by chef Austin Sumrall as well as the famous flourless chocolate torte with a mint crème mousse. By the end of our Mardi Gras feast all of our Knights were in full Mardi Gras mode. As the months of the Mardi Gras season came to an end we had a moment to catch up on things that fall behind due to holidays. Parades and festivities before the bustle of spring bring a great deal of activity to the Gulf Coast as we ramp up with art festivals, outdoor activities, sporting events and all things coastal. We treasure this time of year with its gorgeous weather along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
March found us gathering for one of our Winedown Wednesdays! Although we don’t really need a reason (other than a Wednesday!), we conveniently used St. Patrick’s Day as our “excuse” and Chris and Wanda Rains provided the perfect setting at their home in Ocean Springs.
Photos: (from top, left to right) French 75 Cocktail, Ladies at Brunch ; Men at Brunch
Photos: ( left to right) Wine Down Wednesday; Rick & JJ McMurtry
As April rolled around and our spring weather brought great energy, it was the perfect time to welcome Frank Dawson, Dan Nation, Sheryl Moran, Donald Clausing and Scott Delano to our chapter at our Assemblage. We returned to the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino where our very own level 3 sommelier, Knight Mark Warren, did an excellent job pairing the meal and wines in order to bring out the best characteristics of each and creating a flavor amplification and harmonious experience for our members. It was an honor to also welcome Grand Commander and friend of our chapter, Buddy Hagner and Executive Director Trish Hagner to our festivities.
Come May, it was time to travel and so we did …. to New Orleans for our annual “Wine for the Roses”. Gathering in our finest Derby attire, we watched the Kentucky Derby at Patrick’s Bar Vin, our favorite New Orleans wine bar. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, we gathered for a Derby luncheon in Tableau’s renowned wine room that houses many vintage wines from around the globe. The setting offered stunning views of the historic St. Louis Cathedral adding to the charm of the day. Dressed to impress in our traditional Derby hats, the group enjoyed a day of Southern hospitality, fine wine and dining with great friends. The excitement peaked as Mystic Dan crossed the finish line, delivering a win that saw some guests, including lucky winner member, Knight George Mitchell, with a fresh pot of winnings which were promptly reinvested in wine and spirits. What a way to celebrate!
Photos: (l to r): John & Adrienne Boothby; George Mitchell; Derby in New Orleans; Derby Ladies & their Hats
Photos: (l to r): New Members – Frank Dawson, Dan Nation, Sheryl Moran, Donald Clausing, Scott Delano with Cadre; Buddy & Trish Hagner
Lake Tahoe
The weather gremlins once again showed their nasty side creating havoc just in time for both of our spring events. Partnering with Chancellery for the annual Crab Feed in March, a typical winter storm kept most of the Lake Tahoe Chapter members from travels westbound. But, as we’re certain you will see from the Chancellery article, the event was enormously successful and will certainly continue as an annual event.
The Marriage of Food and Wine Extravaganza held at the home of Master Commander Ernie Grossman met a similar fate. Chef Billy McCullough of Dragonfly fame had prepared such a unique and delectable menu that the event was quickly filled to capacity. Then the storm hit with a ferocity seldom experienced. Just hours before assembling, the roads became unmanageable with Highway I-80 closed in both directions between Sacramento and Reno. Additionally, the roads (267 and 89) between Truckee and Lake Tahoe became impassable. Of the three dozen members expected, some fifteen bravely made it through. And those fifteen reveled in the culinary artistry that ensued!
Welcomes Everyone!
Join us to enjoy wine, learn more about the people, places and stories that make it special and experience all of that with others who share the same passion! Travel opportunities within the United States and to some of the most wonderful places internationally are just a small part of the benefits of being a member!
Chapters are located across the United States. If there isn’t one close to you,
Start a New Chapter!
For more information about KOV, click the QR code below or visit www.KOV.org
To apply for membership, visit the MEMBERSHIP & BENEFITS tab.
Rooftop Celebration! Wines Enjoyed!
Story by Forrest Preece, Master Scribe
Photos by W. Robert Jones
On January 17, the Knights and Gentle Ladies of the Austin KOV chapter had a highly enjoyable time in a high-rise setting. Thanks to the thoughtfulness and generosity of Knight and Gentle Lady John and Marcy Melanson, residents in the luxury-class Fifth & West Tower where the party was held, the assembled guests experienced stunning views of downtown Austin in a posh setting. The fine food prepared by Austin Catering was delicious and Cellar Master Chris Hightower pulled some top-rated wines for the partygoers’ pleasure.
It was a chilly night outside, but indoors, the camaraderie was warm and lively. Conversations were animated and the fine food and wine added to the atmosphere. Midway through the night, Master Commander Randy Groves made some welcoming remarks and Maître de Partis Deborah Davis Groves announced plans for future events. As the night went on, talk turned to the success of the University of Texas football team, which went to the College Football Playoff Semi-Finals for the first time in many years. Politics and travel plans were also hot topics of discussion. Many guests complimented the Groves for their hard work on making the chapter’s events special every time.
ll too soon, it was time to have one last quaff of fine wine before catching rideshares home – or just walking a few blocks to their own downtown residences, as your Master Scribe, his wife, and some other Knights and Gentle Ladies did.
t was a grand night of fine wine, food, and fun— and a perfect way to celebrate he beginning of a New Year!
Champagne Palmer & Co. Brut Reserve NV
92 - JamesSuckling
Marcel et Blanche FèvreFèvre Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent 2020
93 - Allen Meadows
Andre Brunel Chateauneuf du Pape Les Cailloux 2019 95- Robert Parker
Grgich Hills Cab 2018
93 - James Suckling
Photos: (l to r, from top) Anna Marie Speer, Sidney and John Jones, Elena Goyanes; Christopher Burnett, Gary & Alyson Baum, Robyn Burnett; Jan Burrow, Susan Auler, Rose Betty and Allan Williams; Buffet line; Rick & Clare Lotspeich; Lynnda Carter Mullen and Ron Mullen; Vicki & Larry Jacobs; Kelley & Travis Lightfoot; Randy Groves & Deborah Davis Groves welcomed Knights and Gentle Ladies; Skip & Biddie Porter; Elena Goyanes & Jo Green
AUSTIN CHAPTER HOSTS
24th Annual Enthronement Dinner
Story by Forrest Preece, Master Scribe
Photos by Charles Quinn Photography
On May 9, the Austin Chapter convened for its annual Grand Assemblage. This year the Cadre decided to move the venue for the event to the Draylen Mason Studio in the recently constructed KMFA 89.5 Building, just east of Austin’s main downtown district. This sumptuous, modern space with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, plus a well-equipped catering kitchen, proved to be perfect for the festivities and meal.
After the guests gathered for chats and Champagne in the foyer, they filed into the studio for seating, and then the Grand Processional for the Cadre began. This year, our chapter initiated 12 new members into the chapter’s ranks.
The ambiance was enhanced by the tickling of the ivories by well-known local jazz pianist Ryan Davis. He played King Arthur’s theme from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” as the Cadre filed in for the ceremonies and delighted the crowd with selections from The Great American Songbook during the rest of the evening.
An excellent meal followed and, as wine from the chapter’s cellar was served, conversations became quite lively. Members discussed plans for the summer, ups and downs in the local economy, which new restaurants around Austin are deserving of gourmands’ attention, and other topics. One advantage of having the Assemblage in this private event space was that members were free to bring in first-rate wine selections from their own collections, which were generously opened and shared. Our glasses were raised in a special toast in memory of Knight Steve Davis and Supreme Knight Ed Auler who will be dearly missed.
All too soon, desserts were finished, goodbyes were exchanged, and it was time to leave. As the attendees filed out into a drizzly evening, spirits were still warm from good food, great wine, and close fellowship. “Per Vitem, Ad Vitam!” was the spirited cry of the night!
Photos: (l to r, from top) these were labeled wrong in the email, please put them in the right order... from top, l to r, and I’ll put them here. :)
Randy Groves; Deborah Davis Groves; Marci & Louis Henna, Lynnda Carter Mullen and Ron Mullen; Sidney Jones & Anna Marie Speir; Kelley & Travis Lightfoot; Master Commander Randy Groves inducts Al & Mary Ann Golden; Paula Roever, Fred Eppright, Jo Carol Snowden, John Robinson, Sharon Schweitzer Robinson, Jerry Gatlin; Gerald Stone, Sean
Curry, Cindy Stone
It was a lovely evening when our knights and gentle ladies gathered on February 12 for a ValenWine Dinner at Del Vista Restaurant. With chandeliers overhead and rose petals scattered about the table, laughter was shared as well as a wonderful menu and fine wines. We started with Apaltagua Rosé Camenere (Chile) with beautiful plates of bruschetta which was followed by Cade Sauvignon Blanc (Napa) and a salad of mixed greens, mozzarella, strawberries and candied pecans. Guests had the opportunity to select their entrée from seven offerings that ranged from pasta to chicken, seafood, pork and game served with Hands of Time Red Blend by Stags Leap (Napa). A delicious list of desserts was offered as well and served with Nicolas Feuillatte Reserve Brut Champagne (France).
Sometimes you are just presented with great opportunities and the best action is to seize that opportunity! And so, on March 12, we did with a Thirsty Thursday at Vine Memorial, a new area wine bar. Guests were free to go through the evening’s tastings at a pre-set price that included a beautiful array of charcuterie or select a special bottle from the many offerings which many choose to do and shared with others in attendance. With a nice selection of appetizers and sandwiches, it was a delightful and casual gathering.
Our annual Assemblage Gala Weekend was April 5 – 7 and our featured wines were from Mounts Winery in Sonoma. We kicked the weekend off with a potluck dinner at the Vintage Select Wines warehouse with 43 in attendance. What a delicious assortment of fine foods we had with the Mounts wines which were displayed on the “forklift” table in this warehouse. The wines included 2018 “Verah”
Rhone Style
all estate wines from Dry Creek Valley. David and Lana Mounts circulated among the guests and we were pleased to be able to share that Lana had joined KOV recently becoming a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter and that Mounts Winery had joined our Friends of KOV wine program!
On Saturday, our festivities continued with our Enthronement Dinner which is a huge celebration each year. Our Assemblage committee works hard to plan for this special night to recognize our newest members while also planning a silent auction to raise scholarship money for the University of Houston’s Conrad Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership. We are always excited to have students from the university at the event bringing awareness of this effort and assistance in its success. Our enthronement ceremony welcomed Knights Beth Cardono, Jeff McCarty, Gena and John Castilla and Gentle Lady Alexis McCarty. Warmly received, but unable to attend our ceremony were Gentle Lady Jaye Keepers and Knight Jerry Keepers who will be formally knighted at the first opportunity. A surprise during the ceremony was the enthronement of Master Knight Lana Mounts. San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Commander Pat Pingitore traveled
Photos: (from top down, left to right) ValenWine Dinner (2); Leah Auricchio, Buddy Hagner, Theresa Bergen, Jim Curtice, Ron Bergen; Jim & Lulu Curtice, Heidi & Tom Feeney; Mike Lawch, Jennifer Harvey, Michelle Wise, Amy Lawch; Group Picture from Enthronement
White, 2019 “Verah” Rhone Style Red, 2019 Malbec and 2019 Cabernet Franc …
With music for the ceremony, dinner and dancing by our favorite band, Checkered Past, Royal Sonesta Chef Esteban Carvajal designed a very special dinner. Beginning with oysters Rockefeller and pan seared scallops on English pea risotto with a beautiful 2021 Mounts “Verah” Rhone Style White followed by a delicious egg soufflé in a gruyere cup with a 2021 Grenache Estate, we enjoyed every morsel. Our entrée was filet mignon and grilled shrimp, truffle mashed potatoes, and grilled asparagus paired with 2021 Mounts “Lunacy & Nonsense”, a Tempranillo blend. Alternating desserts were served around the table and lots of trades were negotiated for the white chocolate mousse and dark chocolate ganache or the chocolate mousse pyramid with an edible silver leaf. Wow!
Our 2025 event is on the calendar for January 31 – February 2 again at the Royal Sonesta and Checkered Past is booked.
Friends, we encourage you to join us for the fun!
Photos: (from top down, left to right) Pat Pingitore & Lee Slataper; Supporting the UH/Hilton College with Dean Dennis Reynolds; Delicious!; The Party; David & Lana Mounts share their wines
from Napa Valley to bestow the honor as Lana had been unable to attend the ceremony held in February at the Napa Valley Country Club.
Houston
Taking a page from other chapters, we hosted our first Derby Day Party on May 4. It was a blast! Everyone was excited to come together on a Saturday afternoon and we saw gorgeous hats on the ladies and gentlemen! Graciously hosted by Laurie Phillips at her home, a group of our members prepared traditional Kentucky Derby foods to share. From pimento cheese to hot brown sandwiches to special cookies and more, it was over the top! And, of course, we had wine! In fact, it was wine perfect for the occasion … from Derby Winery in Paso Robles! They were also kind enough to send a package of logo Derby Winery gifts which were distributed to our hat and derby winners.
We enjoyed 2022 Derby Pinot Gris, 2020 Chardonnay and 2021 Pinot Noir all from San Luis Obispo and 2020 “Implico” Red Blend and 2018 “Maneater” Red Blend from Paso Robles. Kudos also go to Vice Commander Jim Curtice for his delicious Mint Julips. Many were going to be polite and give this strong beverage a taste, but his special simple syrup with mint made these so delicious, he was kept very busy all afternoon! Knight Paul Chan did a masterful job of taking the wagers on the race and gave all attendees tickets to vote on the best hats for the occasion. As you will see from the pictures, choosing the best was no easy task! The voting was close, but first place for the ladies went to Alexis McCarty and second place to Terry Estes. Lawrence Estes took first place for the gentlemen and Jim Curtice, second place. Special thanks also to Mandy Chan for her efforts along with Paul for the organization of all the wagering with odds and horse and jockey information. It was impressive!
The verdict was in before the afternoon was over … this event will be repeated! Start getting those hats ready!
Photos: (from top, left to right) Mint Juleps by Jim Curtice with Cheryl & Steve Kenny; Derby Cookies by Ginger Covington; the Derby Women; the Derby Men; Terry & Lawrence Estes; The Race is On!; Derby on the Porch with Alexis & Jeff McCarty, Kimery McKaskle, Debra Price, Michelle Wise
By Pat Pingitore
Our first event of 2024 was on February 17 when the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter gathered at the Napa Valley Country Club for our Assemblage to induct four new Knights and a Master Knight in the presence of Grand Commander Buddy Hagner and the Chapter Cadre and assembled members.
Scott Briggs, Tony Carr, Gary Ettinger and Edric Carter (who traveled all the way from Portland, Oregon!) were introduced, suitably tested, and inducted as Knights, followed by David Franke, the CEO of Chappellet Winery, as a Master Knight.
There was also a plan to bestow the FICB’s Diploma of Honor to KOV’s Supreme Knight Warren Winiarski, but his health made it impossible for him to attend. (Sadly, Warren passed away just four months later).
There were many guests in attendance, including Grand Commander Buddy Hagner and Trish Hagner, Chancellery’s Commander Chik and Polly Brenneman, and Cordell and Maja Berge from Portland and the Oregon Wine Brotherhood. It is always a treat to have “out of towners” for our great celebration and appreciate the effort and expense it takes to travel for such an event.
After the ceremony we were treated to a French Bistro style menu prepared by Chef Brandon Hughes and accompanied by the excellent wines of Chappellet Winery, which is recognized as one of the great original Napa Valley wineries, and one of the few which remains family owned. It was founded in 1967.
A reception with delightful passed hors d’oeuvres was followed by a sit down Boeuf Bourguignon dinner, all paired expertly by Chef Brandon, David Franke, and the Club’s Food & Beverage manager, Jose Tobar.
As has been our recent custom, the Primitivo Latin Rhythms band, led by William Russell, himself a Lodi Chapter member, entertained and had the majority of us up and dancing during and after dinner.
A truly wonderful and memorable evening. By the way, Chappellet is one of our of KOV wineries offering wines at Club member discounts. Check it out at www. kov.org under Membership and Benefits!
San Franscisco
Pat Pingitore & David Franke
San Franscisco
Keeping to the “family-owned theme”, April 21st found our Chapter making the trek over to Mounts Family Winery in Dry Creek Valley on a beautiful, sunny afternoon to enjoy a delicious barbeque lunch while sipping a variety of expertly crafted, estate grown wines including Rhône Style white and red blends, Grenache, Old Vine Zinfandel, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Sirah - very unique for NorCal.
David Mounts is the 4th generation member of his family contributing to over 70 years of farming experience on their 140-acre estate. David and Lana Mounts started their own label some 20 years ago and we were fortunate to be able to sample many of them as we thoroughly enjoyed great southern style barbeque provided by Sweet T’s of Healdsburg.
This winery was “discovered” for us by our Vice Commander Dick Katz during a Sonoma wine event; however, as we explored further, we learned that David and Lana are represented in Texas by none other the Hagners and their Vintage Select Wines distributorship. In fact, Mounts Family Winery already knew of Knights of the Vine and had committed to be the featured winery for the Houston Chapter Assemblage in early April! Lana was excited and completed her application to join our chapter, but then had a conflict and was unable to attend our February Assemblage, so I travelled to Houston to induct her there! “Have Sword Will Travel” - Wyatt Earp style! Got so used to it, that I also traveled to Sacramento where our National Meeting was being held and during the Gala Dinner celebrating the 60th Anniversary of KOV and the Chancellery Chapter’s enthronement of new members, Commander Chik Brenneman allowed me to travel to induct Paul Villierme who had a conflict with our February event as well.
Photos: (from top, left to right) Maja Berge, Joanne Dickenson DePuy, Trish Hagner; Chik Brenneman, Buddy Hagner, Pat Pingitore; Lana Mounts
Not to belabor the point, but Mounts Family Winery is also in our Friends of KOV program and is offering all KOV members great discounts on their wines!
Do take advantage of their generosity and that of others listed on our website and in this Arbor edition!
Giselle McKellar
March 12, 1937 – September 15, 2024
It is with sadness that we share the news of the passing of one of our longest standing and loyal members, Giselle McKellar. She became a member of the San Francisco Chapter in 1990 when she was inducted by Commander Perry.
She is known to many outside of the area for her fondness of traveling to many of our international events. Her flamboyant and elegant style, bright spirit, radiant smile and infectious laughter will never be forgotten. Many of us remember when she drove her vintage gold Royce Royce to the 2016 FICB Congress in Napa! What an entrance! Pictures around her home with notables like Peter Lawford and JFK make us wish we had known her sooner or listened better.
She will most certainly be missed!
Tennessee
By Beth Webb
The Tennessee Chapter gathered at Windyke Country Club in late March for our annual Feast of St. Vincent Assemblage. We were honored to have Grand Commander Buddy and Executive Director Trish Hagner as our guests for the weekend. It was an exciting evening as we inducted our largest group since 2010! In a beautiful setting overlooking the golf course, we welcomed Elaine Fetzer and George Gill, Denise and Ken Stewart, and Cynthia and Charles Thompson to the Knights of the Vine. The many talents and wine knowledge of these new knights will enrich our Tennessee chapter. After a spirited induction ceremony, the delicious enthronement feast included Southern favorites of crab and corn chowder, seared sablefish, lamb noisettes and peanut butter chocolate pie. Karen Massey of Delta Wholesale Liquors paired the excellent wines for dinner and gave a brief commentary before each course. A favorite wine of the evening was High on the Hog Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles. We all agreed it would be great paired with our Memphis BBQ—from hogs, of course!
The first of May we were saddened by the death of Walter Elkins, husband of Knight Holly Elkins. Walter and Holly have been active in our chapter for many years, hosting many events at their beautiful home which we called our “party house.” Walter was the consummate host, an interesting and entertaining conversationalist and a great friend. He will be sorely missed.
In memory of... Walter Elkins
John Barrios, Judy Fink, Sandy Barrios, Mike Fink & Trish Hagner
May 4, Kentucky Derby Day, was the date of our third annual Run for the Rosés Derby Party. Commander Bob and Knight Gail Bennett once again hosted our group in their beautiful outdoor setting. Bourbon cheese dip, Kentucky hot browns, bourbon balls and bourbon chocolate chip pie were a perfect salute to the Derby’s home state! The hats were beautiful, the betting table was open and mint juleps (and wine, of course) were flowing as everyone pondered bets on their favorite horses. The three-way photo finish was especially exciting with Mystik Dan declared the winner by the narrowest of margins. The big winner was Gayle Bennett who explained that her betting strategy was simple, “right before the race, I just put money on every horse without a bet!”. We’re not sure of the science behind that, but it proved to be a very good strategy! The winnings were donated in memory of our friend Walter Elkins to his favorite charity. The Tennessee Chapter looks forward to some great events planned for 2025.
Robert Meyers, Elaine Fetzer, George Gill, Ann Lipe Charles & Cynthia Thompson
Denise and Ken Stewart pondering their bets with “bookie” Bob Bennett
Sandy & John Barrios, Cy Johnson, Nan Gallina & Sheila Bentley
Debbie Meyers, Peggy Larkin, Richard Sperry
Monterey
By Tom McGurn, Monterey Chapter Cadre
The Monterey Chapter celebrated the start of this year’s social calendar by inducting 13 new members at The Grand Assemblage on March 2 at The Club at Pasadera in Monterey.
The inductees were Rick Young, Marie Schmitt, John Dodsworth, Stewart Fuller, Lynne Boyd, Jeff Meacham, Bruce Fairbanks, Geoff Arnold, David Nader, Lori Nadar, Wendi Kirby, H. Brian Hoppe and Carol Mackinlay. Tony Singer was also elevated to the Cadre. The chapter was honored to have Grand Commander Buddy Hagner as a guest.
Pasadera’s chef Colin Moody delighted the gathering with a duo of Truffled Prawn and Scallop Wellington along with Terre et Beef Bourguignon and Lobster Tail Thermidor. The first course was complemented with a 2022 Taylor Chardonnay while newly inducted member Jeff Meacham supplied his 2021 Santa Lucia Highlands De Tierra Pinot with the main course.
The Chapter’s Friday Knight Flights gatherings continued April 12 at LadySomms, a wine school and tasting salon in Carmel’s Barnyard center. Co-founders Roxanne Langer and Tamara Carver asked the question on their website “ready to uncork something magical?” They offer tastings of wines from around the world
by the flight, glass, and bottle. They also teach classes leading to WSET Somm certification.
With views stretching to the Pacific, the Chapter gathered at Cadre member Tony Singer’s home in Carmel Valley on May 11 for a tasting of RN Estate wines. RN’s hilltop estate is situated in a notch on the west ridge of the Estrella River Valley near Paso Robles. RN specializes in estate-grown red Bordeaux vari etals and Pinot Noir sourced from highly acclaimed vineyards in Santa Rita Hills. Roger Nicolas, a native of Brittany and former restaurateur, poured his wines for the party. He explained that his passion is to produce wine with balance, finesse, and elegance.
Chef Jerome Veil created the appetizers for the afternoon event. They were Duck 3 Ways - confit, smoked and Croustillant; Lamb Lollipop with a cherry sauce; Ossau-Iraty with 18-month Beemster Wild Boar Salami; Venison Pate; and seared Prime New York Steak with sauce aux Morellis. The pairings were a 2021 RN Estate Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard, a 2019 RN Estate Rive Droite, a 2019 RN Estate Harmonie des Cepages and a 2019 RN Estate Cuvee des Trois Cepages.
Assemblage
Supreme Knight Jack Galante & Grand Commander Buddy Hagner
For many years Monterey has been one of the California chapters to fund a Knights of the Vine scholarship at the University of California Davis. This year it was expanded to the new hospitality program at Monterey Peninsula Community College. The first scholarships were named in memory of two recently decreased members of the chapter. In his toast, Master Commander Richard Kehoe noted that “Steve Passagno and Ernie Scalberg will be remembered as those who contributed to the local wine community, and we give back in their memory.” Master Commander Kehoe went on to recognize Ernie’s wife Candy who attended the event and talked about how instrumental Ernie was in partnering the KOV scholarship program with the sommelier program at Monterey Peninsula College.
Are You a Wine Glass Snob?
by Claire “Sudsy” Torbeck, DipWSET and Certified Sommelier
When we moved to the Bay Area, I took a few cooking classes and the chef indulged our group, bringing in a Riedel representative to do a comparative wine glass tasting. I was very skeptical that a glass could make any difference; however, the bonus of attending the seminar was it included 4 Riedel Vinum glasses. I was hooked!
The basic premise is that you take four glasses (a Bordeaux, Pinot Noir, an Oaked Chardonnay, and a Sauvignon Blanc) and you do a ‘sniff and taste test’ of each of the varietal wines one at a time. Beginning with the wine in the correct varietal glass, you subsequently pour it into the other glasses and tasting again. The surprise is that indeed it does taste different in the various glasses with the aromatics and flavors shown best when the wine is served in the recommended glass. At that point, I officially rose to the rank of ‘snob.’ Lucky for me, I was able to attend several of these ‘tastings’ and was always offered a greatly reduced price to purchase additional four glass sets. And so, my collection began!
According to the Riedel website, ‘Different wine varieties have different characteristics and flavor profiles. The size and shape of whatever vessel you use – whether that’s a Riedel glass or plastic cup - will alter the way your senses perceive the wine.’ Riedel was the original pioneer in wine glass design, but other players have since entered the marketplace. As a result of the general acceptance that certain shaped stemware is appropriate for specific varietals, there is now a trend for a universal wine glass – one glass to be used for any type of wine. This idea mirrors the testing of candidates for the Master of Wine and WSET Diploma programs where all types of wines blind tasted are generally poured into Riedel Vinum Riesling stemware. Obviously, a white wine glass!
There has been much written about which stemware is the best. I have added links to articles written by other writers and scientists at the end of this article for you to peruse at your leisure. However, the following personal details helped me to decide what was best for me when shopping for stemware.
1. Appearance:
The glass had to have a stem as I did not want to hold the glass by the bowl, warming the wine, or leaving fingerprints or smudges that I would have to look through.
The stem had to be tall enough that the glass looked elegant on the table and was easy to grasp as I reached over my dinner plate and utensils. While taller is better, in my opinion, it had to be balanced with a base that was not easy to dump when bumped.
The stem and size of the bowl of the glass had to look and feel balanced. The rim had to be relatively thin, not like a Libby wine glass or a Mason jar! More of a thin, cut edge rather than a rolled edge.
The glass or crystal had to be clear with no noticeable imperfections and thin enough to not distort the color of the liquid inside. Additionally, every wine glass has a ‘feel’ in your hand and you must find your nirvana. Finally, it had to look elegant!
2. Cost and quantity:
How many stems are you purchasing and what is your budget? For me, I was introduced to the Riedel Vinum Series and was able to purchase these at a very low price. Therefore, I am fortunate to have Bordeaux, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Champagne glasses for 14 which I use for dinner parties. You can generally find these for around $40 a stem.
For more casual enjoyment, I use Spiegelau Salute Bordeaux stemware which is about ¾ of an inch taller than the Riedel but has the same, overall shape, for $10 a glass on Amazon. They are a bargain in price, look great and have a thin rim (the brand is also owned by Riedel).
I have tried several of the ‘universal’ style stems (Zalto, Jancis Robinson, etc.) and have recently purchased a couple of the Josephine No. 2 Universal stems created by Kurt Josef Zalto. Priced at $80 - $95 each, these are not for the faint of heart. I’m intrigued by how thin and lightweight they are but rather than purchasing for entertaining, I selected these for personal tasting. Or, shall we say, I simply got sucked in! However, I do like the aromatics of the wine from this glass and, curiously enough, Riedel now makes a stem that looks similar called Wine Wings!
3. Ease of Cleaning:
May I suggest that first you remove your rings! Should they make contact with the glass, which is likely, you may quickly learn how fragile the glass truly is. Also, while we have broken our share of Riedel glasses that way, our biggest losses have been from twisting the bowl one direction while holding on to the base to dry. That little twist can snap the stem from the bowl in a heartbeat! Once we mastered that, using a thin, microfiber towel to dry and buff the glass is easy as the opening is a reasonable size. A tiny opening would make drying a challenge, so be sure to pay attention to that parameter.
While these features do not consider every detail, it should serve to get you thinking about what you want and how you intend to use and clean them.
A tweet from Wine Folly also suggests that the diameter of the opening of the glass will greatly affect the way wine tastes. ‘A 2½ inch opening makes red wine taste less aggressive with softer tannins and acidity. Less than 2½ inches and red wine will be fresher, spicier with bolder tannins.’ Have fun trying various glasses and enjoy shopping whether it is for a tasting set, a universal glass, or a collection of glassware. I really like the Riedel Vinum, am always pleased when drinking a Bordeaux from my $10 Spiegelau and will enjoy experimenting with the Josephine universal glass. Find what is best for you!
So, as you drink now and through the holidays, here’s to you enjoying your wine in a manner and vessel that suits your style. Hail to all the wine glass snobs out there! Cheers!
The following links are to a couple of articles you might find helpful in your search:
The 9 Best Wine Glasses in Food & Wine Magazine: https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/kitchen/ best-wine-glasses
Examining the Science Behind Wine Glass Shapes from SevenFiftyDaily: https://daily.sevenfifty.com/ examining-the-science-of-wineglass-shapes/
Claire is the Cellar Master for the Knights of the Vine - Lake Tahoe and the Chancellory Chapter - Sacramento, as well as the International Wine & Food Society Lake Tahoe. She develops and delivers educational seminars for fraternal wine organizations, winery staff, clubs, and enthusiasts, purchase wines for clients, and judges at various wine competitions around California.
Ernie Grossman a Salute to Great Leadership
In this issue of The Arbor, we want to recognize and give our thanks to the currently longest serving Master Commander. Ernie Grossman has led the Lake Tahoe Region Chapter of our organization since 2000 and during that time, he has done so with a smile, hard work and great panache! Those of us who have had the great opportunity to really get to know Ernie want to share him with all of you! So now, as Paul Harvey would say, here’s the rest of the story …
Born in Malden, Massachusetts in 1937, Ernest Donald Grossman attended Boston Latin School until his family headed west to Los Angeles in 1949. There he attended Alexander Hamilton High School and went on to UCLA and then to USC Law School. He served in the United States Army as an advisor in the early years of the Vietnam War. After his service, Ernie went on to become the general counsel for Thrifty Drug where he cemented his real estate law career. In 1975, he and his darling Margaret Lewicki would form their own real estate development firm of Grossman/Lewicki & Associates, known simply as “GLA”.
Ernie officially retired from GLA in 2000, but still runs the business with the help of Stephanie Harris, their niece. Before and since retirement, Ernie served on the board of the Lake Tahoe Summer Music Festival for 25 years; many of those years as president and/or CEO. He was also instrumental as a founding board member of the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation. Ernie still serves as an advisor to many boards as he is looked upon as a beacon of his community.
In
the mid-1970s, during the early years of their courtship, Ernie and Margaret would patronize their favorite dining establishment, Saint Estephe’s, in a trendy neighborhood of Los Angeles. When they would order a bottle of wine, the proprietor of the restaurant would colorfully and elaborately describe the wine to them. This began their curiosity and adventure in the wonderful world of wine!
Over the next 50 years, Ernie would transcend into a self-education of wine, viniculture and oenology. By 1989, Ernie and Margaret were approached by the Los Angeles Chapter of the Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine to join their group. Becoming members on February 17, 1990, they realized they were to be exposed to amazing experiences with people who shared their passion for wine and having the opportunity for events and trips all focused on the education and love of wine.
A true Californian, Ernie owned and ran a cattle ranch just east of Paso Robles for 50 years. His time spent in the area also enriched his passion for wine by watching the development of the wine community on the central California coast.
In 1993, they decided to move to their second home in Lake Tahoe (Tahoe City). There they kept meeting lovers of wine and they encouraged these new friends to join KOV, but the small group would have to travel to attend events with
Master Commander Ernie Grossman
the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter. After years of attending events in the Bay Area, the now larger group sought the chance to establish their own chapter.
Ernie, along with Margaret, Thomas Grossman, Larry Axelrod, Larry and Leiba Ingber, Sara Ingber, Ed Candler, Ron Fenolio, Roger McGee and Bud Novack came together and in 2000, the Lake Tahoe Region Chapter was born. The chapter has prospered all through its history with as many as 80 members with Ernie at the helm as Master Commander and Master Lady Margaret Lewicki at his side as Secretary and supported through the years by wonderful cadre members who have seen the chapter flourish and grow.
Over the years, the chapter has hosted many events. From national meetings held each spring to road trips planned for members including some international destinations, Ernie and Margaret established many traditions and through their generosity, the chapter and KOV has benefited. Historically, the Chapter holds a summer
party and chooses a theme that is carried out not only through the food and wine, but also with entertainment arranged through Ernie’s community contacts. Those performances have been quite varied … from opera to symphony with themes that included Brazilian, Argentinian, Italian and even New Orleans Zydeco! And in December, the chapter is known for its Holiday Party. Both the Summer event and the Holiday Party are held at Ernie and Margaret’s home known as “Chateau d’ Ernie & Margaret”. Every December, all members are welcome to a complimentary open house style brunch. Wine, mimosas, sangria and a smorgasbord of culinary treats are served, and guests linger well into the afternoon to socialize with friends in this warm and inviting environment.
With gratitude for all he has done for the Knights of the Vine and for the Lake Tahoe Region Chapter, for his endearing commitment,
hospitality, we raise our glass and toast Ernest “Ernie” Grossman. We can’t wait to return for a visit as you continue to hold the title of Longest Serving Master Commander and enjoy what is sure to be planned in the future. We know it will be epic!
Ernie on the ranch
Ernie with Buddy Hagner
The Grossman Family
Los Angeles
Gary Eberle, Wine & Stories!
by Cathie Sandstrom
During the pandemic, our national association held several virtual wine tastings. It let us gather on Zoom with friends across the country to hear winemakers talk about their process while we sat and sipped the wines. Brilliant!
Those events was so successful that when the national organization once again arranged a virtual tasting with Gary Eberle of Eberle Winery up in Paso Robles, a group of us gathered on February 2, at Vice Commander Janet Hamilton’s home and zoomed in to find Gary seated comfortably in a chair that was surely a recliner, sipping his favorite Eberle wine. (Incidentally, he’s a member of our chapter.) It was like being in his living room with him and the stories he told only heightened the sense of connection. This is something we couldn’t have foreseen as an outcome of the pandemic.
Grande Assemblage 2024
It’s our tradition to open the year with our Grande Assemblage. It heightens our enthusiasm for the coming seasons, and we’re able to share the entire year with our new members. Our 2024 Grande Assemblage was held on February 10th at Oakmont Country Club in Glendale, California. We inducted two new members, Judy Zhu and Henry Wang.
Judy was the only Chinese journalist to interview the President of the International Olympic Committee in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Henry recently retired from establishing and managing the largest candle business in the United States. As he described how much he’s enjoying this new phase of his life, and especially his 7-year-old daughter, she slipped off the chair next to her mother, Judy, and came to take her father’s hand, facing the guests and beaming.
We had been at the Oakmont for several years enjoying Executive Chef Ramponi’s extraordinary talent, in 2023 we inducted him as an honorary member of the LA Chapter on his retirement. 2024’s Assemblage introduced us to the new Executive Chef, Jon Mortimer. Let me just say, “The beat goes on.” And yes, we’ve booked our 2025 Assemblage at Oakmont in February 2025.
Members are still talking about our first course, Lobster Risotto Bisque, Organic Baby Spinach Puree, Asparagus Tips and Asiago served with Domaine de la Meuliere Les Fourneaux ler Cru, Chablis, France 2021.
Our second course, introduced by Artisan “Overnight” Bread Rolls and Butter, was a salad of Bi-color Beets, Champagne Vinaigrette, Wild Baby Arugula, Crystallized Ginger and Macadamia accompanied by Bodegas Torres Pago del Cielo Celeste Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain 2018. Vice Commander Janet Hamilton commented on the salad, “Inspired!”
Our entrée was Windy “N” Ranch Lamb Rack,
Gary Eberle & rapt audience
Roberta Hagopian & Mary Lotz on Eberle tasting
Minted Glace, Cabernet Syrup, Whipped Yukon Gold Potato and Charred Broccolini beautifully paired with Chateau Cantemerle, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux 2015. The entrée was sensational. Windy “N” is family owned, and the lamb was grass-fed.
And to finish, Caramel Flan with Fresh Berry Compote to enjoy with Borgo Scopeto Vinsanto, Chianti Classico 2010.
Oakmont’s Sommelier Sean Von Straatum and his staff selected wines from several countries. Throughout the dinner, each wine was introduced to us with its origin and characteristics, which heightened our appreciation of the experience.
Henry Wang & Judy Zhu are welcomed by the Cadre, Cathie Sandstrom, Commander Jim Hamilton & Vice Commander Janet Hamilton
Suzanne Bangert, Patti Brundige & Guest
Cathie Sandstrom & Thom Cooney Crawford
Henry Wang, Mike & Marcia Marino
John Hamilton, Jr., Lucy Zheng & Judy Zhu enjoy the Sommelier’s presentation
Los Angeles
An Evening with Texas Wines and a Southern California Sunset
by Cathie Sandstrom
You read that right. Wines of Texas was the inspiration for our next event. Our intrepid Vice Commander Janet Hamilton was introduced to Texas wines when she visited our KOV friends in Austin at the National Meeting in 2023, and she decided to share these fine Texas wines with our chapter. You might remember the last issue of The Arbor included a feature story on the KOV supreme knights and Texas wine pioneers, Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo. When they started Messina Hof Winery, there were two wineries in Texas. Now there are over 900.
On June 15th, about twenty-five Knights in Western attire gathered at the lakeside home of Commander Jim Hamilton on the island in Westlake Village for an evening on the deck with music by guitarist David Patt. You’re wondering what would accompany these wines? Dr. Hogly Wogly’s Tyler Texas BBQ, of course!
It turns out that Dr. Hogly Wogly, also known as Johnny Greene, had been a former delivery person for Piggly Wiggly supermarkets in Texas. In 1969 he decided to build his own business and after graduating with a degree in pharmacology, he started Dr. Hogly Wogly Tyler Texas BBQ. We enjoyed his Brisket of Beef, Chicken, Pulled Pork, Potato Salad, and Cole Slaw with Vice Commander Janet Hamilton’s Bourbon Baked beans. Oh my!
Knights were welcomed with Fall Creek Vineyard Lescalo Rosé. With only 9% alcohol, it provided a light and delightful starter for our event. Next up were two Chardonnays from Messina Hof Winery; Private Reserve (oaked) and their Unoaked Chardonnay. Their heritage Reserve Bonarrigo Family wine was great with smoked meats.
Our Knights tasted and selected from Messina Hof’s GSM grenache, and Mouvedre Syrah, both great with savory meats with a medium body and a blended synergy of rich flavors.
Last, we served Messina Hof Papa Paulo Port 2018 with chocolate. Need I say more?
You’d want a sunset with all of that! And that’s exactly what we enjoyed at Commander Jim Hamilton’s home. It was a spectacular evening all around!
Karen Vales & Jim Hamilton
Thom Cooney Crawford & Beverly Scott
Janet Hamilton & Patti Brundige
The annual KOV Crab Feed was co-hosted this year by the Chancellery and Lake Tahoe chapters at the Roseville Sierra Pines Community Center. From mid-February to March 1st, Crabmaster Chuck Kelley searches the markets to source the best, freshest, most succulent crab. On March 1, the morning of the event, Chuck secured the crabs and delivered them to Master Commander Chik Brenneman’s winery, where Chuck, Steve Siegel and Steve Hunter and a Baker Family Wine staff volunteer, donned their gloves and aprons and prepared the crab for the 56 crab lovers who were dining that evening. Everyone brought an appetizer, bread, salad or dessert, and Polly Brenneman again furnished her now-famous pasta. As has happened in past years, severe weather prevented several of our Truckee/Reno area members from joining us. This event is such a tradition that we have already booked our location in Roseville as the site of our Crab Feed for March 1, 2025. Mark your calendars!
60th Anniversary Celebration!
As delegates and their partners began to arrive on April 11, they were greeted with a glass of wine at Baker Family Wines, where they were welcomed by many Sacramento area chapter members. Our chapter was proud to be hosting the 2024 KOV Annual Meeting and Delegates Gathering which happens to also be our 60th anniversary and the “official” events began on Friday morning, April 12 with the Delegates Meeting. Delegates gathered for their business meeting at the Rio
City Cafe in historic Old Sacramento; meanwhile, partners of the delegates were invited to enjoy a complimentary light brunch just a few blocks away at the home of Knight Bunnie Day. Guests learned about how Bunnie thrives and lives an enchanted life perched high above the thousands of tourists who visit this little piece of California gold rush history. Once the meeting concluded, delegates and visitors met up at the Rio City Cafe for lunch alongside the Sacramento River.
L to R: Chik and Polly Brenneman; Crabmaster Chuck Kelley, Steve Siegel and Steve Hunter prepping crab
The Cadre
Chancellery
The evening was a big night celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Knights of the Vine at an elegant dinner at the Sutter Club adjacent to the state capitol in Sacramento. Knights Polly Brenneman and Susann Hadler amassed a photo display of the last 60 years! It was truly amazing to see photos and press releases of some of the past movers and shakers of KOV including the likes of Robert Mondavi, Warren Winiarski (one of the winners of the judgment of Paris), and Andre Tchelistcheff. Tchelistcheff was the most influential winemaker in post-prohibition America! He put the United States on the world winemaking map for Mondavi, Winiarski, Sebastiani, Martini…Oh the list can go on and on! This was all due to a vision by Norman Gates, the founder of KOV in North America who was also the founder of our Chancellery Chapter.
The gala event also featured the enthronement of several new members into the Chancellery, Monterey and San Francisco Bay Area chapters. San Francisco Bay Area Master Commander Pat Pingitore raised the shimmering sword to dub Paul Villierme by touching both shoulders in recognition of his rank as Knight. Master Commander Chik Brenneman then took over by inducting Sonya and Bill Wyland, and Diana Woodward to the Chancellery Chapter in the same manner. Rich Kehoe of the Monterey Peninsula Chapter was unable to attend so Chik accepted the honor of inducting Cynthia Stormer to the Order on his behalf!
A Taste of the 45th Parallel
May brought us another great event, hosted by Bill and Paulette Schloetter at their home in Lincoln where we celebrated the wines of the 45th parallel which is home to some of the most highly-regarded wines of the world. This clever theme was the brainchild of hostess Paulette, whose son is in the wine business in the Willamette Valley area of Oregon. Members brought an array of wines from the 45th parallel, both north and south, to include wines from Europe (Burgundy region of France), New Zealand (Central Ortego), the United States (Oregon) and South America (Mendoza region of Argentina). Each couple brought an appetizer or dessert to accompany their wine. So that we could not only fully enjoy, but also gain some knowledge about this usual event, everyone took turns standing up and describing their wine and the region it came from, and where they sourced it. Sudsy Torbeck, Cellarmaster for both the Lake Tahoe and Chancellery chapters, provided commentary on what makes these regions so interesting, and how they widely differ. The 36 people who joined the party had a fun afternoon of sharing wine, food and stories from their current travels. It was a great time.
Parade of the Green Robes led by Trish Hagner
Bill & Paulette Schloetter
Ernie Grossman, Jim & Glenys Keye
Steve Siegel & Mary Kuehne
Summer BBQ
In early June, getting ahead of the summer vacation season and the heat of the Sacramento Valley, we teamed up with the Lake Tahoe Chapter for a BBQ in Auburn. Where? That was an easy decision! The location was Spyglass Court! We have always boasted that the ‘Spyglass Gang’ has one of the highest concentrations of KOV members within a few houses of each other! On this summer evening they were joined by a thirsty bunch of other KOVers for an evening hosted by members Dale and Mary Kuehne and Pat and Jim Leidigh. It was a progressive dinner starting with appetizers at Dale and Mary’s so Dale could attend to the smoker. Oh, and there was an informal Bocce game on the lower part of the property. A bit of a steep walk, but our KOV competitors braved it! There was plenty of wine, also known as ‘aiming fluid’, that either made our players better or they placed their poor performance on the ‘lumps and bumps’ of the court! Dale blamed it on the local wildlife! We then progressed across the street to Jim and Pat’s where we sat down to more wine and the smoked ribs, tri-tip, salads and beans that
On the Patio
Chik and Polly Brenneman and Sonya Wyland Bocce Game
FICB Update International Emissary Report
By International Emissary Pat Pingitore
What follows is a detailed summary of information recently sent by FICB President Alan Bryden. This report outlines information on upcoming international events. More details will be provided as they become available. We are sure you will want to put at least some of these dates on your calendar and join some of our members who are certain to be there for the excitement! Guests for these international events are permitted.
Communique from FICB President
• The 2024 FICB General assembly on 27 January was a great success. A summary of the proceedings is online on our website, along with the draft minutes, which will be formally approved at our 2025 General assembly. www.winebrotherhoods.org
• The 2nd FICB International Wine Tasting Challenge was successfully held in Hungary in May 2024, with a fine program put on by the Order of the Ladies of Pannonia. The 25 excellent wines that were served and blind-tasted during the meals were donated by the producers who had been approached by our members, and we thanked them warmly, through a personal letter that I sent to each of them. The producers of the 3 preferred wines (red, rosé, white) received their certificates and expressed their great pride in this distinction. Our website gives a detailed account of this wonderful event.
• On Saturday 12 October, 2024, the 70th anniversary of the Conseil des Echansons de France, one of the founding wine brotherhoods of FICB, will be celebrated in the Eglise Sainte-Odile in Paris. The President-Chancellor of this brotherhood, Claude Josse, who is also Honorary President of the FICB, is extending an invitation to all our members to take part in this celebration. The program and registration form for the event are posted on our website.
• Our 2025 General assembly will take place on Saturday 8 February, 2025 in Paris and we hope to see many of you there. It will be followed by a lunch at the recently renovated Musée du Vin de Paris and a dinner in a typical Parisian restaurant. A notice and agenda will be sent to you at the beginning of November. We remind you that the date has been set to enable subsequent attendance at the VINEXPO 2025 trade fair, which starts on 10 February: this is a not-to-be-missed event for wine professionals from all over the world, which could encourage your members who are interested to combine these two events.
• The 3rd “FICB sponsored wine discovery tour” will take place from 22 to 26 May 2025 in the Langhe-Roero region of Piedmont in Italy, organized by the Order of the Knights of the Truffle and Wines of Alba. Registration is open and will close at the end of this year (www.winebrotherhoods.org) and over 20 participants have already signed up. The event is expected to attract around fifty participants. [This is a great itinerary and a terrific opportunity and we would encourage you to consider this.]
• The brotherhoods of the Ile-de-France region (around Paris), members of FICB through their coordinating committee COCORICO, are organizing an exceptional event on Saturday September 13, 2025 to mark the reopening of Notre-Dame-de Paris, the famous Cathedral of Paris: a special mass for the brotherhoods will be held in this superb building, renovated after the fire in 2019 which moved the whole world. FICB members are cordially invited by COCORICO to take part, with a special program for the brotherhoods on 13 and 14 September 2025 , which we will send you at the end of October 2024 and which will also be posted on our website. This could be an exceptional opportunity for you and your members to visit Paris and the surrounding region in a “brotherhood” spirit.
• U PDATE: The 53rd FICB International Congress, organized by the Illustrious Order of the Knights of Medusa to be held in 2026 in the Provence-Côte d’Azur region of France, has regrettably been cancelled. Their offer to host was withdrawn and the FICB is currently considering other locations for the next FICB Congress. Details will be shared as soon as they are available.
• Several “ FICB Diplomas of Honor” have been or will be presented at special events this year, and we will report on them on our website. We would like to remind you of this distinction, which can be awarded to an internationally recognized figure in the world of wine who supports our brotherhoods: if you have an eminent figure in your country who you feel deserves this distinction, please consider submitting his or her candidacy to us.
# # #
FICB Update
As you can see there is a lot going on and much to keep up with. As your KOV International Emissary, I will be attending the FICB Executive Committee meeting which will be held remotely on Monday, September 30 to review current activities and prepare for the 2025 General Assembly.
I’ll keep you updated if there are any changes as you begin to make your international travel plans.
Lodi
2024 has found much of the wine world in turmoil, and that has certainly affected California and most definitely Lodi. Many vineyards that did not get harvested in 2023 have either been left untended or have been ripped out to make way for a different crop. While we hope that this is just a temporary downturn, it is also an opportunity for the industry to reinvent itself by exploring different varietals and wine styles to attract new customers. Lodi is certainly at the forefront of this effort with multiple plantings and producers of lesser known varietals, such as Picpoul, Fiano, Kerner and Dornfelder, to name just a few. And, of course, the Lodi Chapter has been doing all it can to support the industry by holding multiple events and consuming as much wine as possible! And on that note……
Chapter Annual Meeting
February is always our kick-off month for events, starting with the official Chapter Annual Meeting at the home of Master Commander Emeritus Ken Levy and Knight Sandy Levy. This event always attracts a good-sized crowd, but the attraction is not the meeting with its usual administrivia of confirming Board/Cadre members and listening to the not exactly spellbinding report from the Commander. No, the attraction of course is the wine and food – as has become our tradition, this event was a casual “bring an appetizer and a bottle of wine to share” AKA “cellar reduction” event. Presented for the evening’s enjoyment found all manner of food options and copious amounts of wine! And it was a wonderful Lodi “winter” evening, with members lounging outside enjoying the mild temperature.
Grand Assemblage
March was our Grand Assemblage at Parkview Terrace, with the Cadre and Assemblage crew converting the space into a first-rate dining/party room. Assemblage co-chairs Mike Johnston and Carole Appling did an outstanding job selecting the menu and creating the pairings for each course:
• 2020 Wilson Family Winery Pinot Noir and 2023 Heaven’s Gate Pinot Noir Blanc with assorted appetizers
• 2022 Oak Farm Fiano with a fabulous salad of butter lettuce, arugula, pear, blue cheese, pomegranate and pecans.
• 2022 LVVR Sparkling Albariño with a sorbet intermezzo
• 2022 Wilson Family Winery Sauvignon Blanc with sea scallops and a mushroom asparagus risotto
• 2021 Van Vliet Jacob’s Blend with braised short ribs, polenta and carrots
• 2021 Oak Farm Vapor Trail Zinfandel with flourless chocolate cake
And, of course, we inducted 6 proud new members into our fine order with a ceremony mixing pomp and circumstance with the usual rituals and enlightening/ hilarious bios for each candidate.
2024 Inductees and Cadre
Appetizers
Scallops Short Ribs
Chapter Crossover Opportunity
April was the National Annual meeting hosted by the Chancellery Chapter in Sacramento. For those that are not acquainted with California geography, Sacramento is about a 40-minute drive from Lodi, which from a California perspective is basically “right next door”. Our normal monthly meeting date coincided with the beginning of the Annual Meeting weekend, so instead of holding a competing event we encouraged our members to partake of the Annual Meeting festivities. Several members did just that, in particular by attending the Thursday event at Baker Family Wines in West Sacramento. They enjoyed meeting other Knghts from across the country and learning what other chapters are doing. Wine does truly bring us together, and these meetings are a unique wine opportunity. Now is the time to plan to attend the 2025 National Annual Meeting hosted by the North Carolina Chapter – if you can, make the effort to attend. You won’t regret it!
May was our first Lodi KOV Wine Club event of the year, at Wilson Family Winery. As the name indicates, this is a small family winery offering small-lot, hand-crafted artisanal wines, created by the husband-and-wife winemaking team of JR and Krystal Wilson. JR is a native Lodian whose family has been cultivating wine grapes in the Lodi AVA for three generations. He met Krystal while they were both attending graduate chiropractic school. After school they moved to Lodi to establish their practice and began making wine in their spare time. As often happens in Lodi, this “hobby” led to better and better wine, and ultimately the family decided to “turn pro” and open a winery. And we are so glad they did! The family was super hospitable, and JR did a great job of guiding our group through a detailed tasting of their wines, including, as expected, some stellar zinfandels. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.
And finally, June saw the return of our annual Backyard BBQ, hosted by Bob and Janet Smith. The weather was perfect for this outdoor poolside event on the Smith property. Once again, the grill masters of the Lodi Chapter outdid themselves with perfectly prepared beef “bavette” with shrimp and other delicious accompaniments. The evening ended with the wine raffle wherein attendees, who were required to bring a bottle of wine to contribute to the raffle, then buy raffle tickets in the hopes of winning a 6-pack of some of the donated wines. This is always good for a laugh, and the usual competitive trash talking and questioning of the legitimacy of the “draw”. All ended amicably, and the lucky winners returned home with their booty. For those that did not win – well, there’s always next year.
Now get out there and drink some wine - the growers and winemakers of Lodi are depending on you. Cheers!
Robin Moore, Gail and John Kautz
John and Therese Connolly, Beth and Jim Grady
Jerry Fry, Brian and Carla Price, Mike Johnston
Commander and Annette MacKay
Wilson Family Winery Crowd
Winemaker JR Wilson
Celebrating With Fine Wines of NC Society
By Jeff Price, Master Commander
More than a dozen members and guests of the North Carolina Chapter descended upon the Millennium Center in Winston Salem, North Carolina on Friday, May 10, for a special celebration of North Carolina wines. The event was the Eighth Annual Fine Wines Society of North Carolina Annual Gala. Borrowing on the philosophy espoused by Benjamin Franklin, the Society has observed that, “Without continual growth & progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” Consequently, the NC Fine Wines Society’s annual competition is recognized as the toughest wine competition in the country. All judges are at least Level 3 Advanced Sommeliers. The judges taste the wines blindly, with no discussion during judging. The judges notes and scores are then shared with the wineries and vineyards to encourage continual improvement in the winemaking process. NC Fine Wines Society competition was designed to be as tough as it is, “Because of our drive to improve requires us to constantly raise the bar. As in life, it is only through constant feedback and struggle can we enjoy success.”
On this evening, the NC Knights and the other 225 guests in attendance were there for one reason – to enjoy a great five-course dinner, paired with five great North Carolina wines and to celebrate with the wineries and winemakers who won top awards in this year’s competition. Twelve wines were selected from among the hundreds entered in the competition to comprise the 2024 North Carolina Showcase of Wine. This 12-bottle showcase featured the following:
Award
Vineyard Wine
Best in Show/ Windsor Run 2015 Midnight Run Best Dessert Cellars Dessert Grand Reserve
Best Red Parker-Binns Vineyard 2021 Merlot
Best White Stony Knoll Vineyards 2023 Chardonnay
Best Sparkling Point Lookout Vineyards 2021 Sparkling Rosé Sunset
Best Hybrid JOLO Winery & Vineyards 2022 Crimson Creek
Best Rosé Surry Cellars Blue 2023 Ridge Rosé
NC Fine Wines Case Raffaldini Vineyards 2021 Montepulciano Riserva
NC Fine Wines Case Dynamis Estate Wines 2019 The Mountain
NC Fine Wines Case Raffaldini Vineyards 2021 Grande Riserva
NC Fine Wines Case Marked Tree Vineyard 2021 Lemberger
NC Fine Wines Case Raffaldini Vineyards 2021 Mezzogiorno
NC Fine Wines Case Brandon Hills Vineyard 2021 Barbera 2021
A complete list of all wines entered in the 2024 competition, and the medals awarded to each wine, can be found on the Fine Wines Society website at www.ncfinewines.com. The NC KOV is a proud sponsor of the Fine Wines Society of North Carolina, and we salute the hard work and dedication clearly evident in the production of these wines! The 2025 Fine Wines Gala will be held on May 9, 2025, and we encourage our fellow knights from around the country to attend. As we have previously reported, “One doesn’t have to fly to the West Coast or overseas for a world class wine experience. It’s right here in North Carolinaall the great taste and no jet lag.”
Several NC KOV members in the Raleigh area attended a special wine dinner in Cary at the Craft Public House on May 21. The dinner offered five courses, each paired with a great wine from Raffaldini Vineyards.
Jay Raffaldini was a special guest for the occasion, and he presented his wines and answered questions about wine making in North Carolina. The dinner offered NC KOV members an opportunity to get together to enjoy great food, great wine and great times – the perfect combination!
The annual Medieval Dinner in August at the Angus Barn Restaurant in Raleigh will kick off a busy fall schedule of exciting and fun events for the NC Chapter. And, of course, our Chapter is proudly making plans to host the 2025 National Meeting for the Knights of the Vine, and we look forward to welcoming our fellow knights from around the country for an exciting adventure highlighting the Tar Heel State! In the meantime, we invite everyone to follow us on Facebook at www.facebook/KOVNC.com.
Per Vitem! Ad Vitam!
Nation’s Capital
TOUR OF ITALY NATION’S CAPITAL
The Nation’s Capital chapter hosted a Tour of Italy at Semifreddo Restaurant, Manassas, Virginia on 19 April 2024. Founder and Head Chef Franklin Hernandez dazzled us with dishes such as Rolatino di Asparagi, Risotto al Radicchio, Filetto di Branzino alla Picatta and Agnello all Griglia (New Zealand lamb chops). The wines he selected were all top notch: from Valpolicella to Chardonnay to Chianti to Super Tuscan. He finished off with an over-the-top homemade Chocolate Salami paired with a homemade Limoncello. We had a terrific turnout for the event. The chapter had not met in quite a while, and it was great to see everyone again and catch up on our busy lives!
Breaking Barriers: Knight (Colonel) Diana Woodward Hagle’s Trailblazing Journey in the U.S. Army
By Knight (Colonel) Claire Cuccio, U.S. Army (retired)
remembers “Summer Camps” at Fort Irwin (now National Training Center) in the Mojave Desert and at Camp Roberts.
I was at the Annual Delegates Meeting and was pleasantly surprised to meet a trailblazer for women in the Army. It is a very rare event to meet a woman of a high rank that entered the service in the 1970s and I knew I wanted to get to know her. We were attending the ball at this year’s 60th Anniversary Gala and Assemblage for the Chancellery Chapter in Sacramento, and they introduced a new inductee, Colonel Diana Woodward Hagle, U.S. Army Reserves (retired). We met for coffee a few days later and chatted about her journey.
To set the stage, the Army was very different for women in 1975 than it is now, when Colonel Diana entered the service. Few women were in the military, and fewer still were officers; she was the first female Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the National Guard. Over the years, she has been gratified to see opportunities for women in the military expand greatly.
The medical brigade regularly deployed to Korea for Team Spirit, a yearly Army-wide exercise with the ROK, and to Hokkaido and Sendai for Yama Sakura, joint training with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. She spent three weeks at Camp Zama in Tokyo on individual military duty. She then was the M Day Staff Judge Advocate at the California National Guard State HQ for about a year.
She is certified as a Military Judge under the UCMJ and is a graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College and the Air Force War College. She has a secondary MOS in Civil Affairs and attended resident classes at Fort Bragg, where she was selected Team Leader for the second increment of the class.
Already a Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice, Colonel Diana received a direct commission as a Captain into the California Army National Guard, initially assigned as Defense Council in the 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized) for four years. She was the first female JAG in the National Guard. She spent the next 14 years as the Staff Judge Advocate at HQ, 175th Medical Brigade. The brigade, 1200 soldiers strong and commanded by a brigadier general, was composed of medical units such as a Combat Support Hospital in San Francisco, a Medical Company with 26 Huey Medivac (“dustoff”) helicopters and crew in Sacramento and two fixed-wing aircraft at Sacramento Airport. Brigade units, or elements of them, were deployed to the Middle East for Desert Storm and as backfill to Honduras. She fondly
The last two years of Colonel Diana’s service were in the Army Reserves as Command Judge Advocate with the 6045th Garrison Support Unit in San Jose; she was recommended by a Sacramento judge before whom she had appeared. The “garrison” supported was Fort Hunter Liggett in Monterey County, one of the largest military facilities in the world, and one of the most unique: the real estate is adjacent to Hearst Castle, with hunting and fishing available to the public, and the setting for some combat scenes in Mel Gibson’s “We Were Soldiers”. One of the 6045th GSU elements was a unit with a boat at Mare Island in the upper San Francisco Bay! On the fateful morning of September 11th, 2001, she was on military duty at Camp Roberts, mobilizing National Guard soldiers for a one-year deployment to Kuwait for Patriot missile duty.
She was married to COL Richard Hagle, the Staff Veterinarian of the 175th Medical Brigade, who passed away in 2018.
All in all, she spent 27 years in the Army and retired in 2002. I fully enjoyed our conversation and I look forward to seeing Colonel Diana on some of the future FICB trips.
Diana Woodward Hagle
Orange County
Cooking Techniques and Wine … a Perfect Combination
By Cheryl Binns
Enjoyed for many years by Knight John Moreiko and his wife, Cheryl Binns, along with great friends, is an event held from time to time by Quattro Restaurant in South Coast Plaza. This fun event is a wine dinner and a cooking class combination. A few years ago, John thought it would be a good idea to invite our chapter members to have our own event there and so on April 2 we returned for our fourth wine dinner. This has become a very popular event for our chapter.
The plan is simple. We all meet at Quattro at 6 p.m. and the servers begin pouring white or red wines, as you prefer. As we enjoy our wine, Dominico, who is in charge of the event, begins to get things started. In addition to our cooking activities, Dominico, who has a very good singing voice, serenades us between courses with Frank Sinatra songs. At the end of the evening, everyone will receive not only the recipes for the delicious foods we are preparing, but a list of the songs he sang along with the lyrics.
The first course was an appetizer and Dominico drafted two volunteers from our group to come up to the front table so that everyone could see as he taught them how to create this first dish. It is always quite entertaining to see our own members cooking each course. Dominico can be quite the comedian too and makes the whole evening fun!
As the evening went along, the very attentive servers continued to fill our wine glasses. With the wine included with dinner, we realize that we are getting not only good food, good wine and lots of laugh and entertainment … we are getting a wonderful deal!
After our appetizer course has been prepared and served, two new “volunteers” are selected to prepare the main course.
Typically, Dominico handles the dessert. Why, you might wonder? Well, fire is very likely going to be involved as he goes all out with some sort of flambé dessert. He knows that it will be a true crowd pleaser!
This event is always a hit as we participate, either directly by cooking, or vicariously by serving in our very important roles as spectators, and Dominico as the ultimate host and entertainer. It is so much fun … I’m certain this will be repeated!!
Assemblage at Coto de Caza
By Cheryl Binns
Our Assemblage on April 20th added four new members to our chapter! Details of planning this lovely event were handled by Diana Bulkeley and her husband Knight Steve Bulkeley, who reside in the beautiful community of Coto de Caza. There were assisted by Commander Tom McCrystal. Diana was able to get a beautiful room at the Coto de Caza Clubhouse and they did a terrific job planning an evening of celebration that included great food and wine.
We began the evening with appetizers and a Sauvignon Blanc from Hannah Winery on the patio. Dinner began inside with a toast of Rosé Sparkling Wine from Laetitia Winery.
The main event of the evening, of course, was the enthronement of our new members; Dwayne Daniel, Bill and Carolyn Griffith and Steven Moore. Joining us in the celebration were Pat Daniel (Dwayne’s wife) and Sandy Moore (Steven’s wife).
Poured during dinner were Treana Blanc from Austin Hope Winery, a Chardonnay from Frank Family Winery and a Cabernet from Hess Winery. Dinner consisted of several courses; a lovely salad followed by a choice of filet mignon or halibut and then dessert with our final wine pour of the evening, a Port from Eberle Winery.
This was one of my favorite assemblage ceremonies and I don’t think I am alone in that opinion! It was a great turnout and our photographer, Knight John Artim, was there to document many beautiful moments as we celebrated our new members and enjoyed so many wonderful wine offerings.
Annual Meeting Report
2024
Celebrating
Our 2024 Annual Meeting was special in many ways. Founded in 1964 with the Chancellery Chapter, the Order of the Knights of the Vine was poised and ready to celebrate our 60th Anniversary at this year’s annual meeting. It was altogether appropriate that we return to Sacramento for this milestone event held April 11 to 13. Hosted by the Chancellery Chapter, members and delegates were welcomed for a weekend full of events that began on Thursday at Baker Family Wines. It was casual and fun. With folks arriving at various times, this allowed us to do some catching up. Chancellery Commander Chik Brenneman and Polly Brenneman are winemakers for Baker Family and provided the perfect location for the warm welcome.
Friday morning was our annual Delegates Meeting held at the Rio City Café along the Sacramento River. All members are welcome to attend as the officers give their reports, commanders share information about their chapters and delegates elect the Board of Directors. Ken Levy had informed Grand Commander Buddy Hagner that he would prefer to step down if there was another willing to serve and we thank Ken for his service to KOV. Gordon MacKay had filled the unexpired term of Don Bade after his death and Tom Webb’s term was also expiring and he stated he was willing to continue, if elected. Buddy shared that he had asked Jeff Price, Commander of the North Carolina Chapter, if he would be willing to serve and he agreed as did Gordon MacKay. The proposed slate included Gordon MacKay, Tom Webb and Jeff Price to a three-year term that would expire at the annual meeting in 2027. The motion was made and seconded and these three were elected to the board by the delegates by acclamation.
Following the delegates’ meeting, the Board of Directors held their annual meeting. After a review of the delegates’ meeting, the next order of business was to elect officers for the next year. Ken Haapala, who was unable to attend, had signaled his desire to step down as Grand Vice Commander. Jerry Gatlin had also informed the Grand Commander that he would be stepping down. KOV is grateful to both Ken and Jerry for their contributions to our organization. With that information, the following officers were elected to serve until the next annual meeting.
Grand Commander – Buddy Hagner
Grand Vice Commander – Gordon MacKay
Grand Treasurer – Claire Cuccio
Grand Administrative Officer – Tom Webb
With all the business taken care of, members convened in the dining room overlooking the river for a nice lunch.
Photos: (from top) Delegates Meeting; Lunch at Rio City Café; Enthronement Ceremony Dignitaries; Stephanie & Peter Harris
The 60th Anniversary Celebration continued with a gala dinner at the historic Sutter Club. New members were welcomed during an Enthronement Ceremony, and everyone enjoyed the display that was up in the beautifully decorated ballrooms. Cards, letter and photos of many times gone by. Truly a nice stroll down memory lane! With a lovely musical accompaniment, our elegant evening of food and wine and friends allowed us to build on that history.
Saturday morning was a bit rainy, but it did not dampen our spirits as we traveled a short distance to visit two wineries; both owned by KOV members. First up was Rancho Roble Vineyards followed by Casque Wines. Both shared outstanding wines and warm welcomes.
The weekend’s events concluded with a delightful late afternoon meal at the home of Knights Glenys and Jim Kaye. Before the meal began, we were treated to a presentation by Master Knight Sudsy Torbeck to showcase Pinot Noirs around the world. Understanding the geography and the similarities and difference was educational and tied in well with our enjoyment of some special Pinot Noirs gifted to KOV for this event by Jim and Glenys which they discovered on a recent trip to New Zealand. We thank them for hosting such a lovely event and for their generosity. And we know that it takes many people to put on such a successful weekend of events …. and we thank them all!
We hope you will put our 2025 Annual Meeting on your calendar now and begin to make your plans to join us March 28 – 30 in Winston Salem, North Carolina!
Until then,
Per Vitem! Ad Vitam!
Photos: (l to r, from top) Gala Dinner; Along the Sacramento River; In Casque Wines tasting room; Pinot Noirs Around the World; At Rancho Roble Vineyards
Your membership has many benefits.
Friends of KOV
Check out these generous offers from wineries for discounts and complimentary tastings!
Mounts Family Winery
A family-owned and operated winery in the heart of Dry Creek Valley. A history of four generations of grape growers and winemakers, these estate wines will be wines you’ll want to share with your family and friends. Visit www. mountswinery.com and receive a 20% discount on your order. Come visit us in person and receive a complimentary tasting for up to 6 people! At check out, please use code KOV20 Some exclusions will apply.
Maroon Wines
Founded by KOV members Paul and Renee Maroon, these 100% Napa wines are available for our members to enjoy with a 25% discount. Just enter KOV25 at checkout at www.maroonwines.com
Nalle Winery
Receive a 20% discount on all wine purchased at www.nallewinery.com with code KOV20
Messina Hof Winery
Messina Hof invites you to “Join the Family” and enjoy award winning Texas wines. Now available to KOV members with a discount of 10% on all wines. Just visit www.messinahof.com and enter code KOV10 at check out.
Eberle Winery
Award winning Paso Robles wines from Supreme Knight Gary Eberle. Now available to KOV members with a discount of 20% on all wines. Just visit www.eberlewinery.com and enter code KOV20 at check out. Visitors to the winery will receive complimentary tours and tastings at the bar in the tasting room and on the deck with advance reservations. Walk ins are welcome. Sign up with your email for additional offers.
Smith Devereux
Free tour and tasting for up to 6 people at their Oak Knoll Cabernet Vineyards hosted by founder and vintner Ian Devereux. Contact Ian at ian@ smithdevereux.com or 707-227-5226. Online, receive a 20% discount when you use code KOV20 at www.smithdevereux.com
Klinker Brick
Generously offered by KOV member Steve Felten and his wife, Lori, Klinker Brick Winery in Lodi, California is offering a 25% discount on all wine purchased at www. klinkerbrickwinery.com with code KBKOV25
Bougetz Cellars
Experience exceptional wine from numerous AVAs in Napa Valley and Sonoma County.
Thomas Bougetz is the award-winning winemaker and founder of Bougetz Cellars. KOV members receive a 20% discount on wine purchases and complimentary tasting for 2 at their Tasting Gallery on Atlas Peak Road in Napa. Enter KNIGHTS20 at checkout for the discount.
Boisset Collection
Boisset Collect is thrilled to extend an industry savings both online and at their California wineries including Raymond Vineyards, Elizabeth Spencer, DeLoach Vineyards, JCB Salons and Buena Vista Winery. To order wines, go to my.boissetcollection.com and use your special coupon code of KOV22 When visiting in person, be sure to mention you are a Knights of the Vine member to receive 20-30% savings. (Some exclusions will apply.)
Chappellet
Galante Vineyards
Supreme Knight Jack Galante is offering KOV members 10% off all current vintages. Enjoy the Galante wines from Carmel, California and the cowboy philosophy you’ll find on every bottle! Use KOV10 at checkout at www.galantevineyards.com
Founded by legendary vintners Donn and Molly Chappellet in 1967, Chappelle’s mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignons have been coveted by connoisseurs and collectors for more than half a century. Recognized for their extraordinary power and complexity, and for their incomparable age-worthiness, Chappellet’s Cabernets are Napa Valley benchmarks and available to Knights of the Vine members at a special 15% savings using promo code KNIGHTS15 at checkout at www.chappellet.com
Active Chapters
Arizona
Arizona Chapter
Commander Emeritus
John Kovacik (Interim) 3955 N. Tucson Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85716
Phone: 520-318-1789 jkovacik@cox.net
California
Chancellery Chapter
Com. Charles “Chik” Brenneman 820 Fremont Way Sacramento, CA 95818
Phone: 916-441-3466 charlesbrenneman@gmail.com
Lake Tahoe Region Chapter
Commander Ernest D. Grossman P. O. Box 523 Reno, NV 89504
Phone: 530-550-0570 ernestgrossman@sbcglobal.net
Lodi Chapter
Commander Gordon MacKay P. O. Box 506 Lodi, CA 95241-0506
Phone: 209-663-9432 lodikovchapter@gmail.com
Los Angeles Chapter
Commander James Hamilton
755 Lakefield Road, Suite A Westlake Village, CA 91361
Phone: 805-496-1304 jbhamilton@sbcglobal.net
Monterey Peninsula Chapter
Commander Richard Kehoe P. O. Box 221664 Carmel, CA 93922 Phone: 831-277-9868 kehoedc@sbcglobal.net
Supreme Knights
Bradley Alderson
David G. Armanasco
Susan Auler
Carol L. Bade
Ted Balestreri
Heidi Peterson Barrett
Warren W. Bogle, Jr.
Merrill Bonarrigo
Paul V. Bonarrigo
James “Bo” Barrett
David Barkley
Jean-Charles Boisset
George H. Carter
Mark Chandler
James E. Coleman
Orange County Chapter
Commander Thomas E. McCrystal 24001 Muirlands #76
Lake Forest, CA 92630
Phone: 949-500-2494
cpg@cox.net
San Francisco Bay Area Chapter
Commander Pat R. Pingitore 19 Aviara Court Napa, CA 94558
Phone: 707-965-2868 prpingitore@gmail.com
Mississippi
Gulf Coast Chapter
Commander John Boothby P. O. Box 7617
Gulfport, MS 39506
Phone: 228-596-4144 kovgulfcoast@gmail.com
Jackson Chapter
Contact National Office 4448 W. 12th Street Houston, TX 77055
Phone: 844-440-8463 kov-office@kov.org
North Carolina
North Carolina Chapter
Commander Jeff Price 9404 North Manor Drive
Zebulon, NC 27597
Phone: 919-696-6679
jeffreyhprice0602@gmail.com
Tennessee
Tennessee Chapter
Commander Bob Bennett 4562 Whisperwoods Drive Collierville, TN 38017
Phone: 954-557-7775
bobbennett13@gmail.com
Richard A. Cuneo
Frederick Dame
Joanne DePuy
Dennis Devine
Lucian W. Dressel
Gordon R. Dutt, Ph.D.
Gary Eberle
Tom Eddy
Dick Erath
Joseph S. Franzia
Jeryl R. Fry, Jr.
Jack Galante
Gina Gallo
Gary B. Heck
Genevieve Janssens
Timo Jokinen
Gail Kautz
John H. Kautz
Aram Kinosian
John K. Ledbetter
Zelma R. Long
Lloyd G. Magee
George R. McEachern, Ph.D.
John P. McClelland
J. Douglas Meador
R. Michael Mondavi
Timothy J. Mondavi
Justin Morris, Ph.D.
Robert Pellegrini
Richard Peterson, Ph.D.
G.M. “Pooch” Pucilowski
George Radanovich
Michaela K. Rodeno
Scott Scheid
Texas
Austin Chapter
Commander Randy Groves
1036 Liberty Park Drive #16 Austin, TX 78746
Phone: 512-484-6803
randydgroves@aol.com
Houston Chapter
Commander Buddy Hagner 4448 W. 12th Street Houston, TX 77055
Phone: 713-819-9463
buddy@rchagner.com
Washington, D.C.
Nation’s Capital Chapter
Commander Kenneth A. Haapala
9634 Boyett Court
Fairfax, VA 22032
Phone: 703-625-9875
ken@haapala.com
Washington
Washington State Chapter
Contact National Office 4448 W. 12th Street Houston, TX 77055
