The Meadowlands Chapter would like to extend a special thanks to Monika Elling for a great presentation. Monika brought the history and background stories that made these rare and indigenous varietals enjoyable to drink. The lineup of wines were fantastic and unique, each one presented a notable nuance and quality.

Wines Presented on this evening:
  Intro: Four Secrets Shiraz, Sparkling Wine - Stellenbosch Vineyards, South Africa

2014 Patricius Furmint - Tokaj, Hungary
2013 Patricius Muscat - Tokaj, Hungary
2011 Patricius Harslevelu - Tokaj, Hungary
2014 Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc - Stellenbosch Vineyards, South Africa
2010 Credo Chenin Blanc - Stellenbosch Vineyards, South Africa
2015 Vivanco Tempranillo Bianco (Blend) - La Rioja, Spain
2009 Vivanco Reserva (Tempranillo, Graziano) - La Rioja, Spain
2011 Vivanco Graziano - La Rioja, Spain
2013 Patricius “Katinka" Late Harvest (Blend of Furmint, Yellow Muscat and Zeta) - Tokaj, Hungary

                                                            *These wines are accessible: Visit your local Stew Leonard’s Wines

News and Updates:    

·         2016 National Wine Tasting Project: We completed the blind tastings of the Rhone style varietal wines for this year’s AWS National Tasting Project.   Thanks to those who were able to participate.   For our group the results were

3rd place tie.       2010 Derby 'Fifteen 10'   Red Rhone Blend @  $28

3rd place tie.      2010 Tablas Creek "Patelin de Tablas" Red Rhone Blend @ $20

2nd place.       2014 Sculpterra "Heroe" Viognier @   $22

1st place score.      2013 Michael-David 'Earthquake'   Petit Syrah @ $26

The final overall results will be made available via the American Wine Society website sometime after summer. http://www.americanwinesociety.org

·         Long Island New York Winery excursion this past weekend was a blast!   Members from the Meadowlands and KylIx chapters meet at Pelligrini Vineyards, then to Coffee Pot Cellars, then had a delicious lunch at Michelangelo’s.  Afterwards, headed to Shinn Estate Vineyards, and the best for last was Sannino Bella Vita Vineyards.  If you have not visited, I say make a day of it or as an overnight trip at a local B&B.     Thanks to Bonnie and Jay from the Kylix chapter for setting it up.

Remember to save the December 3^rd date for our annual AWS Meadowlands chapter holiday party.  (Saturday night at the Fiesta in Wood-Ridge, RT17 south bound) – More to follow.

Distinct Thanks:  John and Diann of “Make Wine with Us” for their hospitality, Danny Klein AWS RVP.   Our very important friends Art and Dan for pouring,   Denise for food setup and fantastic chocolate treats.  John & Felicia for assistance &  All of our wonderful members for your participation and support.

Cheers,

NJ Meadowlands Chapter

American Wine Society.org

This month’s theme: “Wines that go BOOM” was presented by David Falchek

The Meadowlands Chapter would like to extend a special thanks to David for his wonderfully insightful presentation and in answering everyone’s questions on these volcanic soil grown wines. The wines were a fantastic selection, each with a notable quality that stood out and enjoyed by all members and visiting guest.

Wines Presented on this evening:
Santi Soave Classico DOC Montefalco - Italian ***
Tasca d'Almerita Grillo Cavallo - Italian
2009 Domini de La Cartoiza "Clos Galena" Priorat, Spain
2014 Brassfield Estates "Eruption" Lake County. California ***
2015 Wilridge Nebbiolo Nachez Heights Washington.
2014 TerraNoble Gran Reserva Carmenere - Chile ***
                                                                       *** group favorites
+ The following sparkling wines
NV - Jaume Serra Cristalino Cava Brut Rose - Spain
NV - Paul Cheneau Lady of Spain Cava Brut - Spain
                                                                                    

News and Updates:    Next meeting June 16th 

·         2016 National Wine Tasting Project: We have accumulated all of the required Rhone style wines needed for this year’s AWS National Tasting Project.   For those who expressed interest, we will have this event at “Make Wine With Us”   Here are the available dates:  June 10^th, June 22^nd or July 6^th.     We will reach out to you to make sure we get most # of participants.  Purpose is for each chapter to hold tastings to sample the wines and then see how our ratings compare to other AWS chapters. 

a.       We will participate in a selection containing eight wines.

b.      This will be a BLIND Tasting, so there we can’t share personal views until after the tasting is completed.  We will use our AWS scoring sheet to capture data.   

c.       This is not a standard AWS wine tasting meeting, it’s held to specifically partake in AWS 2016 National Tasting Project.   

d.      Rhone Ranger wines are all US vineyards.  

e.      Seat are limited to 15 people.   cost is $25 per person.  

·         Long Island Winery Trip:  The New York Kylix group is planning on winery trip to Long Island.  It would be great to do a combined Kylix/Meadowlands outing.  The tentative date is currently set for Saturday June 11^th.  PLEASE Check the Blog page for updates and send us an email if you’re interested, limited seating event.  (Will be updated shortly with more details ) 

·         Make Wine With Us has a Chilean blend of "Cabernet & Carmenere" Barrel available, for those who are interested in this wildly popular blend, which is ready for bottling now.   Please contact John or Diann at 201-876-WINE (9463)

·         May 21 is National Chardonnay Day – Looks for deals at your local wine stores, or visit Stew Lenard's Clifton Store. 

·         May 24^th is the Judgement of Paris Anniversary - Stag's Leap Wine Cellars (SLV)  for Cabernet Sauvignon and Chateau Montelena.   Chateau Montelena's Chardonnay was in competition with nine other wines from France and California under blind tasting and was awarded top scores.  The 2008 film Bottle Shock loosely covers this event in typical Hollywood fashion drama.

·         -    Welcome to new members:  Dave

Next meeting is June 16th, Obscure Varietals for the Adventurous Palate: Monika Elling

Distinct Thanks: John and Diann of Make Wine with Us, Danny Klein AWS RVP.
Art and Phil for pouring, Denise for food setup and John, Griselle, Elena and all members for your participation and support.

Cheers,

 Meadowlands Chapter

American Wine Society.org

Next AWS meeting is Thursday May 19th.  
Wines that go BOOM! Presented by David Falchek

Send email to WineClub201@gmail.com so that we may save you a seat.
Event Address: Make Wine With Us  21 Curie Ave. Wallington, NJ   07057

No soil is simultaneously cooler -- and hotter -- than volcanic soil. Let’s see what makes these soils so great with a sampling of various wines from the world’s best- known volcanic soils.   Visit us on May 19th and be blown away by these unique wines. David Falchek will be our special guest presenting "Wines That Go BOOM!

David writes a weekly wine column for the Times Shamrock newspapers and is on the national board of directors of the American Wine Society.

We’ll try a Sicilian white wine produced in the shadow of Mt. Etna; Soave Classico from the Monteforte, the heart of the Soave region; a red blend from Priorat—the most exciting red wine region in Spain; a nebbiolo from (of all places) Washington, grown on an ancient lava flow in Naches Heights AVA; and a wine called Eruption from Lake County, California, home to an extinct volcano where obsidian stones are found in the vineyards. We'll touch upon the notion of terroir, plate tectonics, and the Italian white wine revolution.

April meeting update

For Earth day, flowers were handed out to all visitors.

The French Cru Bourgeois seminar was another fun and informative evening. We would like to extend a special thanks to
Tracy Ellen Karmens, who provided a fantastic presentation and answering all of our questions on these French Cru Bourgeois.

Wines Presented:
Château Haut-Barrail – Médoc appellation – 2012 vintage
Château Les Ormes Sorbet – Médoc appellation – 2012 vintage
Château Dillon – Haut-Médoc appellation – 2011 vintage
Château Magnol – Haut-Médoc appellation – 2012 vintage
Château l’Ermitage – Listrac-Médoc appellation – 2009 vintage
Château Le Crock – Saint-Estèphe appellation – 2012 vintage
+

Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne, Perle de Vigne “Grande Réserve” Brut
Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne, Perle d'Aurore, Brut Rosé

                                                        News & Updates
AWS Meadowlands Chapter is now 50 members! Thank you for a stellar membership drive and for your on-going participation.

*  April 22 was also Earth Day.   Meadowlands Chapter handed perennial potted flowers to all guests who attended.  Plant them in your gardens and enjoy the blooming flowers thought out spring & summer.

* National Wine Tasting Project: I have accumulated all of the required Rhone style wines and will send out dates to those who requested to partake in this event. Rhone Style Wines from US.

* River Cruise for Wine Lovers, hosted by Paul Wagner and Madeline Triffon is scheduled for April 2017. Read about the Blue Danube Discovery; visit AmericanWineSociety.org for more details.

* Last Barrel Sampling takes place on Saturday May 14th @ 1 – 4 PM. Please settle up if you have AWS cases coming to you. Your receipts are key to the number of cases. April is the last month. See me if you have questions.

* Welcome to new members: Kelly & Patrick

Distinct Thanks: John and Diann of Make Wine with Us, Danny Klein AWS RVP, and our pours Dan and Phil.    Additional information on Tracy's curriculum vitae: http://tracyellenkamens.com/

 American Wine Society chapters of  New Jersey is now 242 active members.  Congratulations!