Wisconsin Vintners Association

Wisconsin Vintners Association

(Home Wine Makers Club)

Fruit Acid in Winemaking

The April 2010 membership meeting of the Wisconsin Vintners Association will begin at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, April 14th at Clifford’s Restaurant, 10418 Forest Home Ave, Hales Corners, WI. Our speaker will be WVA lifetime member Jerry Uthemann. He will discuss fruit acid in wine and demonstrate its importance. Sharp members will have two wine glasses for the tasting portion of this program.

This month’s pre-meeting dinner wine prize is a bottle of BRUT Extra Cava, fermented in the bottle from Castellblanch of Spain.

Annual Club Judging Results

This year’s Club Judging was held on Sunday March 14th. Of the 121 entries this year, 91 won an award with 16 first place ribbons, 24 second place ribbons and 51 third place ribbons awarded. The Best of Show honors went to Lou Benedetto for his Peach Chardonnay wine. Tom Courtney’s Cranberry wine was a worthy runner-up. Thanks to all who participated as well as the judges, stewards and all of the other helpers.

2010 Results (PDF)

Annual Food & Wine Pairing Meeting

Our Wednesday, May 12, 2010 membership meeting will be the annual Food & Wine Pairing. Every year this program is attended by more members than any other. And why not? It’s always a lot of fun, informative and a real bargain compared to similar events produced elsewhere. This year will be no exception. Please see the registration form which gives more detailed information. The meeting will take place at the Norway House, 7507 W. Oklahoma Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, next to AMF Bowling Lanes at the southeast corner of W. Oklahoma Avenue and S. 76th Street. Please note that the attendance is limited to 96 people, so sign up early!

President's Blog

The club wine judging went well. Thanks to the superb job Don Betlej did on the paper work and organizing the judging, we were able to finish the judging by mid afternoon. Congratulations to Lou Benedetto for winning Best of Show honors. Thanks to all who helped out, and those who entered the 121 wines. Many of these were new members. The May meeting will include the election of officers for the coming year. Nominations are now open and Joanne Ziarek, Jerry Horzewski and Chuck Howell will be seeking volunteers to run for office. Please let them know if you are willing to serve.

The deadline for entering the State Fair Wine Competition is May 1st. You can download the entry blank from a link to the Wisconsin State Fair or from our website. We will need your help as judges, stewards or helpers. Consider eating at Clifford’s before the next meeting.

Howard Hasselkus

40th Anniversary Program & Dinner

This year the Wisconsin Vintners Association will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of it’s beginning. Did any of those charter members who got together for that first meeting in December of 1970 have any idea that the club would still be functioning and vibrant 40 years later? Members may have come and gone but that home winemaking common interest and bond is still alive and well today. Plans are in the works for the June membership meeting with a special guest presenter and program, to be followed by a 40th anniversary dinner. Please mark Saturday, June 19th on your calendar as the day for this once-in-40-years event. Look for a lot more information in May’s newsletter.

Board of Directors for 2009/2010

President: Howard Hasselkus (one year)
Vice President: Thomas Courtney (one year)
Recording Secretary: David Brandt (one year)
Corresponding Secretary: Don Betlej (one year)
Treasurer: Mike Bell (one year)
Sergeant-at-Arms: Mary Howell (one year)
Trustees: Len Montalbano (two years), George Scovronski (one year)
Board Members-at-Large: Rick Markham (two years), Mike Szabo (two years), Erv Herman (one year), F Jerry Wanty (one year)

Calendar of Events

April 7th Wednesday - Board of Directors meeting at the home of Howard & Sally Hasselkus, 7:00 PM

April 14th Wednesday - WVA membership meeting at Clifford’s in Hales Corners, WI, 7:30 PM

May 5th Wednesday - Board of Directors meeting at the home of Erv & Bobbi Hermann, 7:00 PM

May 12th Wednesday - Food & Wine Pairing at the Norway House in Milwaukee, WI, 7:30 PM

May 14th & 15th - WI State Fair Amateur Winemakers Competition

June 19th Saturday - WVA 40th Anniversary Program and Dinner

Special Thanks To Clifford's For The Use Of Their Hall!

10418 W. FOREST HOME AVE

HALES CORNERS, WI

(414) 425-6226

www.cliffordsfinefood.com

Map

Please Support Our Sponsor!

ABOUT THE WISCONSIN VINTNERS

ASSOCIATION

The Wisconsin Vintners Association of Milwaukee was organized in 1970. Membership is open to anyone over 21 years old who has an interest in wine making. Our mission is educating our members in the many styles of wine and techniques while promoting the responsible use of alcohol.

Regular monthly meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at Clifford's Supper Club, 10418 West Forest Home Ave. Hales Corners, WI. at 7:30PM. Usually we feature a speaker and offer tasting and evaluation of different varieties of wines.

To join our organization please click on and complete the following:

WVA Membership Application (PDF)