San Francisco

from ARBOR Winter Spring 2020

Orange County

BUSY IN THE BAY AREA

It all began in early August with our 4th Annual Shakespeare Under The Stars at the always beautiful Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma. With reserved seating for our group, centered in the Fountain Courtyard, we had great views of the Avalon Players as they expertly preformed Shakespeare’s As You Like It! We were especially pleased to welcome out of town guests Grand Commander Buddy Hagner, Master Lady (Houston) Trish Hagner, Commander Emeritus (Austin) Jerry Gatlin and Gentle Lady Susan Gatlin who got to experience this occasion for the first time! A venue like no other, especially during the near perfect August evenings, attendees brought their own picnic dinner and sampled many of Buena Vista’s array of wines which we were able to purchase at generous Club discounts for our KOV members and guests.

We keep coming back for more each year!

Next was the ever popular date with the Napa Valley Country Club where a delicious feast of wine and food was enjoyed at the 2019 Harvest Wine Reception held in October. Due to the frequent power outages suffered by the Valley this fire season, the event was rescheduled, and sadly many of our invitees were unable to attend the alternate date. However, for the few San Francisco Bay Area Chapter members who were in attendance, the annual Napa Valley wine and food event was a great way to enjoy the fabulous bounty for which Napa is famously known.

BY PAT PINGITORE & FRAN BENEVIDEZ BY PAT PINGITORE & FRAN BENEVIDEZ

Eighteen member owned wineries were on hand to pour wines ranging from a sumptuous Buoncristiani Triad Blanc to von Strasser’s Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and many more in between! Executive Chef Rick Edge provided a lovely array of appetizers and entrees to pair with the wines, ensuring no one went home hungry. We are already looking forward to next October!

Finally we returned once more to the home of Knight and Gentle Lady Scooter and Andrea Blacklock in Brisbane for a Holiday Celebration in December that included a variety of international wines paired with a paella and salad feast and holiday desserts.

Our members were challenged to blind taste wines from South Africa, Australia, Portugal, France and America and guess their origins and varietals; not an easy task given how advanced and competitive many of these International wine makers have become. Most were amazed at the quality and excellence shown, especially the South African Bordeaux blend from Stellenbosch (Meerlust Estate’s Rubicon). Chef/Somm Brandon Rowan - Taylor was the most accurate!

The Blacklock home, festooned with holiday decorations, was a fitting venue to celebrate the end of another successful year!

Manny, and the Gatlins