AMERICAN WINE SOCIETY
A non-profit corporation

John Marshall Chapter


 

Make me a bowl, a mighty bowl, large as my capacious soul. Let it of silver fashion’d be, worthy of me!
-- 17th Century Imbibing Song


OCTOBER MEETING

The ubiquitous Tim Stevens stepped up to the podium once again to delight us with his selections of "Merlots Around the World." There was something to please any palate, and everyone was turned-on to wines that will soon be in their cellars. Thanks, Tim, for another excellent educational presentation.

The Kweens of Kwizine put out the purple tablecloths and served up a Beggars Banquet for us. Mick Jagger would have been proud. Bruce outdid himself with delectable fruits and cheeses and hand-crafted breads. Bruce, how long did it take you to make those cheeses? And the aromas and bouquets from your home-grown fruits were Heavenly. By the way, Grace suggested that you call Alice, when she’s tall, for her speciality mushroom recipe.

Social Wines

Tasted Wines


NOVEMBER MEETING

Our November meeting is on Sunday, November 5th.  This will be our King Arthur (George Wilson) Camelot (Heritage Hunt) Spectacular Extravaganza: Virginia Governor's Cup Gold Medal Winners. George has arranged for several winning wine makers to attend and enlighten us on their activities. This meeting is Reservations Only since seating is limited to 50 people. Call Mike and Barb at (703) 369-6416 if you want to attend.  The cost for this special event is $20.

The Marsh Mansion is located at Heritage Hunt in Gainesville. From I-66, exit at Gainesville on Route #29 North.  About half a mile from I-66, turn left onto Heathcoat. One mile down Heathcoat  is the security entrance to Heritage Hunt. The Marsh Mansion is 1.2 miles after the security gate.
 

STATE OF THE WINE MARKET

According to a recent wine marketing report, U.S. citizens are consuming more wine than ever before. The statistics claim that, by May 2000, sales of domestic produced wine had increased  about 25% over the entire year of 1999. And, imported wines increased about 40% over the entire year of 1999!   For a couple of years, there has been strong speculation that the U.S. market would increase, and those recently released statistics validated the speculation. As consumers, we are delighted to know that there are more choices and better prices available.

Good old American consumer competition has its blessings. The reasons for this are logical. Ours is a neophyte wine culture when compared to other cultures that have enjoyed daily sips of wine for thousands of years. Here, traditionally, wine has been reserved for "special" occasions only. Until recently, we simply did not know what wine goes with what food, or what is the proper wine to serve during a football game.

We are finally relaxing and following our own palate desires. This pragmatic philosophy is reinforced by producers such as Bonny Doon who admonishes us to drink what we want and to H… with snobbish dictates of red wine with meat, white wine with seafood. Bonny Doon prosytelyzes, "If any one tells you that Mourvedre doesn’t go with turkey, hit them over the head with a drumstick." In other words, we are learning to drink what we want, when we want, in moderation, of course. Another indicator of our progress is that the biggest selling wines in the USA are now Chardonnay for whites and Cabernet Sauvignon for reds. As a country, we have evolved beyond the introductuction wine, White Zinfandel.
 

Cya on Sunday ! !

Smile . . .

Fletcher