This year the Wisconsin Vintners Association will celebrate 40 years of improving the skills and knowledge of wine and winemaking of its members and doing it in a setting of fun social events.  Plans have been in the works for a very special June membership meeting scheduled for Saturday, June 19th at the Country Springs Hotel located in Pewaukee, WI.

The special guest presenter will be Doug Moorhead of Presque Isle Wine Cellars of North East, PA who in 1968 opened one of the first commercial wineries in Pennsylvania, producing wines from locally grown native, hybrid and vinifera grapes. Doug is widely renowned in the industry for his vast knowledge and willingness to share his expertise and will present a Winemaking Seminar from 1 to 4 PM.  Included will be a lot of informative information on the use of pectic enzymes, the why and how to properly use fining agents, and the importance of tannins in both grape and other fruit wines. Bring your own homemade wines to use for the tannin demonstration. There will also be ample time for general winemaking questions.

After the seminar we will celebrate 40 years with a reception from 5 to 7 PM in the Garden Terrace Room followed by dinner in the Meadowbrook Room.  We hope to have a few charter members of the club at the dinner to give us some insight into how different it was in those early days. The hotel will allow us to drink our homemade wine at the reception and dinner, so be sure to bring your wine and wine glasses.  Please see the registration form included in the WVA newsletter which gives more detailed information. Pre registration is required for this special event by June 15th.

For those interested, the hotel has a limited block of rooms held for us including breakfast.  To reserve a room call the hotel at 262-547-0201 and tell them you are with the WVA. The hotel is close to sold out so make your reservation soon.

May Election of Officers

The election of officers was held at our May 12th meeting.  Please join me in congratulating the Board of Directors for 2010/2011:

• President: Thomas Courtney
  Vice President: George Scovronski
  Recording Secretary:  Lou Benedetto
  Corresponding Secretary: Don Betlej
  Treasurer: Debbie Stankus
  Sergeant-at-Arms: Mary Howell
  Trustees: Len Montalbano, Bill Schneider
  Board Members-at-Large: Rick Markham, Mike Szabo, Leon Bosetti & Jerry Wanty
   

2010 WI State Fair Competition