Event - 2012 - Regional Christmas Dinner

Pittsburgh Regional Christmas Dinner

Friday, December 14th at 7:00 PM

130 Club House Drive, Freeport, PA 16229
Price $55/person or $100/couple - single members are allowed one guest.
Members Only - No walk-ins

Includes appetizers, served main course and dessert, wine, tax and gratuity.

First Course Salad Options

Sides River Forest Salad Duchess Potatoes Citrus Ginger Roasted Beets & Carrots

Main Course each person chooses 1 Prime Rib Chicken Marsala English Style Cod

Dessert Assorted Cheesecake

Also, we'll have raffles, live music and dancing!

Newsletter - December - 2012

American Wine Society, Pittsburgh Chapter Newsletter
Promoting the appreciation of wine through education 
  
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012 AT 7:00 PM

AWS REGIONAL CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY PARTY - AT RIVER FOREST COUNTRY CLUB IN FREEPORT (MEMBERS ONLY).

RSVP DEADLINE:  THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6.  Cost is $55/person or $100/couple.  Single members may bring 1 guest. Checks payable to: “ AWS”

Notes From the Chair

Dear Members,

I’m sorry to have missed the Sardinian tasting. I understand that it was an excellent program and the wines were very good as well. Carol and I had to “endure” the wines of Washington and Oregon for two weeks. The Portland conference was wonderful, one of the best we have attended in the past 25 years. With next year’s conference being held in Sandusky, Ohio, I do hope that many of you will plan to attend. If you’ve never been to a national conference, next year is your chance to do so close to home

The holiday season is fast approaching and this year, the Pittsburgh Chapter along with Pittsburgh East and the Alle-Kiski Chapters will celebrate with a joint Christmas Party at the River Forest Country Club, located in Freeport, on Friday, December 14. The venue is very nice and the menu looks wonderful. I hope to see you there. Get your reservations in early or you could get shut out.

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas, and a healthy and prosperous New Year!

-Matt

Tasting Notes - 2012 - November

NOVEMBER TASTING

Wines of Sardegna (Sardinia) - Argiolas Windery
Presented by Milko Miladinov - Winebow, Inc

Costamolino 2011 Region: Sardinia, Italy Grapes: 95% Vermentino 5% Other Sardinian PLCB #38649 $14.99	Selegas 2010Region: Sardinia, Italy Grape: 100% Nuragus PLCB #45760 $14.99 Tasters’ First White Choice
Perdera 2009Region: Sardinia, Italy Grape: 90% Monica, 5% Bovale Sardo, 5% Carignano PLCB #45759 $14 .99	Costera 2009 Region: Sardinia, Italy Grape: 90% Cannonau, 5% Carignano, 5% Bovale Sardo PLCB #38121 $15.99 Tasters’ Second Choice
Is Solinas 2009 Region: Sardinia, Italy Grape: 95% Carignano, 5% Bovale Sardo PLCB #510002 SLO $35.99	Korem 2008 Region: Sardinia, Italy Grape: Boave Sardo, Carignano, Cannonau PLCB #516439 SLO $46.99 Tasters’ First Red Choice

Food served with Wines
BREADS: Assorted Breadworks Bread	CHEESES: Pecorino Sardo DOC(Sheep Sardegna) Piave DOP (Cow-Veneto)		FOODS: Tuna in Olive Oil, Salame, Mortadella, Olives and roasted red peppers.	DESSERT (Dolce): Biscotti – Chocolate Dipped.

Special Thanks to our November Hosts: Beverly Wise and Irving Eisley

Newsletter - November - 2012

American Wine Society, Pittsburgh Chapter Newsletter
Promoting the appreciation of wine through education 
  
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2012 AT 7:00 PM

TASTING: WINES OF SARDENIA - PRESENTED BY MILKO MILADINOV,
WINE CONSULTANT WITH WINEBOW, INC.

RSVP DEADLINE:  TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6.  Cost is $20.00 per member; $23.00 per guest and Walk-ins. Checks payable to: “ AWS”

Notes From the Chair
It was great to see such a good turnout for last month’s meeting. It was one of the best attended in a long time, in spite of the fact that the Steelers were playing a Thursday night game. Dreadnaught Wines never fails to give a great program and this was the first time for Debbie Mortillaro to present to us. She gave an informative talk on the wine, Cabernet Franc, the wineries and their locale and informed us that they (Dreadnaught) only represent wineries with good looking winemakers.

A big thank you goes to Kathleen Simpson and Dennis Trumble for hosting last month’s meeting. The cheeses paired nicely with the wines Debbie provided. Carol and I will miss this month’s program as we will be in Portland, Oregon for the AWS national conference. I am sorry that we will won’t be in town to attend this program on the wines of Sardinia, as it is the very first time that our chapter has had a program dedicated to that area.

Don’t forget to put Friday, December 14 on your calendar for our Christmas party. It will be held at the River Forest Country Club in Freeport, PA and will be jointly attended by members of the Pittsburgh East and Alle-Kiski chapters. I’d like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and look forwarding to seeing  you at the Christmas Party in December.

-Matt

Newsletter - October - 2012

American Wine Society, Pittsburgh Chapter Newsletter
Promoting the appreciation of wine through education 
  
THURSDAY OCTOBER 11, 2012 AT 7:00 PM

CABERNET FRANC PRESENTED BY DREADNOUGHT WINES - TASTE AND SAVOR CABERNET FRANC, A RED GRAPE, FAMOUS AS A VARIETAL AND BLENDING GRAPE.

RSVP DEADLINE:  TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9. Cost is $30.00 per member; $35.00 per guest; Walk-in $40.00.  Checks payable to: “ AWS”

Notes From the Chair

Greetings,

I hope that everyone enjoyed last month’s tasting and learned something about the food and wines of Navarra. Unfortunately, it appears that they don’t export a lot of their wines, so if you happen to run across some Navarra wines in your travels, be sure to pick up a bottle of two to enjoy. They rarely disappoint and are very good value.

Well, I am delighted to say that all my harping and pleading finally payed off! My thanks go to those who stepped up to take a position as a chapter board member. We will be voting on the slate at the October meeting.

This month we will again have the expertise of Drednaught Wines guiding us through a tasting of Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Franc is one of the twenty most planted grape varieties worldwide. In many regions, it is planted as a major component for Bordeaux style blends such as Meritage wines. I am sure that you won’t want to miss this program, as Drednaught never fails to give us a great program.

Nazdrowie!

-Matt

Tasting Notes - 2012 - September

SEPTEMBER TASTING

Wines of Navarra
Presented by Matt Kristofik

Vina Rubican, Rosado 2010 Region: Virginia Grape: Garnacha $6.99	Vega Sindoa, Rosado 2009 Region: New York Grape: Garnacha $8.99 Favorite Rose’
Red Guitar Old Vine 2008 Region: New York Grape: Tempranillo Garnacha $8.99 Favorite Red-Tie	No Time 2009 Region: Spain Grape: Garnacha PLCB #21620 $11.99
Siete 7 2008 Region: New York Grape: Tempranillo Garnacha $10.99	Vina Rubican 2010Region: Virginia Grape: Tempranillo $8.99
Altazuri 2008 Region: New York Grape: Garnacha $10.99 Favorite Red-Tie	El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa 2008 Region: New York Grape: Old Vine Garnacha $10.99
FOODS SERVED Pimento stuffed Olives in Garlic (lots!) and herbs Cheese Roncal (sheep), Manchego (sheep), Idiazabal (sheep) Chorizo Sausage Germanoski Bread Works HOSTS AND HELPERSH Special thanks to Hosts – Susan Coville & John CookHelpers Dorothy Wheeler & Irving Eisley Bread Baker – Terry Germanoski

Newsletter - 2012 - February

American Wine Society, Pittsburgh Chapter Newsletter
Promoting the appreciation of wine through education 
  
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY  9, 2012 AT 7:00 PM

VALUES FROM BURGUNDY -  PRESENTED BY DAVE DESIMONE. FEATURING THE HIGHLY RATED 2009 VINTAGES OF THE MOST FAMOUS EXPRESSION OF THE PINOT NOIR GRAPE.

RSVP DEADLINE:  MONDAY,  FEBRUARY  6.  Cost is $20.00 per member; $23.00 per guest and Walk-ins. Checks payable to: “ AWS”
 
Notes From the Chair

Wow!  Fantastic!  Outstanding!  Great!   Those are just a few of the comments heard after our port tasting in January.  John Eld took us on a great journey through Portugal with a video, slides and wonderful dialog explaining the region and process of this superb wine.  The accompaniments were kept simple to let the wines take center stage.  A mild cheddar and harvarti cheese, a rustic multi-grain bread along with cashews, walnuts and macadamia nuts let the ruby ports shine.  A big thank you to John for another wonderful program and to Kevin & Bob for procuring the wines.

What a wonderful Sunday afternoon was had by those who attended the Avenue B dinner event.  We filled the small, quaint restaurant and enjoyed mingling with each other with a glass of champagne as the staff passed around the delicious appetizers.  The wines paired with the entrées were superb.  Kudos to Metha, Jan, and Kathleen for all their hard work making the day a huge success!

This month, resident wine columnist for the Tribune Review, Dave DeSimone, will present a program titled, Values from Burgundy.  Deadline for reservations is February 6.  Please note, that there will be an additional charge for walk-ins and day of tasting reservations.  Making your reservation early greatly helps us in determining how much wine to purchase and how much food to prepare.

We are looking for members to step up and take a leadership role.  The offices of chair, vice chair, program, treasurer, membership, and glass guru are all stepping down this year.  We are all available for help and guidance, but if you want this chapter to continue, please consider taking an active part. Hope to see everyone February 9.    

Matt

Event - 2012 - Avenue B Dinner

Pittsburgh Chapter Dinner

Sunday, January 29 at 2:00 PM

5501 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232-1221
Price $50/person

Includes appetizers, served main course and dessert, wine, tax and gratuity.

Passed Appetizers Roasted pear & Gorgonzola flatbread Petite crab cakes w/arugula aioli Fried chevre w/grilled onion marmalade

First Course Local greens, sherry vinaigrette

Main Course each person chooses 1 Kobe meatloaf, goat cheese & chive whipped potatoes, blistered tomato jam, crispy onions Pappardelle, cured olives, rapini, smoked marinara, feta Roasted organic chicken breast, giblet risotto, baby carrots, herbed pan jus

Dessert Chocolate hazelnut tart & sweet cream ice cream

We need a minimum of 30 reservations. Your check will be refunded, if we do not have the minimum number of participants.

Tasting Notes - 2012 - January

JANUARY TASTING

Vintage Port
Presented by John Eld

Late Bottled Vintage Port (LBV) Ready to drink when released, LBV ports are the product of a single year's harvest.
	Smith Woodhouse   1999 Winery: Symington Family Estates PLCB# # 17064       $31.99
	Vintage Port Vintage port is made entirely from the grapes of a declared vintage year. Not every year is declared a vintage in the Douro. The decision on whether to declare a vintage is made in the spring of the second year following the harvest. The decision to declare a vintage is made by each individual port house. Recent declared vintages 2007 2003 2000 1997 1994 1992 1991.
	Niepoort  2007 Winery:     Niepoort PLCB #22810       $72.99	Fonseca Quinta do Panascal    2008 Winery:    Fladgate Partnership PLCB #15038    $49.99
	Churchill's         2003 Winery:    Churchill Graham LDA PLCB #10301       $55.99	Graham's         1994 Winery:    Symington Family Estates PLCB #23554  $97.99
Food served with Wines
5 Year Black Diamond - Cashews - Walnuts - Macadamia - Plain Havarti - Raisin Bread - Dove’s Dark Chocolate
Thanks  to  our  January  Hosts: Metha Hillard, Jan Frissora, and Kathleen Simpson

Newsletter - 2012 - January

American Wine Society, Pittsburgh Chapter Newsletter
Promoting the appreciation of wine through education

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2012 AT 7:00 PM 

VINTAGE PORT - PRESENTED BY JOHN ELD.  A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF THE MOST FAMOUS STYLE OF PORT. WE WILL TASTE, COMPARE  AND CONTRAST PORTS FROM FIVE DIFFERENT HOUSES

RSVP DEADLINE:  MONDAY,  JANUARY  9. Cost is $30.00 per member; $35.00 per guest; Walk-in $40.00.  Checks payable to: “ AWS”

Notes From the Chair

Greetings fellow wine lovers.

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving and that you are anxiously awaiting Santa’s visit.  I missed last month’s meeting because I was attending the national conference in Rochester, New York.  I’m happy to report that the society is financially solvent and growing with several new chapters formed across the nation.

I am looking forward to a new tasting year with some great programs.  We will open this season with a premium Port tasting led by our own bon vivant and raconteur, John Eld.  This tasting will have limited attendance, so make your reservations early to insure we can accommodate all.

Also, please mark your calendars for our post-holiday dinner scheduled for January 29  at Avenue B in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh.  Jan Frissora and Metha Hillard have worked with the chef and have come up with a great menu and wines to complement the choices. Be sure to read the details on the last page and submit your reservation soon so we can have the minimum of 30 attendees.

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Matt