July News

July 12 Membership Meeting

Our third annual cookout /pot-luck picnic will be at the Lakefront Brewery patio along the Milwaukee River with Russ Klisch, president, as our host starting at 6 PM.  The brewery is located in Milwaukee, WI on Commerce Street, which is two blocks south of North Avenue and a few blocks west of the stoplight at Humboldt and Commerce. The brewery is almost under the Holton Street bridge (that’s the one with the marsupial pedestrian bridge that you’ve heard about.) You’ll find plenty of parking under the bridge.

We’d be welcome as early as 5:30 pm but you might get shanghaied into helping with set up of chairs and grills.  Bring a dish to pass, an appetizer, or a dessert plus something to grill, if you wish, something to drink and your own plates, napkins, utensils, etc.  The club will again purchase some of Lakefront’s finest for our enjoyment.  There will be plenty of tables and chairs and we will have one charcoal grill (thanks to Henry Maksimowicz) and a gas grill (thanks to Jim Remus) for group use.  If someone else can bring a grill please call Joanne Ziarek at 262-821-2064 or just bring it to share.

There is no “official” program that evening, just an opportunity for some good fellowship in a pleasant place on a pleasant evening. We may also have a brief tour of the brewery with Russ if there is enough interest.  We have also invited Russ’ family to be our guests ( thanks to Chuck and Mary Howell for volunteering to bring extra food for them).  To thank Russ for his hospitality, please bring an extra bottle of wine to donate to him; some of your best as this is a chance to show off your winemaking skills. Yes we know he makes great beer but he may enjoy an occasional glass of wine also. This was a very popular event last year and is a very pleasant way to spend a hot summer evening. In past years, it has been “Cooler by the River.” Mark your calendars and plan to attend.

For those who missed our June 8 meeting with Phillipe Coquard of Wisconsin's Wollersheim Winery, you missed some great winemaking tips and a hilarious discussion of Foch and naming wines. Jerry Horzewski was recognized for serving five years as club president. Thank you, Jerry.

We hope to see you at the summer social events.

A Note from the President

President Joanne Ziarek sent a letter to Board members recently.  We'll call it the “State of the Association” report.  Click here to read it.

 

WI State Fair Amateur Winemakers Competition

Thank you to all of the club members and others who helped out at this annual event as judges, stewards and various support personnel, and who made this event a great success.  Club members brought home many awards, including Best of Show.  A special thanks to all who participated in the judging committee meetings and to Jill Albanese and her State Fair staff for all the assistance.

Judging forms and winners' ribbons will be mailed out by the State Fair by around August 1.

Click here (Award Winners) for more information about the results of the judging.

Meet a Board Member: Tim Larsen

Tim is a Member-at-Large on the WVA Board and has been a member for three years. I have no picture of Tim but I can tell you that he is a very gregarious fellow and if you see someone like that at a meeting or event, just go up and introduce yourself. If it’s not Tim, you’ve just made a friend of another member. Tim is retired after 49 hears as a Field Engineer for Wisconsin Electric. He and his late wife, Bonnie, have seven kids and sixteen grandkids (Two sets of identical girls).

In his spare time, Tim works with wood, does yard work, and tries to make wine. Last spring he planted twenty five grape vines and says, “Time will tell”. He’s made all kinds of wine-well, I’d say lots of kinds, there are some really weird ones out there-parsnip, coffee, etc. He’s not satisfied with the results. He started with grapes, went to kits and now is using juice with WVA members’ help and the resulting wines are getting better.
Tim says that our members are “class people”. He wishes we could make sure all members are getting the help they need-like he did. He encourages members at meetings to speak up with their problems. Ed note: One of my impressions of the membership of WVA is that if a question is asked at a meeting, the group does not laugh at the asker. They may laugh with but not at. There’s a difference. He’s not won any awards but hopes to in the future as his wines get better.

 

Annual Picnic

The August 2006 membership meeting of the Wisconsin Vintners Association will be the annual club picnic on Saturday the 19th at Calhoun Park in New Berlin.  Food, fun, sharing your wine with your friends at the club, games – what more could you ask for?

To get an an appropriate amount of chicken and corn, please click on this Reservation Form if you would like to attend and for more information.  Looking forward to seeing all of you at the picnic.
 

Winemaker Magazine Subscriptions

Such a deal. For the past few years Winemaker Magazine has offered to clubs such as ours a chance to subscribe or renew subscriptions at half price. They are still offering that deal. But this is “one list, one check”. Tom Courtney is the collector of such subscriptions and would like to send in the list by the end of July. By the 28th of July, please get your check, made out to WVA in the amount of $11 and an indication of new or renew to Tom at 10709 De La Warr Circle, Mequon, WI 53092. In my opinion, this magazine is the best hobby-related publication I’ve ever found.. It’s a 70% of your $15 a year dues benefit. You could settle with Tom Courtney, our treasurer, at the Lakefront Brewery cookout.


 

Calendar of Events

July 5 - No Board of Directors meeting this month.

July 12 - Our July membership meeting will be a cook out and pot-luck picnic at the garden of the Lakefront Brewery www.lakefrontbrewery.com, 1872 N Commerce St, Milwaukee, WI.  Meet at 5:30 PM, eat at 6.   In the past, this has been a very pleasant evening at which you bring whatever meat you’d like to cook along with a dish of your choosing to pass. Don’t forget to bring a bottle or two of your absolute best, one to share with your fellow winemakers and another to show our appreciation to Russ Klisch, our host. You should also bring wine or beer glasses according to your tastes in beverage.

August 2 - WVA Board meeting at Tim Larsen’s home. W1934 Potter Rd, Burlington, 53105.  7:00 PM.

August 19, Saturday - WVA Annual Picnic, Calhoun Park, New Berlin.  Click on this Reservation Form if you would like to attend.

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

CLIFFORDS

10418 W. FOREST HOME AVE

HALES CORNERS, WI

(414) 425-6226

Map

Please Support Our Sponsor!

To join our organization you can stop by at any monthly meeting or send an email to:

support@wihomewinemakers.com