Lodi

Lodi Lodi

Enjoying the Lodi AVA at Viaggio and One Way

2021 started pretty much the way that 2020 ended. The Lodi Chapter had great plans for 2020. Great plans that were snuffed out by COVID-19. Like most chapters, early in 2020 our group went into an extended hibernation that carried into 2021.

But the Chapter was not entirely asleep. Toward the end of 2020, in keeping with our Chapter Bylaws, Master Commander Ken Levy initiated a process to transfer the leadership of our Chapter. Gordon MacKay became the new Master Commander, with Pete Rosado becoming the new Vice-Commander. Master Treasurer Roselyn Daneke and Master Administrative Officer Mike Johnson round out the new team of Chapter Officers.

Like the vineyards of our beautiful Lodi AVA, the Chapter began a slow emergence from hibernation in early 2021. The new board decided to test our members’ willingness to attend events by re-starting our monthly KOV Wine Club events on an outdoor “socially distanced” basis. These events are held at local Lodi wineries that are members of KOV. The wineries agree to provide a glass of wine, tastings of their current offerings, and purchases at their regular wine club prices. KOV members agree to pay a small entry fee, bring some food to share, and buy wine. It is truly a win-win (or, perhaps, a wine-wine).

Our first event was held in April, at Viaggio Winery. Truly a spectacular venue with a beautiful outdoor patio. Several dozen members attended, and Gentle Lady Teri Lawrence led us through a tasting of her wines, and we all enjoyed hearing how she became the winemaker and what the real story was behind Little Missy Zin.

Next up in May was OneWay Winery and their stellar lineup of Lodi Cabernets. It was crazy hot that day, and the assembled crowd decided that indoor air conditioned comfort was preferable to the sweltering outdoors. Gentle

By Commander Gordon MacKay

Brad Alderson

Bob Smith shows Gordon MacKay how to use mic

Roselyn Daneke with Officers Chain

Bob & Janet Smith

A winning raffle ticket!

Mike Johnson drawing a ticket

Lady Debra Green, who served as our Chapter Treasurer for many years, and her family poured pretty much their entire lineup of wines, including three vintages of their remarkable Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, from 2013 through 2015.

June found us in the backyard of Bob and Janet Smith for our (almost) annual BBQ event. This had originally been planned as a BBQ and mini-assemblage; however, all of our many new members opted to wait for a formal assemblage to be inducted into our order. As a result, and as it often is at parties in the Lodi Chapter, the main event was the food and the wine.

The BBQ was truly a team effort. All nine board members and several other volunteers were on hand the night before to set up tables and chairs, discuss the agenda and logistics, all while eating pizza and drinking copious amounts of wine. A good start.

The event itself found over 50 members and guests arriving to a beautiful setting on an evening with lovely, mild temperatures. Supreme Knights John Kautz, Jerry Fry, and Brad Alderson were in attendance, along with Supreme Gentle Lady Gail Kautz. After an hour of socializing, wine sipping and appetizer grazing, we sat down to a fantastic meal prepared by Knights Bob Smith and Steve Fetzer, with assistance from a large troupe of helpers. The main course - perfectly cooked beef tenderloin topped with shrimp and accompanied by outrageously flavorful sides – was top notch. The wine pairings were varied, as attendees had been encouraged to bring their own wine to share with their table in addition to wines that were provided. Personally, I was partial to Bordeaux with the steak, but there were serious contenders from many corners of the world, and of course from Lodi.

After dinner, a little Chapter business was conducted and then we got down to the serious business – raffling off several cases of wine that had been donated by local wineries and individual members. Eight cases of wine were raffled off in individual lots, with a great deal of excitement and heckling from the crowd during the entire process. We raised significant funds for scholarships and future events, and had great fun doing it. And that is what KOV is all about!

The Lodi Chapter is now looking forward to expanding our events in 2021, and hosting a grand Assemblage at Ironstone Winery in April of 2022. You are all invited to attend and sample some Lodi hospitality!

John & Gail Kautz