|
AUGUST 2008 CONTRA COSTA WINE GROUP
NEWSLETTER
Our last meeting was held on a
glorious evening in San Ramon. That’s as compared to right now
where the temperature is around 74 degrees and the wind is howling!
Boy, did we get lucky! Dan and Silvia Manoukian were our hosts and
did a wonderful job for us for this meeting. Silvia went “over and
above” presenting two different hors d’oeuvres from our speakers’
book during his presentation. Thanks to both of you for serving as
our hosts on relatively short notice and opening your beautiful home
for those in attendance. You both did a great job!
This meeting was the largest
“regular” meeting in recent memory. There were around 50 members
and guests present. Our speaker, arranged for us by Mary Beth Davis
and Nancy Morgan, was Dr. Phillip Tirman, M.D. of Alamo. Dr. Tirman
is the author of The Wine and Food Lover’s Diet-28 Days of
Delicious Weight Loss. Many were interested so, the book is
currently available on
www.amazon.com for around $15.95 plus freight.
Dr. Tirman gave us a short
PowerPoint presentation highlighting portions of his book. Dan
Manoukian provided the InFocus machine and Ron Louis provided the
movie screen. Both were greatly appreciated worked out well.
Silvia Manoukian’s first “supplemental” appetizer was from Day 17 in
the book. It was Goat Cheese Spread with Roasted Peppers and Endive
and was served with Dr. Tirman’s recommended Sauvignon Blanc (“left
over” from the previous meeting). The second “supplemental”
appetizer was from Day 23 of Dr. Tirman’s diet. It was a Prosciutto
Wrapped Shrimp and was served with a 2005 Cosentino Sangiovese,
served well chilled which proved very interesting to those in
attendance, positively, I believe. The discussion and questions
kept the meeting very lively and some great information was
disseminated to the attendees. The presentation was great and you
missed a good one!
I had a call from Mr. Bill Gross,
who has stopped making wine. He has six clean 5 Gallon carboys
available to a good home for FREE! His telephone number is: (925)
254-0548 and lives in Orinda. Give him a call if you’re
interested.
Carl and Cherie Lyle,
owners of
Deer Ridge Vineyards, 1828 Wetmore
Road, Livermore, CA have again graciously offered to host this
years’ barbecue/picnic. It will be held this year on Sunday, August
17th from 4:30 p.m. (officially 5:00 p.m. if anyone asks)
and will go until around 8:00 p.m. or so. There will be two grills
available, several picnic tables, etc.
Carl also mentioned
that he has a variety of new, clean bottles for sale at around half
price. He’ll be selling them for $5.00 a case plus Alameda County
Sales Tax. If you’re interested, bring some cash and/or your
checkbook to purchase some of these high quality bottles.
DIRECTIONS: FROM
THE NORTH (Alameda County is South of
Contra Costa County!)
Take Highway I-680 South to I-580 East heading towards Stockton.
Take the North Livermore Road exit. Proceed south on North
Livermore Rd. As you get through downtown Livermore at First Street,
the road’s name will change to South Livermore Road. Continue on
South Livermore Road to the corner of Concannon - a traffic light
intersection. Turn RIGHT on Concannon and continue about 1 mile to
Arroyo Road. Turn LEFT (South) on Arroyo Road-- heading towards
Wente Golf Course. At the corner of Arroyo and Wetmore, there is a
3-way stop sign, and the historic "Olivina" gate. Turn right onto
Wetmore Road, and the winery entrance is the second driveway on the
right-- it’s a big yellow building.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Everyone should bring their own folding chairs in case more than 30
people show up, which I fully expect. Everyone needs to bring at
least one bottle of their very best wine, or if you haven’t made any
wine yet, an interesting wine that you think the attendees might
enjoy. Be sure to ask Carl or Cherie in their tasting room about
purchasing at least one bottle of wine! Purchasing many more
bottles of Deer Ridge Vineyards wine is also highly encouraged!
Everyone is responsible for their own entrée (Steak, hamburgers,
chicken, etc., etc.). I’ve “rotated” the alphabet from last year
so; members whose last name starts with O thru Z are
to bring an appetizer and bread, enough for around 15 servings.
Members whose last name starts with A thru F are to
bring a salad, enough for around 15 servings. Members whose last
name starts with H thru M are to bring a dessert,
enough for around 15 servings. Don’t forget plates, silverware,
condiments, napkins and especially a corkscrew and wine glasses!
Come one, come all.
Bring your friends and relatives. They are more than welcome. The
weather will, I’m sure, be great, but I highly recommend at least a
light jacket for an early evening in the Livermore Valley.
Speaking of
ANNUAL DUES, (nice segue’) they’re just around the
corner! The attendees at the July meeting “voted” (were railroaded)
to continue the CCWG Annual Dues at $45.00 per year. Your dues will
again include a years’ subscription to
WineMaker Magazine. (If you’re a
new member, be sure to let me know if you are a current subscriber
to
WineMaker Magazine or not.) The
delinquency date for dues will again be September 30th as
in years past. Dues received after that date will incur a $10.00
late penalty that was voted on by the membership a couple of years
ago. Bring your check for $45.00, made out to the “Contra Costa
Wine Group” to the barbecue/picnic at Deer Ridge Vineyards. If
you can’t make it on the 17th, I would encourage you to
mail your check posthaste to: Mr. Lee Wines, 1105 West K St.,
Benicia, CA 94510. I’ll be mailing our annual list into
WineMaker Magazine about the third
week of October.
The attendees at the
July meeting were informed about the situation for CCWG officers for
the coming year. Lee Wines has agreed to serve again as our
Treasurer. I am again volunteering to serve as your Secretary for
the coming year. What we are in need of is a PRESIDENT, and three
members to serve as our PROGRAM COMMITTEE for the coming year. Now,
don’t everyone overwhelm me but, really, please give some serious
consideration to becoming more deeply involved in the operations of
the CCWG. The position of President is not a difficult one to
perform. The members of the Program Committee are entitled to meet
at a restaurant twice to discuss ideas for the next years’
meetings. They are entitled to a $75.00 stipend, twice, for hors
d’oeuvres and wine, giving the meeting a better sense of urgency.
Call me! Thanks.
Again, the
date for the annual barbecue/picnic is Sunday, August 17, 2008 from
4:30 p.m. until around 8:00 p.m. (or so) at Deer Ridge Vineyards.
See you there! Respectfully submitted,
Al Turner, Secretary, Contra Costa Wine Group
(925) 837-9384 |
