Knights of the Vine Newsletter

GRAB BAG: CHERISHED, CHEEKY PINKS
Davis Home • Arlington, VA July 20th • 7:30 p.m.

Many “Wine Experts” dismiss pink wines. Some, no doubt, think of the Mateus or Lancers they drank in their youth. Other, younger “Wine Experts”, think of “Blush Zinfandel” and other “Blush” wines. A few wine experts recognize that pink wines (French or other Rosés) offer a wonderful diversity of aromas and tastes and often offer great complexity. The wines are perfect with a multitude of foods – particularly the light courses of summer. Once realized in their proper place, the delight and joy of these wines comes forth.

For example, those who attended the excellent Educational Wine Tasting in May, superbly conducted by Master Knight George Foote, enjoyed a wonderful pink sparkling wine from Washington State as the introductory wine. The Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Noir is made exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes. In the brilliant sun of the Columbia Plateau the thin skins of these grapes shatter before the grapes can reach their full, complex maturity. Thus, the grapes are picked young, and turned into a delightfully complex, pink, summer sparkling wine.

In the open setting of the elegant home of Master Scribe Russ and Gentle Lady Nancy Davis, we shall enjoy a variety of delightful, cherished, cheeky pinks. The wines and the light foods are up to you. Each person, or couple, is asked to contribute a bottle of “pink” and a light dish. As in the past, the complexity of the wines may vary widely, but the camaraderie will always be there.

The tasting/judging of the wines is highly informal and led by the ever-knowledgeable Dave Barber. Please wear your tastevin.

So that they may plan accordingly, if you plan to attend, please notify Russ or Nancy Davis by email at russ@russdavis.net or call 703-527-7850 no later than Monday July 18th.

BLESSING OF THE VINES WITH CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE CHOIR

Oasis Winery, Hume, VA

August 27th • 7:00 p.m.

August 27th will find us out in the vineyards celebrating the harvest. The priest will bless bountiful fruits and the wines that the fruits will produce. The Christendom College Scola will sing traditional Georgian Chants that have a haunting refrain through the vineyards. The Cadre of the Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine will perform its traditional ceremony celebrating the harvest for all of Virginia and America. With this age-old ceremony we thank the countless generations of those who have gone before us to cultivate the wild grape and turn it into sweet wine. It is appropriate to reflect for a few moments remembering those who came before us. After the ceremony, Oasis Vineyards will host a candlelight dinner with entertainment and dancing.

For additional information, directions, and pricing, please see http://www.oasiswine.com/events.stm. Make reservations directly with Oasis via (800) 304-7656. Be sure to state you are a member of the KOV. Please let us know if you are attending: joenpat@erols.com or (703) 799-5988.

THOMAS JEFFERSON HARVEST DINNER

Mary House • Notre Dame Academy • Middleberg, VA
October 22nd • 5:30 p.m.
Formal Attire

When it was built in the 1920’s, the Homeland Estate Mansion was considered the most lavish and impressive mansion in Middleburg, Virginia. As with many older, lavish estates, subsequent generations lost interest, upkeep proved difficult, and, subsequently, it was sold. Later, purchased by the Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio, it was converted into what has now become a day school on a 90 acre complex. Master Vice-Commander Sandra Shutler has arranged that the magnificent mansion will be the setting for our most challenging and most elegant dinner of the year: the Thomas Jefferson Harvest Dinner.

Karen Harper (Fong) will be the caterer. Those who have experienced dinners she has catered for us in the past realize each time she becomes more daring in challenging our palates. Last year, due to a set of unforeseeable circumstances, we had to postpone the dinner. Karen has had another year to “take it up a notch.” No doubt she has. Once Karen determines the menu, we will explore the KOV cellars for the most appropriate wines and purchase others. The challenge will be complex food courses served with two diverse, yet appropriate, complex wines. Which does you palate prefer?

Please mark your calendar. I may be forced to gallop hard from the Snowy Range of the Medicine Bow Mountains of Wyoming solely to attend this event, but I shall.

WINERY TOUR AND PICNIC
Four Distinctive Virginia Wineries
June 18th • 10:00 a.m.

When we planned this event, we did not realize it was Father’s Day weekend. Unfortunately, or fortunately, several had to cancel due to the date. Realizing that a chauffeured van was prohibitively expensive, Master Exchequer Joe Alt rented a 15-person passenger van and became the volunteer designated driver.

Joe created an extraordinary plan of route, timing, and vineyards to visit. After leaving a convenient location, we traveled to the furthest out vineyard, Gray Ghost Vineyards, then came back to the departure point stopping at Unicorn Winery, Mediterranean Cellars, and Pearmund Cellars. At each winery, we were received as honored guests by the owners or general manager. They made us feel special in every way.

During the tour, we tasted a wonderful array of different wines demonstrating the variety and complexity that Virginia wines have to offer. This variety and complexity is far preferable to the sameness of wines that, to me, is all too common and seems to approach the standards of Coca Cola – you will have the same experience no matter where you go in this world. Virginia Wines are for those who dare to be different!

Joe’s idea of renting a 15-person van, rather than dividing into groups in several vehicles, greatly added to the conversation and enjoyment for all. This event has all the standards of becoming an annual event exploring different vineyards each year. Judging from the cases of wines off-loaded at the end of the trip, the wineries were pleased as well.