Lake Tahoe

SUMMER FUN: BBQ & BLUEGRASS AT JACKASS RIDGE

All Articles by Veronica Rollman Kaufman

July at Lake Tahoe is the perfect time for outdoor festivities and dining. Gentle Lady Stefani Olivieri offered her lovely ranch in Truckee for the Lake Tahoe Chapter’s annual Western themed party time.

Wine tasting and Bluegrass music plus yummy hors d’oeuvres were enjoyed at the Barn. I don’t think the horses who once lived there would have recognized their lovely quarters! Following the entertainment, munchies, and wine, we, almost 100 strong, walked the short path to the outdoor terrace at Stefanie’s beautiful mountain home.

Master Knight and Cellar Master Ron Finolio not only provided the selection of difficult to get wines, he also gave us a truly informative and interesting talk on the role of the tastevin. While many of our members probably know a great deal about the mysteries of tasting, smelling, seeing wine, there were many of us who were delighted to understand more from Ron’s talk.

Chef Ron Allen (how could we have a barbecue without Ron?) prepared a feast of barbecue ribs, brisket and salmon accompanied by baked beans, green salad, orzo salad and corn bread. Wonderfully refreshing sangrias were prepared by our Gentle Lady Stephanie Harris: traditional red wine and citrus fruit or (my personal favorite) a white wine and fresh peach sangria.

A new twist was added this year: a cookie baking contest. Prizes were awarded while most of us just enjoyed sampling the many varieties offered. As it was a perfectly lovely and balmy evening we enjoyed visiting and being outdoors. If only this beautiful weather could last!

2016 BORDEAUX: A GREAT VINTAGE

The home of Master Commander Ernie Grossman and Master Lady, Margaret Lewicki was the venue for yet another wonderful wine and food pairing experience in Truckee.

As we relaxed outdoors on another balmy August night, imagining ourselves cruising down the Gironde River in France, our own Sommelier, Sudsy Torbeck, treated us to tastings of the 2016 Bordeaux (most of which are, as yet, unavailable). We were treated to Bordeaux from Saint Estephe, Pauillac, Saint Julien, Margaux and Pessac Leognan.

Sudsy explained the legal requirements of what can be named “Bordeaux” and shared with the 50 of us enjoying the evening the reviews of several of the most respected wine connoisseurs. It was both fun and a challenge to identify both the “nose” and taste descriptions; think “cigar box”! The 2016 vintage truly holds great promise to be a remarkable example of the wines from this region of France.

We were treated to an “in house” prepared dinner paired with a 2016 Bordeaux wine from the Haut Medoc area of the Left Bank of the Gironde. The incredibly tender and delicious barbecued Prime Tri-Tip steaks were prepared by KOV Knight Richard Mackler. Lady Stephanie Harris prepared the baked potatoes and salad, accompanied by locally baked crusty French bread. A “surprise” dessert of baklava was beautifully paired with 2016 Sauternes.

True to Ernie Grossman’s enduring good luck with Truckee conditions for KOV events, the August summer evening was warm and dry with none of the unexpected hail storms we often experience at this time nor the swarms of yellow jackets that seem to hear about all outdoor dining experiences in August.

HOLIDAY GATHERING

Master Commander Ernie Grossman and his lovely wife, Gentle Lady Margaret Lewicki hosted the Lake Tahoe KOV annual Ecumenical KOV Holiday Brunch on December 8. As usual, snow was on the ground but Ernie’s remarkable weather karma produced a lovely, sunny day for his and Margaret’s70+ guests to gather at their beautiful home in Truckee.

The KOV contingent was also treated to the induction of two new members who had been unable to attend the annual Assemblage: Lisa Hernandez and Michael Sabarase. The test to determine whether our new inductees could distinguish between water and wine was brief as it was clear by then that they could indeed tell what was Prosecco and what was water!

So, Happy Hanukkah and a very Merry Christmas along with Lake Tahoe Chapter’s best wishes for a Healthy, Happy, and wine filled 2020!

TAHOE ASSEMBLAGE at the

MONTREUX COUNTRY CLUB

Fall foliage, full moon, festive and fun-loving KOV members and guests, fabulous food (and way too much alliteration) set the scene for the 19th Lake Tahoe Chapter of Knights of the Vine Assemblage at the lovely Montreux Country Club in Reno, Nevada. Master Herald, Larry Axelrod, called the Assemblage to order and announced the procession of Lake Tahoe Officers: Master Knight Peter Bosco (and Provost General of the Northwest US of the KOV and Master Cup Bearer of the Tahoe Chapter); Master Lady Margaret Lewicki, Master Secretary; Master Commander Emeritus (San Francisco) Roland Medel; Master Lady Stephanie A. Harris, Chargé d’Affaires; and, Gentle Lady Veronica R. Kaufman, Scribe. Our Master Commander Ernie Grossman initiated the proceedings to not only celebrate the Fall Harvest, rededicate ourselves to all aspects of wine, but also to continue our traditions and receive the worthy nominees for membership in our Brotherhood. Per Vitem! Ad Vitam! Master Herald Larry Axelrod announced that this is the night to honor our esteemed colleague, Gentle Lady Claire (“Sudsy”) Torbeck. Master Commander Ernie Grossman, in recognition of “Sudsy’s” accomplishments as a certified Sommelier, wine educator, wine judge and winemaker, elevated her to Master Lady! Four candidates were presented for induction this year to our Chapter. One of these candidates, Bill Staehlin, was inducted on this lovely evening. Bill is a Structural Engineer who, in “retirement” has become a wine judge, sommelier, wine educator, winemaker with numerous gold and silver awards as well as an officer in the prestigious Sacramento Home Winemakers. Bill was welcomed as a Master Knight of our order.

After the ceremonies were complete we enjoyed passed appetizers of smoked trout rilles toasts, house duck prosciutto and melon and beet canapés with herbed goat cheese and candied pecan accompanied by Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rose Reserve Pinot Noir, Albrecht tradition.

After visiting with our friends and companions, we sat down to enjoy the first course: fall squash soup with brown butter custard and spiced pumpkin seeds accompanied by 2018 J Pinot Gris from the Russian River area. Yum! The second course, seared duck breast on a bed of celery root puree with roasted root vegetables and sunchoke chips was complemented with 2014 Baileyana Firepeak Pinot Noir from Edna Valley. The finale was the perfect finish: A cheese board which featured Midnight Moon goat gouda, Marin truffle brie and Spanish manchego with house jams and yummy house profiteroles which were both savory and sweet; Benedictine and Brandy provided the delightfully appropriate complement.

Thank you to Executive Chef Willie Carroll for an extraordinary and delicious dinner! Music throughout the evening and for dancing after was performed by our much appreciated musicians, Johnny Bias and Chuck Dunn.

A special thank you to Stephanie A. Harris who did the heavy lifting of organizing this delightful and complicated event.

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WINE COUNTRY Mendocino

Style

This chapter has an extraordinary history of wine trips to such regions as Rogue River, Oregon, Napa Valley, the Santa Cruz mountains, Paso Robles/Edna Valley, even to the Volcano Winery on the big Island of Hawaii. Well once again a stolid group of some dozen and a half migrants fell into the environs of Fort Bragg, Mendocino County and were totally absorbed into the aromas and tastes of fabulous wines and foods and unique events.

On opening day, Friday, September 6th, the group took sole possession of the B & B, Glass Beach Inn for the weekend’s excursion. Having carpooled to the historic Little River Inn, we were treated to the annual Pinot Celebration, a festival of pinot noirs being poured by dozens of local wineries along with delectable morsels.

Saturday saw a continuation of this annual wine festival with the 35th presentation of “WineSong 2019”, perhaps a hundred wineries, perhaps a hundred food purveyors, all included in the price of admission at the Coast Botanical Gardens, an inspiring venue to commune with nature.

On Sunday we boarded the Skunk Train for a run along the Pudding Creek estuary, teeming with wildlife and first growth forest. But Sunday night we had the unique pleasure of visiting Pacific Star Winery, the only such property situated on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Coaches transferred us over the twenty miles of winding Highway 101 so that we could feel free to experience the lovely wines without the peril of driving. Following a private tour, we had a wine infused picnic dinner, watched the sun set and told tales around the wine keg fueled bonfire.

Camaraderie: you bet! And already looking forward to the next excursion.

In Memoriam Paul John Maroon (1947 – 2019)

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Paul Maroon, a Master Knight of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, succumbed to cancer October 15, 2019 with his loving wife, Renée, by his side.

Paul, an extraordinarily gracious host and devoted family man, never met a person that didn’t become a fast friend. He was beloved by countless friends and relatives and will be sorely missed. Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania to loving Lebanese parents, Paul was the first in his family to attend college, graduating from Keystone College with a degree in engineering, later coming to California to earn his MBA. After many successful entrepreneurial endeavors, in the late 1990s Paul began the journey to fulfill his life-long dream to create his own boutique small production winery in Napa Valley. His interest stemmed from his agricultural roots working with his father in his family’s produce business and later producing wine with his uncle in Pennsylvania. He started with the purchase of 300 acres on the backside of Howell Mountain in Pope Valley then ultimately the 37 acres within the gates of the Napa Valley Country Club that would become Maroon Vineyard’s permanent home in what is now included in the prestigious “Coombsville appellation.”

In 2010, Paul was reunited with the love of his life, Renée Bollo, whom he had met some 20 years earlier when residing on the San Francisco Peninsula in Portola Valley. Paul recently shared that the “best decision he made in his whole life” was to marry Renée! They shared a unique partnership that was based upon their deep respect for one another’s one-of-a kind personality, their common love of entertaining, and the joy of sharing their beautiful estate as well as their wines. From this hillside location they enjoy breathtaking views of the valley and north to Mt. St Helena.

Paul joined the San Francisco Bay Area chapter as a Master Knight in 2014. Since then, Paul has been a loyal member, and has hosted Vintner dinners at the Napa Valley Country Club, a holiday Celebration at his home in Coombsville, and donated wines to many charitable events in the Napa Valley.

Renée will further Paul’s legacy through the continued operation of Maroon Wines with the expert help of his devoted winery team. Paul has been a great friend and supporter of the KOV - he will be dearly missed.