JANUARY 2022
WINERY PROFILE: HALTER RANCH VINEYARD
ALSO INSIDE • Event Report: 801 Chophouse Stag Blast from the Past • Upcoming Omaha Branch Events
A publication of the Omaha Branch of the International Wine and Food Society
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EDITOR’S T
he Omaha Branch has been using Constant Contact for its event reservation system, where you have the option of paying by credit card or using PayPal. First PayPal raised their transaction fees, but not enough to make a change. Then Constant Contact added their own transaction fee last month, which made them consitent with other event planning providers. After analyzing this change with both credit card processing options (PayPal and WePay) we found that the combined transaction fees when using WePay were less than the combined fees using PayPal. So, to keep the price of events as low as possible, but make the signup process as easy as possible, the Branch has switched to WePay, a Chase Bank company. Your credit card statement will detail the transaction as WPY*The International 855-469-3729 NE. So, no, your card hasn’t been hacked. We just have a different provider. Our second annual stag at the 801 Chophouse at the Paxton was a great time as usual. We had 45 members and guests show up. One drawing card was the 2014 Heitz Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon which received a perfect 100 point score from the Wine Enthusiast, but also the 2004 Château Latour Bordeaux first growth. Both wines were primarily Cabernet Sauvignon based. These were thrown into a blind tasting with a 2005 Château Monbousquet, which was two thirds Merlot, and a 2012 Turnbull Leopoldina Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Once you serve these wines blind, there are a lot of similarities. When all were revealed, nine tasters got all the wines correct. The food is high end steakhouse cuisine, and always delicious. Plus we have a nice, open room to enjoy our food and wine.
“And remember,” said the boss, “your salary is personal and should not be discussed with anyone.” “Oh don’t worry, sir. I’m just as ashamed of it as you are.” F ro m T he Best of t he Cockle Bur comp il ed a nd edi t ed by H a rry B Ot is, 3rd P residen t 1973-1974
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A publication of the Omaha Branch of the International Wine and Food Society
I love exploring the Paso Robles wineries. It’s like being in Napa Valley in the 1960’s before it became the weekend destination for San Francisco and Sacramento, sending the hoards and droves onto roads not meant for that much traffic. One of my stops when I was in the Paso Robles AVA of California this October was Halter Ranch Vineyard. Sitting on a private nature preserve in the Santa Maria Mountains foothills at 1,950 feet elevation, they raise nineteen different grape varietals on 180 acres. They primarily produce Rhone varietals, but also have some good Bordeaux varietals and Cabernet Sauvignon based wines. It is a mixture of old and new, with a large 1884 wooden house that was part of the original property, but also completely modern winery facilities and tasting room. It is definitely worth a visit should you ever get to Paso. Some members have had trouble reading the Gazette on issuu.com, Or they don’t want to sign in, which means you can’t even read the Gazette at all. They prefer a PDF since all you must do is click it open. We have decided to offer it in both formats. In your email, a PDF will be sent along with the issuu.com link. The advantage of issuu.com is that you can see both right and left pages, like a paper magazine. Our PDF only lets you view one page at a time.
Tom Murnan Cover Photo: Colossal Fragment by artist Lionel Smit. Outside, near a vineyard at Halter Ranch Vineyards. It actually has nothing to do with wine. Photo by Tom Murnan.
Halter Ranch Vineyard Photo by Tom Murnan
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A publication of the Omaha Branch of the International Wine and Food Society
EVENT REPORT: 801 CHOPHOUSE STAG
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Written by Dave Thrasher // Photos by Tom Murnan
he November event took place at 801 Chophouse for the second year in a row, and the theme featured a First Growth Bordeaux against a 100-point Heitz Cellars Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet from Napa Valley. The evening began with a quaffing reception featuring wines from our club cellar, along with Oysters Rockefeller, Onion Rings and “Down Home” Jumbo Shrimp. The Oysters Rockefeller and Down Home Shrimp were delicious and a nice change of pace, but they were a bit difficult to eat while standing up during the quaffing. Once everyone was seated, we began with a blind tasting of two Bordeaux wines next to two wines from the Napa Valley. The two Bordeaux wines were identified to be on the left and the Napa wines on the right, but it was up to the group to see if they could determine which was the First Growth and which was the 100-pointer. The two wines from Bordeaux were a 2004 Chateau Latour and a 2010 Chateau Monbousquet. They were served next to a 2014 Heitz Cellar Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2012 Turnbull Leopoldina Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. After about 15 minutes of tasting each wine, the group voted and less than half the group was able to identify them correctly. Regardless, each of the wines were spectacular and enjoying wines of such caliber was a special treat. Next, we moved on to the first course, which was a Lobster Bisque served with a 2018 Ramey Russian River Char-
Winners of the Blind Tasting Back Row (L to R): Sal Risicato, Dennis DePorte, Les Zanotti, Mike Wilke, Joel Russell Front Row (L to R): Bill Willett, Tom Murnan, Jay Kline (guest), Charlie Ludwig (guest)
donnay. The bisque was excellent and paired well with the rich and oaky New World Chardonnay. After the soup course, a 12-ounce Prime Filet was made to order at temperatures selected by each guest. In addition, was a spread of family style sides consisting of Blue Cheese Potatoes, French Green Beans and Caramelized Baby Carrots. The steaks were served with a side-by-side comparison of a 2010 Chateau Faugeres from Bordeaux and a 2014 Hestan Meyer Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. January 2022 · Page 5
The final course of the evening was a humongous slice of Chocolate Cake that was paired with a 2009 Taylor Fladgate Late Bottled Vintage Port. As always, the staff at 801 Chophouse was outstanding, as both the food and service was top notch. This event showcases the incredible value of this club and our decades-old wine cellar, as the wines alone for this event are worth over $250 per person at today’s prices.
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A publication of the Omaha Branch of the International Wine and Food Society
Winery Profile:
By Tom Murnan Photos by Tom Murnan (Unless Noted Otherwise)
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A publication of the Omaha Branch of the International Wine and Food Society
alter Ranch Vineyards and Winery was established in the year 1996 when the vineyards were planted on the west side of Paso Robles, CA, in the Adelaida District. It is classified as being in the Central Coast.
The Victorian, an 1884 house restored by Halter Ranch. Photo from the website.
It began bottling wine in 2000. Hansjörg Wyss purchased the original property in 2000, renovated the 19th century Victorian farmhouse and enlarged the vineyard. Wyss is a Swiss billionaire, and former president of Synthes USA (sold in 2012 to Johnson & Johnson), a manufacturer of medical devices. Halter Ranch is named after Wyss’ mother’s maiden name, Alice Halter, Wyss is dedicated to conservation and the environment, as well as liberal causes. The estate spans over 2,700-acres, with 180-acres of sustainably produced wine grapes and nineteen varietals of grapes, 15-acres of walnuts, and 10-acres of organically certified olives. The vineyards, a minority of
The Ancestor Tree, a 600-year-old Costal Live Oak on Halter Ranch forested preserve. Photo from the website.
the property, is surrounded by the natural landscape, mostly oak forest, and wildlife corridors. The property boasts of a 600 yearold Coast Live Oak, the oldest on record. It is protected by the State of California. > January 2022 · Page 13
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A publication of the Omaha Branch of the International Wine and Food Society
< The steepest, southern facing slopes are at an elevation of 1950 feet. The winery is situated on Adelaida Road, it is very near Tablas Creek. It is protected from the Pacific Ocean by the Santa Lucia Mountain range. There are 15 acres of walnut trees and 10 acres of olive trees. The winery facility is a mixture of new and old. It started out as a hog farm in 1884. Hogs were raised and sold to San Francisco, but the introduction of the railroad ended that business. Then it became a grain ranch. President Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for a second presidential term here. The Victorian is an 1884 house located at the entrance to Halter Ranch & Vineyard (HR). It was used in the movie Arachnophobia. Built in 1884 by Edwin Smith, the home suffered a fire during one of his parties. The home, completely remodeled with a new foundation, has been restored to its former glory and can be rented for a getaway, a family reunion, or a wedding. As for the new, the tasting room is modern and appeal-
Tasting Room. Photo from the website.
ing. Then there are pieces of art scattered outside on the edges of vineyards planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Grenache. There is a covered bridge spanning a creek on the way to the winery. During the summer, the bridge is used for wine dinners for about eighty people, with a local chef, acoustic music, and of course Halter Ranch wines. The vineyards have a small gage railroad track running through them, leading to the winery. Grapes can be brought in this way, or tourists and guests can view the property. There is also modern art scattered throughout the winery grounds, most having nothing to do with wine.
Replica Swiss Train and tracks installed in 2017, circumnavigating the property. Photo from the website.
As for the wines, Halter Ranch is known for their Bordeaux and Rhône style wines. Cabernet Sauvignon and Ancestor head the Bordeaux style list. Ancestor, named after the 600-year-old ancestor oak on property, is a 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Malbec and 18% Petit Verdot blend and is their top-of-the-line Bordeaux blend. The Cab is approximately 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. Halter has a much larger selection of Rhône varietals, however. Besides whites Vermentino and Viognier, they produce a wine called CDP, their take on Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan. They also produce a sweet wine labeled Vin de Paille but is only made in certain vintages when the grapes are right. The name implies you lay these grape bunches on bunches of straw (paille) to desiccate and approach being raisins, thereby increasing the sweetness level. The use of straw mats doesn’t happen anymore, however. The venue is one of a kind, with rolling vineyards and ancient canopying oak trees. Halter Ranch balances “rustic vineyard chic” with state-of-the-art, modern upgrades. It is located between Tablas Creek and Adelaida wineries. Sources: https://www.halterranch. com/;https://www.halterranch.com/ news/10-reasons-to-visit-paso-robles-now
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Silo Barn. Photo from the website.
Photo from the website.
A publication of the Omaha Branch of the International Wine and Food Society
Photos from Mike Dunn & Roger Peterson
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A publication of the Omaha Branch of the International Wine and Food Society
UPCOMING OMAHA BRANCH EVENTS Mark Your Calendars!
JAN
HIGH NOON STAG Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Producers: Mike Wilke & Steve Hipple
FEB
BARREL & VINE Valentine’s Day Theme Combined CB and Omaha Branches Producers: Todd Lemke & Mike Wilke
08 10 MAR
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HAPPY HOLLOW CLUB March Madness Noon Stag Producer: Joe Goldstein
HOSTING AN EVENT? Let us know when, where and a little bit about what’s going on! We would love to include YOUR event on the calendar! Email details to: murnantom@gmail.com
A publication of the Omaha Branch of the International Wine and Food Society
January 2022 Purpose: To meet communication and service needs, to broaden participation and understand and to be an information exchange for the membership of The International Wine & Food Society in the Americas. Publisher: Todd Lemke Editor: Tom Murnan Graphic Designer: Omaha Magazine, LTD.
THE INTERNATIONAL WINE & FOOD SOCIETY OF LONDON, ENGLAND OM A H A, NEBR A SK A BR A NCH - E X ECU T I V E COM MIT TEE This Quick Response Code (QR-Code) can be scanned with a scanner app on your smart phone to take the reader directly to the Omaha Branch web site.
PR ESI DENT: Mark Stokes............................................................... mark_stokes@aig.com V ICE PR ESI DENT / SECR ETA RY: Dave Thrasher.................... dave@supportworks.com TR EASU R ER: Duke Matz................................................................ dmatz@darland.com W I N E CELLA R M ASTER: Duke Matz....................................... dmatz@darland.com M EM BER SH I P CH A I R M A N: Joe Goldstein.............................. goldie2@cox.net
B OA R D O F D I R E C T O R S : Joe Goldstein John Matthews Duke Matz
Tom Murnan Tad Singer Mark Stokes
Dave Thrasher Mike Wilke
KEEP IN TOUCH! Please notify Club President, Mark Stokes, 402-679-7317 or via email at mark_stokes@aig.com to let him know if you are interested in hosting an IWFS event.
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE MEMBERS WILL BE POSTED ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. Like us on FACEBOOK (IWFSOmaha): facebook.com/IWFSOmaha and follow us on TWITTER (IWFSOmaha): twitter.com/IWFSOmaha All versions of Wine & Food Gazette are published monthly by Omaha Magazine, LTD, P.O. Box 461208, Omaha, NE 68046-1208. Telephone: (402) 884-2000. No whole or part of the contents herein may be reproduced without prior written permission of Omaha Magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted however no responsibility will be assumed for such solicitations. The opinions expressed in this publication, except as specifically stated to the contrary, are solely the opinion of the author and do no necessarily represent the views of the Board of Governors of the Americas. The International Wine & Food Society, LTD., the publisher and any officer, director, member or agent thereof. The international Wine & Food Society does not endorse advertisers’ products and is not responsible for damages incurred from the use of such products nor does it guarantee such products.