ARBOR WINTER SPRING 2023

IN THIS ISSUE:

IN THIS ISSUE:

FICB INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ~ REPORT

FICB INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ~ REPORT

DO AVAS MATTER?

DO AVAS MATTER?

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

WENTE VINYARDS: CELEBRATING 140 YEARS

WENTE VINYARDS: CELEBRATING 140 YEARS

SAÚDE! FICB WINE DISCOVERY TOUR IN MADEIRA

SAÚDE! FICB WINE DISCOVERY TOUR IN MADEIRA

National Headquarters

4448 W. 12th Street, Houston, TX 77055-7204

Phone: 844.440.8463 • www.kov.org

Directors

Robert C. “Buddy” Hagner, Jr., Chairman

Claire Cuccio, Jerry Gatlin, Kenneth A. Haapala, Richard Kehoe, Ken Levy, Gordon MacKay, Pasquale “Pat” Pingitore, Tom Webb

Grand Officers

Robert C. “Buddy” Hagner, Jr., Grand Commander

Kenneth A. Haapala, Grand Vice Commander

Jerry Gatlin, Grand Treasurer

Tom Webb, Grand Administrative Officer

Grand Council

Robert C. “Buddy” Hagner, Jr., Grand Commander

Kenneth A. Haapala, Grand Vice Commander

Jerry Gatlin, Grand Treasurer

Tom Webb, Grand Administrative Officer • webbtom@bellsouth.net

Pasquale “Pat” Pingitore, International Emissary

Janet Hamilton, Vice Commander Los Angeles Chapter

Trish Hagner, Executive Director

Provosts

Provost General, Northeastern United States Dave Barber dave.barber@earthlink.net

Provost General, Northwestern United States Peter Bosco bred1@att.net

Provost General, Southeastern United States Thomas Storey tbs@esmhe.net

Provost General, Southwestern United States Lois Van Vooren lois.vanvooren@gmail.com

Dario & Debbie Lorenzana, Layout & Design

Trish Hagner, Nan McCreary & Cathie S. Smith, Editorial Review Board

The Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine, Inc.

From the Commander’s Desk

From the Commander’s Desk

It is a busy season! The National Meeting and Gathering of Delegates is happening, many will travel to Portugal for an FICB Congress and Assemblages are taking place all across the country as new members join our ranks!

Our thanks to the Austin Chapter and Commander Randy Groves for organizing some great events for our members as they visit Austin and the Texas Hill Country. Excitement is growing for approximately 80 KOV members who are traveling to the FICB Congress that will be held in Portugal. Beginning in Oporto with an extension for many to the Lisbon area in late May / early June, our Order will be well represented among the brotherhoods of the world. Be sure to check out the next issue for a report on both of these great happenings!

Our chapters have continued to find new and wonderful ways to get together to enjoy, learn and celebrate all things wine. From cruises to dinners in a warehouse and so many other interesting places, you’ll enjoy experiencing those events vicariously. Remember, you can attend events like these anywhere so look on our national calendar for those opportunities!

I’m pleased to share that you will read about our newest Supreme Knight, Eric Wente, in the following pages. He and his family are celebrating 140 years of winemaking giving them the distinction of being the oldest continuously operated winery in the United States.

And under the heading of “membership has benefits”, you’ll find on the following pages that a number of wineries are offering free tours or tastings or discounts on purchases or some combination thereof. You can also find this information on our website under Membership.

Before I close this note from the Commander’s Desk, I want to take a moment to honor and appreciate two members who have left us too early. Don Bade’s passing on November 4, 2022 marked the end of an era. He was a great man and my friend and an important part of our KOV history. Another sad loss is Master Lady Nan McCreary, a talented writer for the wine industry who shared her talent with all of us and has contributed to every Arbor since 2015.

We are surrounded by friends and wonderful opportunities. I hope you’ll take the time to enjoy and appreciate every one.

Robert C. “Buddy” Hagner, Jr., Grand Commander

With COVID restrictions generally lifted, we gathered in late July at the home of Andi & Scooter Blacklock who had just moved to Alamo in June. Their ideal “front yard” setting among the towering oaks was perfect for an evening of paella prepared on site by Teleferic Barcelona. Ian Devereux, our own “rock and roll” wine maker, shared his Smith Devereux portfolio as a perfect pairing for the various paellas.

The location provided easy access for many of our East Bay members whom we had not seen for a while! Our geographic “footprint” expands almost 50 miles in multiple directions, making the navigation through traffic across the Bay Area a challenge in and of itself. One would think we were in Texas!

Among the wines on hand were Ian’s Noelle, a refreshing Blancs de Blancs Sparkling and the SB White Blend, a proprietary blend of favorite white varietals that tastes very much like a Sauvignon Blanc, but with a bit more complexity and pizazz. He also brought along his # 3 California Red Blend, the third release in the Smith Devereux portfolio of wines that pays homage to the three founders of the company. It is comprised of a delicious balance of Syrah, Zinfandel and Merlot. Not to be forgotten is Ian’s IBEX Merlot, a single vineyard wine grown among the big Napa Valley Cabs of the Oak Knoll district. Last but not least, we also tasted his Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, also from the famous Oak Knoll district - a real show stopper at a great value.

All of these wines were made available for purchase to the guests in attendance at Wine Club discounts and there were plenty of takers.

As a result of this successful event, Ian has extended free tastings for six in his vineyard for any visiting KOV members and has become one of our “Friends of KOV”, offering these same discounts to any KOV member for shipping where permissible. See our KOV website for details.

Pat & Linda Pingitore with host winemaker Ian Devereux & aide

Paella Chefs of Telferic Barcelona

Vince & Lise Ciolino, Jeff Corcoran, Houston guests & Lisa Valbert

Hosts Scooter & Andi with friend in the middle

Jim & Glenys Kaye, Frank & Jeanne Lipari

In early September, we held our Fall Assemblage at the beautiful Monticello Vineyards, hosted by the Corley brothers, Kevin & Chris (the wine maker). Our Grand Commander Buddy and Executive Director Trish Hagner were in attendance, as well as Master Commander Gordon MacKay of Lodi and Chik Brenneman of Chancellery, all helping with the festivities.

We inducted seven new Knights, one Master Knight and elevated a Supreme Knight.

The Knights inducted were Anna Villierme, Kevin McHale (not of Boston Celtics fame), Ron Lee of Mumm’s Napa, Terry & Mark Crisler of Trellis Wines & Spirits, and Eric and Carrie Colalella.

Master Knight Renee Maroon helped introduce Master Knight Chris Corley of Monticello Vineyards who coincidentally makes Maroon’s wines.

A highlight of the evening was Supreme Knight Tom Eddy introducing and providing an historic backdrop for the elevation of Joanne Dickinson Depuy (she of the Judgment of Paris fame, featured in the last edition of the Arbor) to Supreme Knight.

Once Knighted by our Grand Commander, I had the distinct honor of presenting Joanne with the Diploma of Honor on behalf of the FICB.

The celebration was enhanced by the music of the Primitivo Trio, lead by Lodi Chapter Knight William Russell - pure smooth Latin rhythms as we ate a sumptuous feast prepared by Ernesto Martinez of Market Restaurant in St Helena.

Induction of Chris Corley, Master Knight

Presentation of FICB Diploma of Honor to Joanne Depuy

A PERFECT EVENING UNDER THE STARS OF NAPA’S SKIES

To close out the year, Ned & Maureen Trippe and newly Knighted Mark and Terry Crisler helped host a holiday celebration at the Napa Valley Yacht Club on the Napa River. The resident chef provided an array of foods to have with the Chapter’s Cellar wines amassed over the year as well as others brought in by members wanting to share some of their cellar wines. Mark Crisler also created two holiday themed welcome cocktails for the event.

In the spirit of the season, Linda Pingitore made up “Holiday Baskets” (some wine themed), and almost $2,000 was raised in a silent auction and additional donations on behalf of Moving Forward Towards Independence, a Napa Organization supporting a neurodiverse population in the Napa Community.

A great way to close out a successful year!

Knights Terry & Marck Crisler with Master Scribe Fran Benevidez Newly inducted Knights Eric Colallella & Ron Lee with Commander Pat

Commander Gordon MacKay, wife Annette & new Knight Carrie Colalella

Susan Klinefelter, Dick Katz with Fran & Isaac Benevidez

Candidates undergoiung the test of the Wine!

Presentation of the KOV Plaque to Chris & Kevin Corley

Pat with Kevin Corley and Knight Jill Pingitore

The General Assembly of the FICB was held in Paris on Saturday February 4th. I was unable to attend but thanks to the leadership of Alan Bryden, input from many of those who could not attend was incorporated into the decision making.

The conclusions provide a varying array of events for the FICB and its members over the next 3 years!

The General Assembly was the first face-to-face meeting since the COVID crisis. It adopted a plan of action and international events that should enable its members to renew their contact with regional, national and international wine-tasting events and to promote wine-tasting expertise.

The General Assembly updated and ratified FICB's program of international events until 2026:

• The 52nd International Congress organized by the Portuguese Federation of Wine Brotherhoods in May-June 2023 has been set in motion and is expecting a large contingency from around the world, including approximately 90 Americans from KOV and OWB.

• The 2nd FICB sponsored Wine Discovery Tour was approved for Slovenia from 18 to 22 July 2023, organized and hosted by the two Slovenian FICB member brotherhoods. Details and registration are now available on the FICB website! (www.winebrotherhoods.org)

• The 2nd FICB International Wine Tasting Challenge organized by the Order of the Ladies of Pannonia is confirmed for 23 to 28 May 2024 in Hungary. Expect registration to open later this spring/summer.

• The 53rd "International Congress" is to be organized in 2026 by the Illustrious Order of the Knights of Medusa in the Provence-Côte d'Azur region in France. Their proposal is to be presented by next year’s Paris meetings.

It was also proposed that the Order of the Knights of the Truffle and Wines of Alba organize an FICB sponsored Wine Discovery tour in the Langhe-Roero region in Italy for 2025 instead of a full-blown Congress. This will alleviate the concerns for overcrowding in some of their excellent venues and provide an alternative for the 40% price increase by the local Chapter should a Congress take place. This was proposed by KOV USA after many of us visited the region in smaller groups instead of re-

ceiving refunds. The organizational ability of the Langhe Tour Excursion group was excellent.

The General Assembly also approved communication actions to promote expertise in wine tasting within the brotherhoods, in particular, through the wide distribution of the "FICB Lexicon" in five languages of some 300 terms used in the production and tasting of wines and also by ratifying a "Guide for the organization of competitions for the blind recognition of grape varieties and appellations" for the use of the wine brotherhoods.

There was recognition of the awarding of five FICB Diplomas of Honor having been presented in 2022 to international personalities from the world of wine and brotherhoods. Specifically mentioned were those awarded to Joanne DePuy (U.S.A.), Denis Burger (U.S.A.), Dr. Julij Nemanic (Slovenia), Harry Pallada (Netherlands), and Michel Rossi (Switzerland).

Patrick Pons, Grand Master of the Illustrious Order of the Knights of Medusa, was elected as member of the Board of Administration and Vice President for the South of France.

The new FICB website was launched during the General Assembly (www.winebrotherhoods.org). Please log on and peruse the new website for detailed information on upcoming events etc.

The General Assembly was followed by a lunch at the Musée du Vin in Paris, the headquarters of the federation, and a "Parisian" dinner at the Maison de l'Alsace on the Champs-Elysées. Remember KOV members - the Annual General Assembly is open to all. Although not a warm time of the year in Paris, it remains a spectacular city to visit. Watch for next year’s meeting dates - likely a date in late January 2024.

Per Vitem, Ad Vitam!!

FICB International Congress ~ REPORT Pat Pingitore

DUFFY

NEWPORT BEACH HARBOR

BOAT

TOUR

On August 7 members of the Knights of the Vine Orange County boarded two Duffy Boats and toured the Harbor in Newport Beach, California. The skippers of the vessels were John Moreiko and Bill Losee. These intrepid sailors explored the coves and anchorages of this vast harbor in search of unique visual and auditory delights. Our appreciation of this wonderful and scenic voyage was greatly enhanced by the superb wines that we had diligently stowed aboard for the enjoyment of the crew and passengers. After several hours of sojourn on the waters, we made it fast to the dock without mishap. We departed with a well-founded regret that not more of our brethren were along to enjoy the experience. Wait till next year!

For a second August gathering, we, in the Orange County Chapter, are no dilettantes when it comes to evaluating our red wines. Each offering, whose label is carefully concealed, is scrutinized for clarity, color, nose, and, of course, taste. We have even been instructed in the formally accepted method for tasting a wine that calls to mind the process of gargling. Some of us embrace this manner of wine education and grow in wisdom and discernment. Others have made no progress and, yet, arrive at this annual event with cup in hand and enthusiastically sample each pour of the grape barely able to distinguish a Cab from a Pinot. Our process would, no doubt, truly shock our European counterparts who pride themselves on wine sophistication. No matter. Our little band of brothers (and sisters) grow each year as word leaks out about all the fun we have. This year our Master of the Cellar, Bill Losee, decided to challenge us with a blind tasting of California Reds. The wines chosen to test our discerning palettes were as follows:

Ramsey 2017 Syrah Sonoma County

Eberle 2020 Syrah Paso Robles

Rombauer 2017 Merlot Napa

Duckhorn 2019 Merlot Napa

J Vineyards 2019 Pinot Noir Russian River

Laetitia 2018 Pinot Noir Arroyo Grande

After much tasting the overall landslide win ner was Rombauer. This was actually not too surprising since our group enjoys fruit forward wines.

To compliment the various wines a wide variety of assorted foods were prepared by Master of the Cellar Bill Losee and wife Barbara. A big thank you for all your efforts.

Our deepest thanks to Knight Jeff and wife Sue Grether who have opened their lovely home year after year to host this wonderful event  continued >>>

RATE THE REDS

The Christmas Gathering

Christmas is a time when most of us abandon our commitment to diet and drink and indulge ourselves in the culinary delights served up by our members, recreating meals of such bounty that our waistlines must expand to consume even the smallest portions on our plate. This year was no different as we met as always at the beautiful and highly decorated home of Knight John and Dianne Artim on December 3.

Members bring a variety of foods and varied creations from our members’ kitchen to enjoy. Naturally the wines offered were diverse as required by the universally accepted practices of proper “wineology”. From appetizers to dessert, we rejoiced at our good fortune and wisdom to be members of the OC Knights of the Vine which always have fun and have become great friends.

After a few glasses of wine, the serious fun begins as members draw numbers to open unknown and totally decorated, but concealed wine bottles. The round begins with someone selecting one of the beautiful packages. Then the strategy begins as succeeding attendees have the option to choose from the display of concealed wines or they can steal a bottle from one of the previously revealed packages, however, on the third steal that bottle is frozen and belongs to them.

Everyone goes home with the same number of bottles as they brought and have new and exciting additions to add to their collections. A great time of fellowship and fun is had by all.

Say the magic word catfish and they will come! Southerners love this regional delicacy and cooler weather in the fall is a perfect time to get together for a Fish Fry. The Tennessee chapter gathered at the home of Vice Commander Mike Fink and Knight Judy Fink to enjoy fried catfish, hushpuppies and all the fixins prepared by Jon Walker, The Fry Guy. The evening was perfect for dining alfresco and holding our annual business meeting before enjoying the catfish dinner. Commander Bob Bennett reviewed our events of the past year and asked for suggestions and volunteers for upcoming events. Plans were made for our upcoming Assemblage, The Feast of St. Vincent. Grand Administrative Officer, Tom Webb, reported on upcoming national and international travel events that members could attend. A large assortment of wines was brought by members and guests and the consensus was that unoaked Chardonnay pairs best with catfish.

The annual Christmas Party is always a festive event and was hosted this year by Knights Beth and Tom Webb. With a theme of Italian fare and wines, we feasted on appetizers, garlic shrimp pasta, lasagna, chicken alfredo and eggplant, tomatoes and peppers pasta, accompanied by salads and vegetables. Tiramisu and Italian crème cake were the perfect ending to our Italian feast. Tom Webb reported on the several year delayed spring trip to Alba where he and Beth joined ten other KOV members from around the country. He compared the Barbaresco and Barolo wines, produced from the same grape. A new favorite white, Arneis, was discovered! Dinner was accompanied by a variety of fabulous wine varieties, including Chianti, Barbaresco, Barbera, Barolo, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Arneis, Prosecco and Pinot Grigio. Members and guests lingered long after dinner enjoying the company of friends and fellow wine lovers. It was a fitting finale to another successful year for the Tennessee chapter.

Gayle, Holly, Sheila, Debbie, Peggy, Christina

Angie, Steve, Debbie, Jay, Karrie

Bob Bennett and Mike Fink at Fish Fry

Bob, Steve, Robert, Tom, Guy

Do AVAs Matter?

American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) do they really matter? Like all things in wine, this is quite subjective and comes down to why you drink wine, how much specific flavors matter to you in wine, and just how much of a wine enthusiast–lovingly referred to as wine geek – you are. Let’s start with defining what an AVA is: The accepted government definition for an AVA is a specific type of appellation of origin used on wine labels; and a delimited grape-growing region with specific geographic or climatic features that distinguish it from the surrounding regions and affect how grapes are grown. So, it certainly matters to the government, to label designers, and to the wineries who want to let wine-lovers know that they belong to a specific wine region and crew. We all want to belong, right? Maybe even be in the cool crew?

Since I live and make wine in Napa Valley, I’m going to stick to the region I know best. Does it matter to people that a wine is from Napa Valley? The answer to that, at a global level, is a resounding YES! Some of the most beloved wines in the world come from Napa Valley and it’s widely accepted by the global wine community that Napa Valley is among the best places in the world to grow grapes and make wines. It’s also one of the top wine tourism destinations in the world. Nice crew to be a member of, right? For this reason, the prices of everything, from farming to bottle, are also quite a bit more expensive. As a result, the wines are too. Are they better? Are they worth the price? Well… they are almost all incredibly high-quality wines, but they’re only better if YOU like them better. Oh, and something you should know… anything you buy that’s over $90 is more expensive due to brand or demand, not quality.

Given that this is about personal taste, the answer

to that same question, at a personal level, is… maybe! It matters a great deal if you know you like wines that are made in a certain way or from a certain soil or region; like a big, bold Napa Valley Cabernet – Cab is king, they say. Or maybe you don’t like a wine in a certain way? An oaky, buttery chardonnay, for example–which come in and out of fashion like baggy jeans and neon colors. Knowing if you like a wine from a specific region may help you find new wines and hone in on varietals, wineries, and wines that you love to drink or pair. And that can be very helpful in picking a wine for your collection, for a special occasion, for a meal, or for impressing your friends.

Digging one level deeper you would learn that there are 16 sub-AVAs in Napa Valley – from Calistoga to Carneros – and you might even be able to tell the difference between some of those. I can…sometimes. They are all different or they wouldn’t have gotten their AVA certification, but even for someone like me, who lives and makes wine here, it can be nearly impossible to guess the sub-AVA from which a wine originates. I try to break it into four sub-AVAs: North, South, Mountain, and Valley. That helps me sort things out.

At the end of the day the only thing that really matters is that you, yes YOU, like the wine. So, use the AVA as a tool to learn more about the wines that you like. Use it as a guide to help decide where you may want to visit and find characteristics that will help you target new AVAs and regions. And if you really want to geek out start tastings wines from all the different AVAs and decide for yourself if they really are different …and if you care or not.

Ian Devereux White is the winemaker and founder of Smith Devereux Wines and is a wine writer and Wine Director for San Francisco Magazine. • Located in Napa Valley and offering a very inclusive and laid-back approach to the enjoyment of wine, Smith Devereux offers a free tour and tasting as well as a 20% discount online to KOV members. Details can be found at www.KOV.org.

Thomas Jefferson Harvest Dinner

The Nation’s Capital Chapter honors Thomas Jefferson in the fall each year as our third President and the first person to plant vineyards in the United States of America- right here in the Commonwealth of Virginia, at his home in Monticello.

Nations

Capital Nations

We held our annual Thomas Jefferson Harvest Dinner at Ris – a Michelin rated bistro in Northwest Washington DC. The executive chef, Ris Lacoste, is one of the most respected and dedicated chefs working in Washington DC today. Chef Ris’ farmers market fresh menus change often to showcase year round local offerings. Her inventive, creative style reflects the seafood of her New England roots, the classics of her Paris training, the freshness of her market obsession and the tradition and familiarity of her love for classic American Diner fare.

The evening started with some hors d’oeuvres - Gougeres fried scallops on cured lemons and smoked salmon rillettes. These were paired with a Villaudiere Sancerre Blanc 2021 and Domaine des T’erres de Velle Bougnogne, Core d’Or 2018. We toasted Knight Kevin Henry and Stephanie Audain’s recent marriage and welcomed new guests Bob and Beverly Dean. The first course was an oyster and champagne stew with celery root cream, ham, celery and walnut. It was an

unexpected delight paired with a grateful and generous Cave de Turckheim Traditions Cremant NV. Next was pepita crusted salmon with shrimp, chilies, hominy, tomatoes, lime butter, pico de gallo and ancho crema served with a beautifully sculpted Broadley Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016. It was utterly fresh and delicious. The third course was an intermezzo of pear sorbet to cleanse the palate. Followed by an absolutely decadent scallop with wild mushroom and apple risotto. This course was paired with a lovely Willamette Valley Iris Chardonnay 2018. The next course was an equally impressive grilled beef tenderloin with grilled red onion, bacon and tomato salad, blue cheese, spinach, olive oil crushed potatoes, steak sauce and onion crisps served with a 2003 Chateau Meyney Saint Estephe. To finish the evening, Chef Ris treated us to a warm apple crostata topped with vanilla ice cream paired with a Chateau Siglas Rabaud 2009.

The food and wine were exceptional as was the venue and the embellishments of the Knights of the Nation’s Capital Chapter. The gala was a huge success as we celebrate another year appreciating the gastronomy and terroir of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the home of Thomas Jefferson.

“Wine brightens the life and thinking of anyone”

– Thomas Jefferson

rosé on the rooftop

The Nation’s Capital chapter’s Knight Ray Herras hosted a Rosé tasting on the rooftop of his swanky new condo on 6 August. Ray was inducted at last year’s Assemblage and was proud to host his first event. Members gathered for some fine Rosé and an absolutely stunning view of the sunset in Silver Spring, Maryland. The venue was a comfortable place to gather and catch up on each other’s lives while munching on crudité and sipping wines. The sunset was spectacular and the Nation’s Capital Knights hope this will be a recurring venue for events.

EXCITING MEMBERSHIP NEWS!

More benefits keep being added to your membership! These wineries are offering you special savings. Please take advantage of them! And remember to say THANK YOU!

FRIENDS OF KOV

Boisset Collection – Boisset Collection 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 2030% savings. (Some exclusions will apply.)

Maroon Wines – A 25% discount is offered to all KOV members. Just enter KOV25 as the discount code at checkout at maroonwines.com

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 smithdevereux.com.

Nalle Winery – Receive a 20% discount on all wine purchased at nallewinery.com with code KOV20.

Klinker Brick – Receive a 25% discount on all wine purchased at klinkerbrickwinery.com with code KBKOV25.

SUMMER PARTY AT LADY BIRD LAKE

On Wednesday, September 14th, the Austin Chapter celebrated the winding-down days of summer (considering Austin temperatures, fall isn’t that big a deal) with a party on the lakeshore veranda midway up the towering Northshore apartments in downtown Austin. The weather was perfect for the outdoor part of the event, which featured a stunning view of Austin’s Lady Bird Lake and the grand sweep of the Hill Country.

Being a part of the burgeoning downtown skyscape added to the urbane feel of the event and the conversations were lively and varied. A light breeze made the pre-sundown time pleasant, and Knights and Gentle Ladies shared stories about their summer trips and plans for the rest of the year. Some of the guests live downtown and they were glad to answer questions about “which building is that” and how they like living in a high-rise.

Passed hors d’oeuvres, a delightful Brut Blanc, and a Sicilian Chardonnay started things off right on the culinary front. After everyone had gathered and had glasses in their hands, Master Commander Randy Groves made opening remarks. Then his wife, Maître de Partis Deb Groves, announced the slate of events for 2022-23, which brought on a round of applause.

As the sun was descending past the hills to the west, the heavy hors d’oeuvres buffet was ready, and the guests lined up for the delectable offerings. Austin Catering did a magnificent job of providing a varied and tasty menu, and their servers were friendly and efficient.

Quickly, guests found places to sit on comfortable chairs and couches and at the long dining table to eat. Talk turned to football (especially the recent University of Texas game), and happenings around town. The two red wines being served were perfect accompaniments to the food. It was a grand time in the heart of Austin, and everyone agreed that belonging to Knights of the Vine is a wonderful experience.

The wines from the Chapter’s cellar included:

• 2013 Ramuland Brut Blanc de Noir Cuvee Marie Louise

• 2019 Planeta Chardonnay

• 2016 Domain de la Charbonniere CDP Les Hautes

Brusquieres

• 2016 World’s End If Six Was Nine Cabernet Sauvignon

Menu prepared by AUSTIN CATERING

Passed hors d’oeuvres

- Fontina risotto cakes topped with roasted tomato & garlic ragout

- Jalapeno-bacon-wrapped chicken diablos

Heavy hors d'oeuvres buffet

- Braised beef short ribs on parmesan polenta wedges with truffled horseradish cream & micro arugula

- Wood grilled chicken & artichoke skewers with lemon shallot sauce

- Truffled mac & cheese

- Spinach, feta & pine nut tartlets

- Roasted brussels sprouts garnished with winepoached grapes, toasted walnuts & balsamic reduction

- Cheesecake brownies & mini cannolis with sweetened ricotta & toasted pistachios

Stories By Forrest Preece, Master Scribe • Photos by Charles Quinn Photography

1 Andrew Heller, Kelley and Travis Lightfoot 2 Jo Carol Snowden and Allen Kemp 3 Gary & Alyson Baum

4 Harvey Kronberg, Cathy Collins, Susan Gatlin 5 Rose Betty and Allan Williams 6 Kent Sullivan and Dennis Jakubowicz 7 Sean Curry, Clare and Rick Lotspeich, Sidney and John Jones, Gerald Stone

Master Commander Randy Groves addressed the guests

ROMANTIC BOAT PARTY ON

Lake Austin

“Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip . . .” Ahoy, mateys! On November 3, a festive crowd of Knights and Gentle Ladies from the Austin chapter donned their casual best and gathered dockside for a ride on the Commodore paddle-wheeler. The placid waters of Lake Austin and perfect weather were the harbingers of a calm and enjoyable cruise, and indeed it was.

The selection of wines from the chapter’s cellar and curated by Cellar Master Chris Hightower provided a fine array of varietals and tastes for the oenophiles onboard, and soon glasses were filled. After the vessel embarked, a Mexican food buffet was opened and the guests lined up to partake of fajitas, queso, guacamole, and more.

As they settled into their places onboard, the lake-faring sailors talked about where they had vacationed during the summer and fall, the upcoming elections, and holiday plans. These discussions were framed against an inspiring backdrop of the sun descending behind the hills to the west and the sight of magnificent homes and estates along the lake.

Maître de Partis Deb Groves made certain that all her carefully laid plans went properly and her husband,

Master Commander Randy Groves, circulated through the crowd of partygoers, saying hello and adding to the lively conversations. Adding to the fun, some Knights and Gentle Ladies brought outstanding bottles from their own cellars to share (including two from Arizona) and even a few cigars were lit.

It was a delightful night, full of wine, food, and friendship. As the happy guests set foot on land again, a few cries of “Per Vitem! Ad Vitam!” echoed through the night.

Marcy Melanson and Eve Michaels

White Wine & Bubbles Selections

- N/V Laherte Frères Champagne Rosé

- 2005 Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru Cote de Lechet

- 2013 Raumland Brut Blanc De Noir Cuvee Marie Luise

- 2016 Simonnet Febvre Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru

- 2015 Domaine Serene Chardonnay Evenstad Reserve

- 2019 Frank Family Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay

- 2014 Varner Chardonnay Spring Ridge Home Block

- 2020 Diatom Santa Barbara County Chardonnay

- 2012 Drouhin Vaudon Chablis 1er Cru Secher

- 2021 Allan Scott Marlbourgh Savignon Blanc

Red Wine Selections

- 2010 Palazzo Proprietary Red Right Bank Napa

- 2016 World's End If Six was Nine Cabernet Sauvignon

- 2015 Petit Gravet Aine Saint Emillion

- 2012 Contino Rioja Gran Reserva

- 2016 Carlisle Winery Petite Sirah

7 Kandace Eakin 8 Andrew & Mary Ann Heller, Eva Womack 9 Gerald & Cindy Stone 10 Susan Gatlin, Lynn

1 Dr. William Deaton and Cecilia Neuhaus Deaton; Anna and Dr. Elwyn Speir 2 Eddie Butler and Rose Betty Williams 3 Bob Stoltz and Dennis Jakubowicz 4 Clare and Rick Lotspeich, Master Commander Randy Groves, Sean Curry 5 Jo & Jim Green 6 Jerry & Susan Gatlin

Nolan, Beverly Newsom

Catching Up Chanellery Chaper

The Chancellery Chapter gathered for several events in the second half of 2022. In mid-July, longtime KOV Chancellery Chapter member, Kevin Stevenson, owner and winemaker at Casque Wines in Loomis, hosted our members. Casque Wines is one of the twenty-five emerging wineries on the Placer Wine Trail, classified with the Sierra Foothills appellation of California. It is a setting so lovely you just have to see it to truly appreciate its beauty. For our event, Kevin had just finished installing a misting system on the patio area where we enjoyed a reserved table for 20, and it’s a good thing because this was one of the hottest days in July’s string of triple digit days. We enjoyed Casque’s award-winning reds, whites, and blends, and feasted on appetizers contributed by our members. Thank you, Kevin Stevenson, for your hospitality.

In August, we ventured south to the Lodi wine region to enjoy a delightful August afternoon outdoors under the spreading oaks and umbrellas at Viaggio Winery

in Acampo. The beautiful, sprawling Viaggio property is situated along and just above the Mokelumne River, notable in California for whitewater kayaking. Commander Chik and Polly Brenneman took time out of their crush duties to join us and talk about upcoming KOV events. In addition, we were delighted to have Commander Ernie Grossman and Margaret Lewicki, as well as Sudsy and Dan Torbeck, all from the KOV Lake Tahoe Region KOV chapter join us. Roselyn Daneke, manager of the tasting room, led the tasting of their award-winning wines. Viaggio is known far and wide for its outstanding brick oven pizzas, and they were enjoyed by all, along with a fresh salad of local greens. Thanks to Roselyn for helping us put on this wonderful afternoon event.

Then in October, It was a beautiful fall day when members of the Chancellery Chapter descended on Healdsburg, in Sonoma County, California’s Alexander Valley. Our day began with a walking tour of downtown Healdsburg led by our own Chancellery Knight Steve

Deas. Steve’s family settled in Healdsburg in the 1950s, however, it should be noted that Steve’s wife, Jane Rosenberg’s family arrived here in the 1850s. The town was established by Harmon Heald, who laid the downtown area in a grid pattern with a Spanish style central plaza, which is a lovely peaceful setting the middle of a charming small town.

We then traveled to Alexander Valley Winery , where we enjoyed our first tasting on the covered terrace of the tasting room. A winery and property so old its origins date back to the Spanish Land Grants of early California. We tasted four wines; a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir, a Zinfandel and a Cabernet. Cyrus Alexander farmed the area for the original owner, Captain Henry Fitch, brother-in-law of Governor Marian Vallejo. After Alexander fulfilled his obligation to Fitch, he was awarded land, in what became known as Alexander Valley.

Our next tasting was at Hafner Winery . Parke Hafner, the son of the original owners, was the winemaker. We tasted a Rosé made from Malbec. From our tasting area under a large shade tree overlooking the Cabernet vines, we moved into their cave where we tasted the 2021 and 2022 Chardonnay from the barrel, followed by their newly released 2019 Chardonnay. It was fun to try this interesting vertical tasting. We then moved to another section of the cave where we tasted two Cabernets. After a rest break, the group met at the Spoonbar Restaurant , where we enjoyed a group dinner with a varied wine selection.

Healdsburg Hafner Vineyards with Parke Hafner

Into the holiday season we went! It seemed a lot more festive this year with the Chapter gathering at the home of Commander and Chargé d’Affairs, Chik and Polly Brenneman. An indoor/outdoor affair, we had a little rain, but it did not dampen the mood. Members and guests brought a bottle of wine to share, and interesting wines were flowing. We started with a few appetizers, including Polly’s house smoked salmon and long-time member, Doug McGilvray’s, famous chili dip with Fritos. There were three, cold busting, soups with sides to warm up our 30 plus guests. We are blessed to have good bakers in our Chapter who helped with nice cookies and finger desserts to top off the evening.

In Memoriam

Don Bade

Don lost his battle with lymphoma on November 4, 2022 and KOV lost a great friend. Don was married to Carol Bade for 64 years and Carol, along with their son David Bade and daughter Debbie Lorenzana were with him at the end and through so many extraordinary experiences as the family shared a wonderful life together that included celebrating New Year’s Eve in Hong Kong, riding mopeds together in Bermuda, and skiing in the Alps. Don enjoyed traveling and visited over 40 countries. He loved collecting wine, flying his twin engine Cessna airplane in his younger years and playing golf with his many friends at the Windsor Senior Men’s Golf Club. He was a member of the Chancellery Chapter for 40 years and served as our Grand Treasurer for 25 years.

He was a graduate of Stanford University with a B.A. in Economics and is survived by his wife Carol, son David and his wife Nancy Lanz, daughter Debbie and her husband Dario Lorenzana and four grandchildren, Antonio, Ava, Nick and Josh … all of whom he was extremely proud of and whose lives he was sure to have had a tremendous impact on … just like he did on all of those friends who loved and appreciated him in KOV.

Nan McCreary

Nan was born in Corning, Iowa on October 7, 1942 while her father was at Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He served in the Army from July 10, 1942 to March 11, 1946, much of that time while in Europe with General Patton and, by the end of the war, his job was to communicate on behalf of Patton and his staff with the civilian war correspondents. Nan seems to

have followed in her father’s footsteps in many ways, one of which was as a writer.

She graduated from the University of Iowa and wrote an article for the campus newspaper. After graduation she moved to Lawrence, Kansas where she worked as a staff writer and editor for the University of Kansas News Bureau. While in Lawrence, she met Jim McCreary, a chemical engineering Ph.D. candidate from Oklahoma. They married in Corning on June 5, 1965 and after a move to Ponca City, Oklahoma they located in Houston where they raised two beautiful daughters, Lynne and Laura, both now living in Los Angeles who have honored their parents in countless ways.

Nan was a golfer, marathoner, volunteer, adventurer, wife, mother and a wonderful friend. Everyone she knew would comment on getting the “Nan hug” which was tight and strong. She loved to travel and made friends around the world, often at our KOV and FICB events. While she came to wine a bit later in life, once she discovered her passion for it, she just wanted to know everything! She would study and question and research and, ultimately, she received a number of certifications. She was recognized in the wine industry as a great writer and interviewed many well-known winemakers. And we are grateful that she shared those talents with KOV and contributed at least one article to every Arbor magazine since 2015. She was as pleased and pleasantly surprised as anyone at the first FICB Wine Tasting & Rating Challenge in June 2019 in Finland when she scored the highest in the Professional Category and received a Certificate and Medal from FICB President Alan Bryden.

She was a member of the Houston Chapter since 2007, serving on the Cadre and Assemblage Committee and was instrumental in organizing the Houston version of the Ladies of the Knight to encourage more wine and membership opportunities.

Nan died at home on February 27, 2023 after complications from surgery. Over 150 friends celebrated this amazing woman and great friend on April 2, 2023. Her impact was huge and she will be terribly missed.

Back to Normal

After recovering from hosting the National Meeting in April, the Lodi Chapter got “back to normal” for the second half of 2022, starting with a KOV Wine Club meeting in July at St. Amant Winery. Located within the City of Lodi, St. Amant is one of the pioneer Lodi wineries, producing wines that are always high in quality while also being very reasonably priced. Manager Nathan Haberkern led us through a detailed tasting of their current offerings and finished off with a sampling of their port-style wines. Made with the traditional Portuguese Port varietals, St. Amant is known for its Port and the current release did not disappoint. Attendees left with many bottles acquired at our usual KOV Wine Club discount.

In August we gathered poolside at Master Commander Gordon MacKay’s house for a Grill and Swill Wine Social. Originally this was planned as a grill and chill event, but since it was outside in August there was not a lot of chill to go around. But there was lots of swilling! Attendees brought a side dish and wine to share, and the Chapter provided the tri-tip. Commander MacKay did the grilling, and nobody fell into the pool, so it was an all-around success.

September started out with scorching heat as we gathered at Marion’s Wine Barn on our usual second Thursday of the month schedule. Even though the afternoon temperature was well over 100 degrees, there was lots of shade as we assembled on the cool grass to enjoy appetizers and wine provided by the attendees and by the hosts, Chris Niebur and Marion Jensen. And of course, thanks to the legendary Lodi Delta breeze, we were able to enjoy some cooling breezes as we talked and imbibed into the evening.

The Chapter enjoyed a very special event in October, as part of the Annual Sandhill Crane Festival that has been celebrated in Lodi for over 20 years. Between October and February, thousands of sandhill cranes migrate to the Central Valley of California after breeding in Alaska, Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Sandhill cranes are among the largest birds in North America with a wingspan reaching 7 feet (2 meters). They are also

John & Gail Kautz at St. Amant

Gordon chatting with guest at St. Amant

Poolside Setting for the Grill and Swill Event

among the oldest birds on our planet and are famous for their amazing courtship “dances” and distinct calls. Whereas sandhill cranes used to number in the millions, they are currently considered an endangered species in California, as their numbers have declined to the tens of thousands due to habitat loss.

Woodbridge, California, in addition to being the home to many fine boutique wineries as well as several major winery facilities (such as Woodbridge Mondavi), is also the home of one of the best reserves to view the sandhill cranes. The Woodbridge Ecological Reserve (Isenberg Sandhill Crane Reserve) offers crane-watching tours from October through February to observe and photograph the wintering waterfowl as well as hear a presentation on cranes and their habitat.

Our Chapter joined in the sandhill crane festivities with a private tour led by docent Mami Starr, the wife of Knight Charlie Starr. We met at the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve in the late afternoon as the cranes begin their evening descent at twilight. Mami provided an information talk about the history of the migration of the cranes, their habit, diet, life range and more. Afterwards, we carpooled to a private viewing station with a wraparound porch that was in the center of a secluded viewing field. There, members enjoyed wine, appetizers, and a close viewing of the sandhill cranes in an intimate setting. Wine experiences in the Central Valley do not get much more unique than this! Everyone had a great time, and kudos to Mami and Charley for their hospitality!

In November the Chapter held a KOV Wine Club meeting at Macchia Winery, a family-owned winery that is legendary for producing big Lodi Zins. Tanya McMahan and Lani Holdener provided a warm greeting and led us through a wonderful tasting of Amorous Sangiovese, Ambiguous Old Vine Zinfandel (Gold medal – CA

State Fair), Mischievous Old Vine Zinfandel and Devious Primitivo. Macchia’s latest accolade is being named Winery of the Year at the 2022 Monterey International Wine & Spirits Competition, and our group agreed that this award is well-deserved.

December is the holiday season and Commander MacKay continued the tradition established by Master Commander Emeritus Ken Levy of hosting the Commander’s Holiday Party. Gordon and Annette welcomed approximately 40 members from the Lodi and Chancellery Chapters to their home just outside of Lodi. The weather that day was frightful, with heavy rainfall and wind that seemed to peak just as the party was starting. However, that did not dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd and it was warm and cozy inside the house. This is always a “bring wine and food to share” event, which ensures that there will be a great variety of Lodi wines and a superb spread of food. A fitting end to our jam packed year of KOV events!

Manager Nathan chatting with members at St. Amant

Celebrating 140 Years!

Our newest Supreme Knight is Eric Wente, Chairman Emeritus of Wente Family Estates. When he was proposed by Monterey Commander Rich Kehoe for this honor, Grand Commander Buddy Hagner said “Why? Surely he’s already a Supreme Knight. How did we miss that?” Indeed a very good question and an oversight that has now been rectified. On February 25, 2023 the Monterey Chapter elevated Eric Wente to Supreme Knight at an Enthronement Ceremony held at the The Club at Pasadera. His elevation to this high honor celebrates his many contributions to the wine industry and his over 35 years of membership in our Order.

When Eric’s grandfather C. H. Wente immigrated to America from Hamburg, Germany, he learned his winemaking skills from Charles Krug in Napa Valley. But it wasn’t long before he established Wente Vineyards on 48 acres in Livermore in 1883. His son, Ernest, was a student in the first class at UC Davis. At that time there were less than five acres of Chardonnay planted. Ernest started going around to the vineyards, looking at which one looked healthy, tasting grapes. He did this for a couple of years. He would get cuttings and then put them in his Chardonnay block and repeating the process over and over. In 1912 he persuaded his father to import cuttings of Chardonnay from Montpellier, France. He continued his work in the vineyard using the French wood and selected California wood and he then proceeded to go through and make selections off that for a while. Much of this continued during Prohibition. As late as 1955-1960, there were only about 300 acres of Chardonnay in the state of California. By the early 60s, Wente was doing a very careful quarantine situation where they had UC Davis certify that the vineyard ground was clean. UC Davis began going around to

select vineyards and examining those they considered to be good. For the Chardonnay, they went to McCray Vineyard and when they asked where he got his vines, he admitted he got it from Ernest Wente. Davis then determined that the Wente Chardonnay was the best expression of the Chardonnay grape. Ernest Wente’s work ultimately resulted in what we now know as the “Wente Clone” and today over 75% of all California Chardonnays stem from his work and the development of that clone from the Wente Family property.

To keep the vineyards and winery in production during Prohibition, the family made sacramental wine. Once Prohibition was thankfully repealed, Ernest and his brother Herman released the nation’s first varietallylabeled Chardonnay, a 1936 vintage. Previously, rather than use the name of the grape, bottles were simply labeled as “White Burgundy”. This was a radical move at the time and became a hallmark of the American wine industry’s success. The family is frequently referred to as California’s First Family of Chardonnay and it’s easy to understand why.

Herman Wente made the wines and collaborated with other California vintners. They established the Wine Institute in San Francisco to promote the state’s wines. The Wente family still is a presence there after all these many years with Christine Wente (fifth generation) currently serving on its Board of Directors.

By Trish Hagner

Inspired by Nan McCreary

ERIC WENTE Supreme Knight

Following his Uncle Herman’s lead in promoting California wines, Karl L. (third generation) was also one of the first vintners in the state to export wine to other countries in the post-World War II years. With Eric’s (fourth generation) continued focus, Wente now exports wine to over 75 countries.

Ernest (second generation) and Karl L. Wente expanded the family’s vineyard with plantings in 1964 in the Arroyo Seco region of Monterey County. In addition to Chardonnay, they began to plant Pinot Noir and Riesling. And in 1966, the family led the way with one of the first tasting rooms in California.

Raised at the winery, Eric learned the art of winemaking from his father and grandfather. His interest in modern winemaking methods developed during his studies at Stanford University, where he majored in chemistry, and at the University of California at Davis, where he received a Master of Science degree in food science, specializing in enology.

Eric and his wife, Arel, have two children, Christine and Karl, who are actively involved in the family business. Both fifth generation winegrowers, Karl D. Wente is also the chief winemaker and Chief Operating Officer.

The Arbor recently had the opportunity to visit with Eric and learn not only of his history, but that of his family who has the oldest, continuously operating family winery in America. Located in Livermore, California, you can probably imagine all the changes this family has seen and Eric has been right in the middle of it.

The Arbor (TA): Congratulations on this honor! It seems that you were destined to be in the wine business. Did you ever think about not going into the family business?

Eric Wente (EW): Growing up, I didn’t particularly think about it. It was more of “this is what you do based on where we lived”. You worked in the vineyards

or in the cattle company until you got out of college and then you had to start making decisions and by that time, I thought “yes, this is what I want to do”.

TA: In preparing for this interview, we learned that you have a Family Council that is described as a 5 year plan where you have to leave the family business, go to work somewhere else, gain some leadership skills and have other experiences and then come back. Was that the experience for you?

EW: No. That was not the case for me or my brother Phil. We were pre-family council. My sister, Carolyn, did go to work for someone else and we, at that point, weren’t as organized and set up. It was much smaller overall and, in hindsight, it probably turned out okay that we didn’t go away because my father died in 1977, just 3 years after I got out of school and those 3 years gave me an opportunity … an education … that was much more valuable than 3 years anywhere else.

TA: When you were finishing school, you couldn’t know that you’d only have 3 years with your father so when you were establishing your base, what did you feel was the most important lesson that your dad taught you?

EW: My father and grandfather both had very strong work ethics and I can hear my father on Monday mornings coming in and saying “Okay, let’s get the balloon off the ground boys. Nobody should be standing around here!” That, and a strong sense of family.

TA: Your great grandfather, C. H. Wente, was an immigrant and he started the wine business in 1883. Your father continued the tradition. Your family has now built an amazing wine business and changed the landscape in your area in so many ways. What do you think they would think about the business today?

EW: I think my father might think this was a good evolution and staying with the times and sometimes I think my grandfather would think the same thing, but sometimes I think he might think it a bit of damn fool nonsense!

>>>

TA: In what way?

EW: Just that he might question us thinking we needed to develop the Livermore Valley in terms of a destination , as an appellation and for having a golf course, a concert series, a restaurant, food activities .. all that … might be a bit more than just making good wine. I think my father was much more aware of where core brand marketing was going to go.

TA: What is it like to work with family all the time?

EW: Well, given that I haven’t had any other jobs or anything to compare it to, it’s like any business where everyone is assigned to their own areas. Day to day you may see someone or you may not. In the beginning, it was really just me, Phil, Carolyn and my grandfather Ernest. So when we needed to meet, we just went into Phil’s office and had a conversation. As we got bigger and things matured, that style of business didn’t work anymore because we needed more input and everyone needed to feel more included so we now run with a classic management structure.

TA: You mentioned the golf course and concert series and more and it’s clear that your family has a tremendous community focus. That includes some of your winery neighbors. When some of them have needed help, you’ve been there for them; lending equipment, offering guidance and, when it was apparent they weren’t going to be able to make it, an investment group was formed to purchase the property. Tell us more about that.

EW: Yes, we were always willing to help and look out for our neighbors. There were approximately 5 active wineries in the valley in the early 90s so we needed to get more wineries in and we went through a whole zoning activity and legislation at the county level and in 1993 got the South Valley Livermore Plan to provide a buffer of agriculture and plan for where development could go and not go. We set this thing up so there could be sustainable vineyard activity in Livermore and today there are over 50 wineries so we managed to turn the whole thing around and get a very active and flourishing group of wineries here in the valley. That was our goal. It’s not only wineries; it’s a life style.

About that time, we put in a white tablecloth restaurant that consistently received high reviews and an 18 hole championship golf course [designed by Greg Norman]. We added a concert series and in 2012 established the Wente Foundation for Arts Education; a foundation for art and music in the Livermore Valley. Many of the after-school programs have gone away so if we don’t support it, it won’t happen and it’s too important to let it go. My daughter Christine, who incidentally was the first member of the fifth generation to join the family business, is the president of the foundation. That was one of the things we set out to do with the foundation. We put together all of these things to make the Livermore Valley more vibrant and viable for the wine business and so far, knock on wood, I think we have been successful.

TA: The restaurant has now closed. How is your business changing?

EW: We converted the restaurant to a tasting lounge where we do wine and food pairings which seems to be a very popular format with the younger generations. Staffing became extremely difficult … actually impossible … so now instead of hosting wedding and other events, our facilities are available for rent and caterers come in to take care of those events. We can focus on wine.

TA: Besides the Wente wines, you have some other brands. What are those?

EW: They include Murrieta’s Well, Ravel & Stitch and Angel’s Ink. While these are all part of the family, they are kept separate for marketing and distribution

purposes. In terms of brands, they are individual brands we hope people look at. For example, Murrieta’s Well has a very loyal following and a wine club that may be bigger than the Wente wine club. They are fanatics about this little winery. We want them to each have their own independent recognition.

TA: What about new projects?

EW: We are in the midst of activities to maintain and update our production assets and new bottling line to make us more efficient and, hopefully, long-term cost effective while also making us qualitatively better at what we do. Second, in the vineyards, we are always replanting; it’s a constant and ongoing process. We farm several thousand acres for ourselves and others and you’ve got to be replacing 100 acres a year just to stand still. Right now we’re not trying to expand so much as we’re trying to stand still, but some high tech features in the vineyard should give us more yield and a higher quality so we are working our way through that.

TA: You are now the Chairman of the Board Emeritus. What does your daily routine look like?

EW: My active daily involvement now is reading all the email traffic that comes through and maybe wandering around a bit to see what’s going on. I don’t have any line management responsibility. My brother and I laugh about the fact that the biggest thing we have today is our opinions! We want to be taken seriously, but not too seriously because it is the next generations’ turn to do so.

The fifth generation includes my daughter Christine, son Karl, Phil’s three daughters Jordon, Aly and Niki and Carolyn’s son Bucky who is currently learning the wholesale business from Southern Glazer’s. They are running the business and it looks pretty good to me! Celebrating 140 years is something we all feel very proud about!

North Carolina North

Moving Out of COVID’s Shadow with

Exciting Get-Togethers

The 2022 calendar year saw the North Carolina Chapter continue its move forward, seizing upon many fun and exciting opportunities to get together as wine enthusiasts and also contributing to the continuing education of tomorrow’s winemakers. This was especially so in the second half of the year.

On November 12, the Knights and Gentle Ladies of the North Carolina Chapter gathered at the Angus Barn Restaurant (https:// angusbarn.com) in Raleigh for that venue’s 2022 Medieval Dinner. This annual event, which is always sold out one year in advance, carries the exciting pageantry of medieval life with sword fights, music, costumes and an elaborate and tasty feast prepared table side by the chefs. The first course featured a duck pot pie, served with mead. The second course featured a spinach salad with dates and almonds served with a Belgium Christmas Ale. Following the palate cleanser, the main course featured bone-in ribeye carved tableside with an array of side dishes and a rich California Zinfandel. The dessert course featured elderflower pot de crème with toasted fig pudding served with a German mulled wine. The knights and gentle ladies of our chapter came dressed for the occasion and thoroughly enjoyed this unique dining experience as only the staff at The Barn can offer.

On November 16, our chapter proudly presented the Dr. Charles W. Averre Memorial Scholarship to a student enrolled in the enology and viticulture program at Surry Community College (https://surry.edu). This scholarship award, in the amount of $500, is presented annually in memory of Dr. Charles W. Averre, who was professor emeritus of plant biology at NC State

University. The late Dr. Averre was instrumental in the rebirth of North Carolina’s wine industry and was an active member of our chapter, serving for many years as a member of its cadre and encouraging wine education. In that same spirit, the enology and viticulture program at Surry Community College continues the tradition of contributing to the growth of the wine industry in North Carolina and throughout our nation and the world. Mr. Joseph Pearman was selected to be the recipient of the 2022 scholarship and was presented his award during the Tenth Annual Southeastern Grape and Wine Symposium hosted by the College. The knights and gentle ladies in attendance offered their congratulations to Mr. Pearman for being named the recipient of our 2022 scholarship award and we also want to offer our sincere appreciation to the faculty and staff at Surry Community College for their ongoing contributions to the wine industry.

Continuing our busy November, knights and gentle ladies converged at Raffaldini Winery’s (https://www. raffaldini.com) Annual Assemblaggio event on November 20. This annual wine-blending class is hosted by owner Jay Raffaldini each weekend in November and is so popular that each class sells out months in advance. Combining the humor that is reflected in Jay’s personal-

By Jeff Price, Master Commander

Jim & Cathy Ward, Jeff Price and Lisa Tillis

Jim & Cathy Ward, Jeff Price and Lisa Tillis

ity with the wealth of wine knowledge and love for Italian wines that is Jay’s heritage, these classes offer an exciting opportunity to learn more about wine blending and to be the winemaker for a day. With the number of attendees limited for each class, and with each class offering so much fun for its participants (as well as the opportunity to expand one’s knowledge of wine and wine-blending), it’s easy to see why they sell out so quickly. We salute Jay Raffadlini and Raffaldini Vineyards for their contributions to North Carolina’s rapidly growing wine industry.

The calendar had barely turned to 2023 when the knights and gentle ladies of the NC KOV Chapter met at the Umstead Hotel (https://www.theumstead. com) for the North Carolina Fine Wines Dinner. This unique event, featuring many of North Carolina’s best winemakers, had a seating limit of 40 persons but 25% of those attending were NC KOV members. Each course was paired with a special North Carolina wine and the winemaker was on hand to give a brief presentation about how the wine was made and why it was selected to pair with the specific food served for that course. This event proved to be a huge gastronomic success that any wine enthusiast would love! Each food

course was excellently prepared by the hotel’s chefs and served by a friendly and professional wait staff.

The 2019 Piccione Vineyards (https://www.piccionevineyards.com) “Vino di Lusso” was the featured wine paired with the passed hors d’ oeuvres of North Carolina oysters, a variety of North Carolina cheeses and a scallion scone with sweet pepper jam. The 2021 Raffaldini Vineyards (https://raffaldini.com) Vermentino Superiore was paired with a first course offering of scallops served in a coconut curry broth with tapioca, carrots and peanuts. The second course offering of duck confit with wild mushrooms was paired with the 2017 Jones Von Drehle (https://www.jonesvondrehle.com) Petit Verdot. The main course offering of beef and lamb duo, served with garlic creamed potatoes, shallot jam and braised spinach was paired with two wines – the 2017 Sanctuary Vineyards (https://www.sanctuaryvineyards.com)

“Double Barrel” blend of Petit Verdot and Tannat and the 2019 Dynamis (https://www.dynamisestatewines. com) “The Mountain” Cabernet Sauvignon.

Finally, the dessert course of chambourd mousse, raspberry, and flourless cake was paired with the 2012 Windsor Run Cellars (https://www.windsorrun.com)

“Midnight Run Grand Reserve.” The evening was an incredible dining and wine tasting experience and the NC knights and gentle ladies who managed to snag tickets for this sold out event are very appreciative to all of North Carolina’s winemakers who strive to produce fine wines to serve with fine foods such as what was prepared and served at the Umstead on this occasion.

The North Carolina KOV Chapter is busy making plans for our 2023 events and we invite all knights and gentle ladies to visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook/KOVNC.com for details of upcoming events, including our 2023 Grand Assemblage. Per Vitem! Ad Vitam!

Joseph Pearman 2022 NC KOV Scholarship recipient

Joseph Pearman 2022 NC KOV Scholarship recipient

Saúde!

FICB Wine Discovery Tour in Madeira

On September 22-26, 2022, the members of the Confraria Enogastronómica da Madeira hosted the First F.I.C.B. sponsored Wine Discovery Tour, in Madeira Island. In addition to our Madeiran brothers and sisters, we had 27 representatives from France, Italy, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland and the United States. Our KOV U.S. members represented our chapters in Houston, Lake Tahoe, Tennessee, San Francisco, Chancellery and Nation’s Capital.

Day 1 We arrived on the 22nd of September and were met at the airport by our gracious hosts. This was just the beginning of their generosity. Over the following days, we would experience and learn about the beauty of their country and the kindness of its people. Lush landscape and a mountainous terrain added to our

understanding of how they live and move about this island. Being so mountainous, we were to experience an impressive road system that included many tunnels! In fact, we learned that there are over 100 tunnels and we’re pretty sure we drove through most of them as we crisscrossed over the next several days.

The first event was a Welcome Reception at the Four Views Hotel Baia and our very first Madeira wine toast. The regional secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, Humberto Vasconcelos, congratulated the Madeiran brotherhood for this unique opportunity to celebrate Madeira and regional wines with friends worldwide.

By Claire Cuccio

Day 2 The first stop was in downtown Funchal at Blandy’s Wine Lodge, where we learned the history of Madeira wine and how it is fortified. The grape varieties typically used in Madeira wine include Tinta Negra Mole, Seiçal, Verdelho, Bual (aka Boal) and Malvasia (aka Malmsey). We paired fine chocolates with 4 varieties of Madeira and it was amazing how they complimented each other. Our next stop was Estreito de Câmara de Lobos where we were greeted by a band composed of wine guild members and had the opportunity to stomp grapes. Lunch was amazing! Grilled meat (espetada) hung from hooks at our table served with a corn (milho) side dish and paired with Xavelha, the local red wine. We went back to the hotel for a bit of free time (naps were in order) and later off to dinner in Santa Cruz at Camacha Restaurant.

As we drove from place to place, we saw gardens and fruit-bearing trees everywhere. We also, obviously, saw lots of vineyards, but for most of us, the vineyards looked different. They were taller and a bit thinner with most of the leafy portion just across the top. We learned that they use a traditional way of training the vine in pergolas or trellises know as “latada” in Portuguese. Because of the often steep slope, most of the grapes are picked by hand and the workers actually walk around under the canopy and find the grapes hanging from the trellis. This method also allows for more air circulation

which is important because their climate is so humid and since space is limited for this island nation, they can also plant another crop of some kind under the latada. Oh, the things we learn!

Day 3 Our first stop was at the Mercado dos Lavradores- the farmer’s market in Funchal, where we admired the colorful and often unknown fruits and vegetables, picked up a few souvenirs (many liked the Madeiran traditional hats-the carapuca). The next stop was Sao Vicente at a local winery, Quinta Barbusano, where we sampled six wines and enjoyed the view of terraced vineyards in the mountains. We had a late lunch in Chão da Riberia at a private house that we had to hike into. We were greeted by a band and the meal was the Madeiran version of low country boil (called Panelo) with cabbage and pork tasting Seiçal and Terras do Avô. Many of the Madeiran brotherhood’s family members attended. It was a great afternoon of camaraderie and wine!

Day 4 - Last Day Madeira We went to the Main Hall of the Madeira Regional Assembly downtown where we were hosted by José Manuel Rodrigues, President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira. Several of our members were enthroned into the Confraria Enogastronomica da Madeira and received carapuca hats and official certificates. We celebrated the event with Madeira wine and traditional honey cake. Then we were whisked off to the North Shore, Engenho in Porto da Cruz, for sugar cane agricultural rum at Casa Do Rum and were surprised to find that President Rodrigues joined us for lunch. We sampled their Rum 970 Reserve, made onsite. We ate lunch at Quinta do Furão in Santana where we had fish, pork and a simply decadent Madeira wine ice cream, paired with Terra Bona, Beneca de Canudo and Pefra de Fogo wines.

Our final event was a formal “farewell gala” dinner in the rooftop lounge of the Four Views Hotel. Executive Chef Octávio Freitas prepared an incredible menu paired with still and fortified wines. Each guest was presented with a bottle of Madeira wine bottled specifically for the Confraria Enogastronomica. We appreciated the terrific organization and fellowship of the Madeiran brotherhood and the opportunity to share their country, food and wine with us. We look forward to visiting with our new friends again in Porto for the 2023 FICB Congress!

Hallo-Wine!

As fall approached it was time for our chapter’s most loved event of the year....HalloWine! Our annual costume party was held at the House of the Jackson Pearl located in the artsy city of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. In a word, this venue is “hip.”

With so many beautiful people and wine-induced costume choices, it was hard to select the best of the best, but the job had to be done. So bribes were paid, wine was consumed, and choices (both good and bad) were made. I’m happy to announce that our Avatar Couple won for best costume with body paint and aesthetics that were amazingly good… right out of Hollywood! Our 2nd runner-up was our Kiss Couple, who looked like they had come off stage. Honorable mention is, by unanimous decree, the Cat Scratch Fever Girls because who doesn’t love cats?

Christmas MerryMingle

As the year wraps up, our Christmas Merry Mingle was hosted by Master Commander John Boothby and wife Adrienne on a December evening filled with conviviality, good food, excellent wine selections, and outstanding charcuterie.

Despite a stormfront moving through the area that produced 50 mile per hour winds, horizontal rain, and a few waterspouts, our members bravely met to fulfill their duty of drinking as much wine as the Boothby’s had on hand. Several Knights were forced to march from the wine cellar, but John restored order once they realized more wine was available upstairs.

To keep his fellow Knights out of his wine cellar, John wisely chose to invite vintner Manny Frias of FRIAS Wines from Napa Valley to serve his choice selections of Block Five, SMD, and Lady of the Dead.

These wine selections offered by Manny paired well with the broad selection of food prepared by the members. Another successful year in the books for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter!

WINE SCHOOL is SO COOL

It was “back to school” for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter at the Ohr – O’Keefe Museum in Biloxi!

The Knights and Ladies were treated to a Wine 001 Class with a presentation by Mark Warren Advanced Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers. The venue was the iconic Ohr Museum, designed by architect Frank Gehry. The sprawling oak-canopied campus and the view of the Mississippi Sound created the perfect setting to learn about wine and, even better, to taste some wine.

Mark covered a broad swath of knowledge and provided our class with insights into developing a wine list for events that balanced out creativity and familiarity. Mark advises if you have an event at a restaurant to work with the Sommelier. Other topics that were covered included glassware, temperature, color of wine, nose notes and price points, but we all know that price is no object if you’re entertaining KOV members!

Now, on to the wine. Mark served a Paul Laurent, Brut, Cuvee du Fondateur, which would appeal to most enthusiasts of a Pinot Noir, which isn’t surprising because the blend is 75% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay, and 5% Meunier. Just add a Knight, a Lady and a nice bit of sirloin and that’s an evening!

Next, we had a Murgo, Etna Rosso D.O.C. The blend? No blend! 100% Nerello Mascalese from vines that were 30+ years old. The fruit was lovingly harvested by hand and aged exclusively in stainless steel.

We wrapped up the evening with Coquerel Estate, Cabernet Franc from Walnut Wash Vineyard. This Napa Valley offering is 100% Cabernet Franc wine aged in French Oak. Ahhh, liquid gold for the dry red wine lover.

Welcoming Fall with BAKER FAMILY WINES

by Cathie Sandstrom Smith

On October 15, 2022, the Los Angeles Chapter had not just one, but two special guests at our Welcome Fall event: Chik and Polly Brenneman. Chancellery Chapter Commander Chik Brenneman enjoyed a long career at UC Davis School of Enology, training a new generation of winemakers and growers. Now he’s back doing what he loves as the winemaker at Baker Family Wines. He and Major League Baseball great, Manager Dusty Baker, have created a line of hand crafted, limited production wines. This special evening was an opportunity for members to “ask an expert” as we enjoyed and learned about the wines Chik had selected to feature. Our chapter supports a scholarship program at UC Davis, so Chik was a celebrity in his own right to us.

We met at the home of Vice Commander Janet Hamilton at 6 on a lovely evening to sip sparkling wine in the garden. The sun waited to set until after we had gathered. (Janet had made special arrangements. She’s that gracious a host.) Greeting Chik and Polly was like a reunion for many of us.

About forty members and guests filled Janet’s dining room and overflowed into the living room and library, which made conversation easy. Chik positioned himself so he could be seen by everyone as he introduced the wines.

Our first wine was a Proprietary White from Baker Family Wines, served with a mini fish taco. Perfect for a Southern California evening! The second course was a warm winter squash soup we enjoyed with Baker Family Sauvignon Blanc. Chik and Janet chose the Baker Proprietary Red Blend to accompany stuffed shells with ricotta and spinach. Our main course was lamb and lentils, a great welcome to winter menus, paired with a wonderful Baker Family Pinot Noir. Dessert carried the fall theme with a pumpkin gingersnap cheesecake with Bourbon whipped cream, which had us all anticipating Thanksgiving and beyond!

The evening reminded us of the rich resources we have within our own organization’s various chapters. We’ll be issuing more invitations!

Gail the Caterer

Lucy Zheng and Rosie Wageschiet

Chik & Polly Brenneman on either side of , Janet Hamilton

Tina Cheng, Mary Robbins, Chik and Polly Brenneman

Marcia Marino, Debbie Ludford and Rosie Wageschiet

Thom Cooney Crawford and John Hamilton, Jr.

The Pauper’s Christmas Feast

The invitation for December 18 opened with a call to “Bring Out Those Christmas Sweaters!” After several years of opening the holiday season with a formal event at the end of November or early December, we decided to change things up a bit by having a more informal gathering. We’d simplify everything--menu, dress—and concentrate on being together at one of our favorite places: Vice Commander Janet Hamilton’s home in La Cañada, in the foothills of the San Gabriels. Just the elevation you’d need to see reindeer flying.

Instead of a complex menu, we created The Pauper’s Christmas Feast, an elegantly simple buffet supper, hearty, healthy soups and bread. Only if you know Janet, you already know to expect something sumptuous.

The first treat was an hors d’oeuvres made with Commander Jim Hamilton’s home-smoked turkey on sourdough rounds with a hint of cranberry sauce. Such a treat, the brie and other cheeses and crudités felt neglected. About 35 of us, some of us outside, some inside, chatted and sipped sparkling wine, catching up the way friends do.

Our feast opened with a lightly dressed spinach and arugula salad with pear and roasted pecans, served at table. A selection of red and white wines were poured to guests’ tastes. The buffet featured crusty French bread and three soups: a creamy carrot purée, duck with rice, and a wild mushroom soup that made you grateful you were offered cups or bowls to ladle it into. Let me just say there were many repeat trips to the buffet.

Desserts included traditional favorites: pumpkin pecan pie, Brown Betty, member and master baker Beverly Scott’s mincemeat tarts, and a cranberry steamed pudding with a vanilla sauce, a Hamilton family tradition.

It was an easy, relaxed evening with great food and wine shared among good friends. And curiously, no Christmas sweaters.

by Cathie Sandstrom Smith

Lucy Zheng, John Hamilton, Jr., Tina Cheng and guest

Janet Hamilton with Bobbi Brundige

Suzanne Bangert with Bobbie Brundige

Roberta Hagopian, Susan Hunt and Mary Lotz

iconicvenues

California’s Monterey County is rich in history and iconic sites. Four of these sites provided the venues for the Monterey Chapter’s event calendar to conclude 2022.

The summer started off with a garden party in the Alta Mesa of Monterey. Bangkok and Bubbles followed the theme of Asian food with sparkling wines. Cochairs Kathy Panetta, Colleen Dutertre and Young Seon Myong provided us with Japanese, Thai, Indian and Korean dishes. Sommelier Colleen sourced sparkling wines from Germany, France, Spain and Italy. East met West in this creative event!

ByTom McGurn

Views of the Pebble Beach Golf Links, Stillwater Cove and Point Lobos combined with various California wines and food prepared by local chefs at the annual October Pier Party . It continues to be one of the chapter’s must-do events. This year we had wines poured by member Knight James Schultze whose family owns the Windy Oaks Winery in Coralitis, a coastal AVA with perfect weather to grow complex Pinot Noir grapes. Winemaker Ryan Kobza poured his eponymous wines from 100 year-old vines grown in the Cienega Valley AVA. An obscure wine, Cabernet Pfeffer derived from the Mourtaou grape gave our palates a new sensation. Member wineries Dawn’s Dream, De Tierra, Galante and Scheid rounded out the wine selections. Chef Didier Dutertre, Chef Wendy Brodie and Grill master Scott Scheid, all KOV members, provided an assortment of tasty treats including escargot, paté, garlic shrimp, an assortment of salads, salmon, and tri tip.

The Carmel Highlands is one of the most spectacular stretches of land and sea in the United States. Candy and Ernie Scalberg, a Cadre member, hosted a November event at their hillside home on a beautiful afternoon complete with a stunning 180° view of the Pacific. The gathering featured wines from Chappellet, regarded as one of the top family-owned wineries in the Napa Valley. The pour included a 2021 Viognier from Carneros, a 2020 El Novillero Vineyard Chardonnay, a 94+ point 2019 Calesa Vineyard Pinot Noir, a 2018 Napa Valley Malbec and a 95-point 2019 Signature Valley Cabernet. Sequoia Chappellet joined us to talk about her family’s history including roles in the Gold Rush, the Southern California aerospace industry, the development of Napa as an important wine region in the 1960s and continuing cultural ties to Big Sur.

Cadre member Chef Wendy Brodie created three courses to accompany the Chappellet selections. A shrimp salad with peach schnapps paired with both the Viognier and Chardonnay. There was a rich slow cooked French Cassoulet with white beans and meats including duck, chicken and sausage. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were popular with the cassoulet. KOV Pit Master Brett Borden prepared a slow cooked Texas Beef Brisket for the main course. It was accompanied by petite potato pancakes stuffed with mushrooms, corn, prosciutto, and a touch of truffle oil. It was a perfect match for the Malbec and Cabernet. Wendy returned with a dessert course featuring luscious French

cheeses and her secret recipe rich chocolate brownies. The afternoon was attended by a nice mix of members, prospective members and guests.

The Chapter’s Holiday Party was held at Casa Abrego in Monterey. It is one of fifty-five historic sites along Monterey’s Path of History. Built in 1834, the building was lovingly restored by a group of prominent local women and now serves as a private club. Casa Abrego members Demi Briscoe and Christine Chin opened their club to the Knights of the Vine. An interesting and tasty selection of our cellar wines and small bites was enjoyed in this beautifully decorated venue.

Sequoia Chappellet talks about the Napa wine region and its continuing cultural ties to Big Sur

POMMORIGIO ITALIANO

By Veronica Rollman Kaufman

Yes, another gorgeous summer day in the beautiful gardens of Master Commander Ernie Grossman and Master Lady Margaret Lewicki. On Saturday, July 30, a large gathering of Lake Tahoe KOV friends and members from our Chancellery Chapter came together to enjoy Italian plates, prepared by Chef Ron Allen and wine pairings by Master Lady Sudsy Torbeck, under the organizational skills of Master Lady Stephanie Harris. As has become the custom, this event has become a musical dinner show. Gentle Lady Susan Horst undertook the programming of Italian opera arias from our Gazebo Stage.

Susan, a conductor, voice teacher, choir member, and soloist with the Reno Philharmonic and Toccata Symphony, performed with Tenor, Robert Bousquet, who too performs on the musical stage, and was accompanied on the keyboard by Donna Axton, Director of the Music Program, Sierra Nevada College.

This delightful concert added immeasurably to this classic afternoon of wine and food. Appetizers, a bread olive oil and balsamic panzanella, an anchovy oriecchette, followed by traditional spaghetti and meatballs served with Aperol Spritz and a Borrasca Prosecco Rosé .

Villa Antinori, 2020 Toscana, Nipozzano Riserva 2018 Chianti Rufina, and Barbara d’Alba GD Vaira 2019. Finally, a tiramisu with Amaretto capped this perfect day.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE

Assemblage

Another first for us; black tie optional, costumes encouraged. And our membership did not disappoint on this Halloween evening Gala held in Reno at the Granlibakken Resort. It was positively festive.

Special guests, Grand Commander Buddy and newly minted Executive Director Trish Hagner, led the program and welcomed the assembled minions and recognized the elevation of Gentle Lady Stephanie Bosco to the Cadre position of Chapter Treasurer.

Twenty-two years earlier our first Assemblage was held at this very location. That superior quality exhibited then is still maintained today. Chef de Cuisine Gene Roberts prepared an elegant presentation with wines matched by our Cellar Master, Sommelier, Master Lady Sudsy Torbeck.

A trio of hors d’oeuvres including crab stuffed crimini mushrooms, fig bruschetta, and artichoke puff pastry swirls was available prior to dinner and were paired with a 2017 Louise Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne and a 2019 Trimbach Pinot Blanc from Alsace. Our dinner menu began with a Belgian endive with pancetta, Asian pear, blue cheese, lemon vinaigrette and a 2020 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinet. A pleas

ant surprise for many was our main course which was a bouillabaisse a la Marseille which was delicious with a 2020 Fleurie Domaine Pardon, Gamay. The beautiful finish was a chocolat pots de crème and 2016 Quintas Das Carvalhas Vintage Port.

THE HOLIDAY PARTY

It was a first for us. We gave a party and no-one came.

Visited by an atmospheric river, the highways, roads, streets, and driveways were all impassible. Snow drifts, often as high as ten feet, reminded us that one must be prepared for the most adverse circumstances in our glorious mountain hideaway. So, with nothing but a fully stocked wine cellar we were left to fend for ourselves, reflect on lovely memories of times past and begin immediately to design even more delicious times together …as soon as it is safe to do so!

Time Flies!

By Trish Hagner

Time does indeed fly when you’re having fun and the Houston Chapter knows how to do that!

With five events in the last six months of 2022, our members and guests created countless memories. Beginning with our Annual Meeting and Wine Dinner on August 6, we gathered in the Vintage Select Wines warehouse. Our wines for the night were an assortment we had enjoyed over the past year and the beautiful array of food was thanks to the excellent cooks and generosity of our members who respond to the call for this Pot Luck dinner. After dinner, the chapter’s leaders give their reports, officers are elected for the next year and we have the opportunity to present our gift to the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership. This year the college was represented by Wendy Evans who was all smiles when receiving our check for $10,000 bringing our scholarship endowment to over $165,000.

Supreme Knight Jack Galante visited Houston on October 3 and members responded quickly to the invitation to attend a family-style dinner at Frank’s Americana From fried green tomatoes to chicken fried steak to hanger steak to all the great vegetable accompaniments and dessert, we were almost too full to enjoy our time with Jack and his wines, but being the experts that we are, we managed it like a bunch of pros! Those wines included a 2021 “Wagon Wheel” Sauvignon Blanc, 2018 “Almont Flat” Pinot Noir, 2019 “Rancho Galante” Red Blend, 2019 “Red Rose” Cabernet Sauvignon,

Occasionally, a special opportunity comes around and such was the case on October 12 when the Dean of the Hilton College invited a few of us to their Corks & Forks event on the University of Houston campus. It was a great time for us to experience what they do and to meet with many of the students who were getting a practical experience in their college education and learning what the “hospitality industry” looks like. Trish and Buddy Hagner, Nan and Jim McCreary and Bryan and Sandra Crook represented the chapter at this event.

October 22 found a happy crew of 23 members on an evening Port to Port Cruise along Buffalo Bayou; the waterway that Houston was founded on. We boarded our party boat at Allen’s Landing and, with an historian onboard, we were fascinated to hear details that give us the rest of the story to our city’s beginning. Of course, this couldn’t be done without food and drink. And there was plenty of that as we were rollin’ on the bayou. We traveled from the original port at Allen’s Landing which

2019 “Blackjack Pasture” Cabernet Sauvignon and 2014 “Bulls Eye Red” Dessert Wine. Dinner and a show … with Jack holding court and telling stories …there were smiles all around!

is basically at the foot of Main Street in downtown Houston to our current port with its mammoth ships! We could not have asked for more perfect weather and the sunset was awe inspiring! After we returned from our cruise, we drove a short distance to enjoy dinner together at one of our favorite byob restaurants … Lucio’s. A menu full of wonderful offerings was waiting for us and on the menu is the Hagner’s Hanger Steak. Yes, it is named for Buddy and Trish Hagner who are long-time guests there.

Our casual event, Thirsty Thursday , returned on November 10 and was hosted by Vice Commander and Gentle Lady Jim and Lulu Curtice. Along with a buffet dinner of grilled pot roast, roasted potatoes, salad, and dessert, we enjoyed Smith Devereux wines from Napa Valley; 2021 California White, 2020 California Red, 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2017 “IBEX” Merlot. Again, we were blessed with a beautiful evening and delightful temperatures. Gathering both inside their lovely home and around the newly redesigned and landscaped pool, members and guests laughed and enjoyed the night.

Tradition! We’ve lost count of the number of years we have celebrated the holidays together at the home of Master Host Lee Slataper and his lady, Laura. The holidays wouldn’t be right if we didn’t start there! Our dinner was catered by Café Benedicte and included chicken piccata, peppercorn steak, Yukon mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables, charcuterie boards, cold boiled shrimp, dips, chips, crackers, brownies and the ever popular crepes brulee dessert. Meanwhile, the wine was flowing out on the patio and with Supreme Knight Tom Eddy in attendance, of course, we were thrilled to be enjoying his wines. They included his 2020 TENZ Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Parcel One “Old Vine” Chenin Blanc, 2018 Parcel One Malbec, 2016 “Manchester Ridge” Pinot Noir, 2016 “Elodian” Cabernet Sauvignon and 2016 Napa Cab! We welcomed Russ and Nancy

Davis from our Nation’s Capital Chapter who joined us for this holiday celebration. And for the second year, we sang along and danced to the music of Shannon Zamora whose laid back style fits perfectly into the evening and adds to the festivities. Friends found it hard to say goodbye and lingered late into the night.

Extending the holidays a bit longer, our Ladies of the Knight followed their new tradition of gathering on a Monday night in December at the home of Wade and Laurie Phillips. Why Monday night you ask? Well, so some of the guys can do their own thing upstairs in the theatre for Monday Night Football with our friend Coach Wade Phillips when he’s not otherwise committed. They aren’t allowed downstairs where the ladies have

their own festivities going. Laurie Phillips and Trish Hagner hosted and selected fun wines to fit our holiday celebration and all the ladies brought finger foods. As always, the offerings were amazing and delicious and recipe swapping was rampant. We always have a lot of guests join us for this special occasion and the hugs and laughs and bright smiles warmed everyone on a cool December night in Houston.

Looking back, we all agreed that 2022 was full of memories of friends and wine and the best of times together. With smiles and grateful hearts, we toasted what was and look forward to what will come!

Active Chapters

ARIZONA

Arizona Chapter

Commander Emeritas

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 3817 Truckee, CA 96160

Phone: 530-550-0570

Fax: 530-550-0575

ernestgrossman@sbcglobal.net

Lodi Chapter

Commander Gordon MacKay

P.O. Box 506 Lodi, CA 95241-0506

Phone: 209-663-9432

gmackay01@gmail.com

Los Angeles Chapter

Commander James Hamilton 755 Lakefield Road, Suite A Westlake Village, CA 91361

Phone: 805-496-1304 (day)

Fax: 805-494-3976

jbhamilton@sbcglobal.net

Monterey Peninsula Chapter

Commander Richard Kehoe P. O. Box 221664

Carmel, CA 93922

Phone: 831-277-9868

831-625-3338

kehoedc@sbcglobal.net

Orange County Chapter

Commander Thomas E. McCrystal

24001 Muirlands # 76

Lake Forest, CA 92630

Phone: 949-500-2494

Fax: 949-582-9036

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 228-897-1995 228-897-1993 kovgulfcoast@gmail.com

Jackson Chapter

Contact National Office 4448 W. 12th Street Houston, TX 77055 844-440-8463

NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina Chapter

Commander Jeff Price 9404 North Manor Dr Zebulon, NC 27597

Phone: 919-814-2453 919-696-6679

JeffreyHPrice0602@gmail.com

TENNESSEE

Tennessee Chapter

Commander Bob Bennett

4562 Whisperwoods Drive

Collierville, TN 38017

Phone: 901-861-4739

Cell: 954-557-7775 bobbennett13@gmail.com

TEXAS

Austin Chapter

Commander Randy Groves

1036 Liberty Park Dr #16 Austin, TX 78746

Phone: 512-484-6803 randydgoves@aol.com

Houston Chapter

Commander Buddy Hagner 4448 W. 12th Street

Houston, TX 77055

Phone: 713-819-9463

Fax: 713-432-9464 buddy@rchagner.com

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Nation’s Capital Chapter

Commander Kenneth A. Haapala 9634 Boyett Court

Fairfax, VA 22032

Phone: 703-978-6025 (day) 703-978-6230 (evening)

Fax: 703-978-2258 ken@haapala.com

WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State Chapter Contact National Office

4448 W. 12th Street

Houston, TX 77055 844-440-8463

Supreme Knights

Bradley Alderson

David G. Armanasco

Ed Auler

Susan Auler

Carol L. Bade

Donald D. Bade

Ted Balestreri

Heidi Peterson Barrett

Warren W. Bogle, Jr

Merrill Bonarrigo

Paul V. Bonarrigo

James “Bo” Barrett

David Berkley

Jean-Charles Boisset

George H. Carter

Mark Chandler

James E. Coleman

Richard A. Cuneo

Frederick Dame

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

Miljenko M. Grgich

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.

Mathew J. Post

G.M. “Pooch” Pucilowski

George Radanovich

Michaela K. Rodeno

Alfred G. Scheid

Scott Scheid

Thomas B. Selfridge

Allen Shoup

Raymond Skinner, Jr.

Christopher D. Smith

Howard E. Somers

Richard H. Sommer

Mike Thompson

Peter H. Ventura

Richard P. Vine, Ph.D.

Eric Wente

Jean R. Wente

Fay Wheeler

Al Wiederkehr

Warren P. Winiarski

John H. Wright

the order of the knights of the vine®

National Headquarters

4448 W. 12th Street

Houston, TX 77055-7204

Tel: 844.440.8463

Water separates the people of the world; wine unites them. Water separates the people of the world; wine unites them.

per vitem! ad vitam! per vitem! ad vitam!

Through the vine, toward life!

Through the vine, toward life!