The Grapevine
Winter 2020
From the Host
Raising a Glass at the World Conference
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe, happy, and joyous holiday season. I certainly did and I am excited and looking forward to the new year and all it has to offer. Great things and some changes are planned for this upcoming year
Most importantly it is time to get ready for the Club Management Association of America 2020 World Conference and Club Business Expo in Grapevine, TX. This can’t miss event will take place February 8–12 with the Wine Society Pre-Conference Workshop on Friday, February 7. This is an excellent opportunity for education, to network and socialize with your peers from all over, and a spend some quality time with your Wine Society colleagues. Our Pre-Conference Workshop, organized by Ryan Brennan, CCM, “Wine Ed Gone Wild” will be held on Friday, February 7, 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. This full day event will begin with a morning session at Pappas Brothers Steakhouse in Dallas with Master Sommeliers Jack Mason and Barbara Werley on developing and elevating your wine program. The day will continue with a working lunch with David Ramey, owner of Ramey Wine Cellars, on the age ability of chardonnay and the practical elements of wine and food pairing with Melissa Monosoff, MS. The group will then travel to the Brook Hollow Golf Club for a session with Jeff Smith, owner of Hourglass, for the Decades of Napa Valley Master Class. The evening will then conclude with a cocktail reception at the club.
The Wine Society Auction Preview and Membership Reception will be held on Sunday, February 9, from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. in the Mission Plaza with pouring’s from Silver Oak and Aperture. Shout out to Sarah Kuhl, CCM, and Kelvin Mauldin for arranging this reception.
The 32nd Annual Wine Society Dinner will be held Sunday, February 9 at 7 p.m. at the Fort Worth Country Club. Colin Mack-Allen, CCM, CCE, and Karl Habib, CCM, have an amazing night planned for those in attendance. I know the culinary team and staff at the Fort Worth Country Club is ready to amaze you! This dinner is Black Tie optional, with boots and suits encouraged!
The Live Auction will be held on Monday, February 10 in the Satellite Lounge during the Club Business Expo from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. All CMAA members are invited to attend this high-energy event which will be held at the Club Business Expo for the first time.
The Wine Society Business Meeting will take place on Monday, February 10, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 pm, where Jack Grehan has invited Master Sommelier Fred Dame to be our presenter. Fred is a very interesting and entertaining speaker with quite a few stories to tell. He has recently become Global Wine Ambassador for Daou Vineyards and Winery in Paso Robles CA.
The Silent Auction will open on Sunday, February 9 and close on Tuesday, February 11. Big thanks to Blaine Burgess, CCM, CCE, for all his efforts as he spearheads the auction again this year.
The Board is also planning on having a “Meet and Greet” reception with all Wine Society Chapter Representative while at Conference—keep an eye out in your inbox for your invitation to attend!
The Wine Society Board of Managers is also working with CMAA National Headquarters on some bylaw changes. We are trying to mirror CMAA as much as possible and streamline processes and update job descriptions for the Board of Managers. More details to follow soon!
At conference a new Board of Managers will be elected and as I become the Immediate Past Host, I wish to thank you all for your support and commitment this past year. I am thrilled with Colin Mack-Allen becoming Host and have all the confidence in his abilities and enthusiasm and look forward to assisting him during this transition and to continue being active with the Wine Society Board of Managers.
“Riempi il bicchiere che è vuoto, vuota il bicchiere che è pieno; non lo lasciar mai vuoto, non lo lasciar mai pieno”
“Fill the empty glass, empty the filled glass, never leave it full, never leave it empty”
I raise a glass to all of you and wish you the very best!
Cheers,
Paul A. Smith III
2019 Host
Chapter & Member News
NJ Wine Society: Recapping a Full Fall Slate of Tastings
James Creamer, Bay Head Yacht Club, Bay Head, NJ
Following the hot and humid summer in New Jersey, club managers are always eager to take a breath and enjoy a glass of wine after another successful season. The New Jersey Wine Society fall luncheon schedule began at Viaggio in Wayne, NJ, where we were treated to the great wines from Marchesi di Barolo. Valentina Abbona, the sixth generation to head the winery, joined us and told us the history of the winery, the future she sees for Marchesi di Barolo, and the story behind each of the wines. Valentina delighted those in attendance with a Dolcetto Madonna del Dono, Gavi White Label, Ruvei Barbera 2017, Barbaresco Tradizione 2014, Barolo di Barolo 2014, Barolo Sarmassa 2013, and a Moscato D’Asti Zagara. The surface was just scratched with what Marchesi di Barolo has to offer to a club wine program. The wines Valentina brought with her showed the quality and beauty of the wines from Marchesi di Barolo.
Departing across the ocean for Napa Valley from Italy, we were welcomed by the accomplished team at Crestmont Country Club in West Orange, NJ, and the wonderful wines of Flora Springs. Flora Springs was named for the matriarch of the family Flora Kimes and from the natural springs that flow at the vineyard. Paul Gardner from Flora Springs brought several wines that helped tell the story of Flora Springs and their commitment to “over-deliver” on wine quality. We were fortunate to taste a wide variety of wines that Flora Springs has and each one was paired spectacularly by the culinary team at Crestmont. The Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon were amazing but the show-stopper came with the 2015 Trilogy blend which left everyone asking for just one more glass.
Fortunately, the NJ Wine Society wouldn’t have to wait too long for that next glass of wine as a few weeks later Dani O’Brien with Huneeus Family Wines gathered the NJ Wine Society at the number one restaurant in New Jersey 14 years running, Restaurant Nicholas. This was truly a unique event in that the NJWS participated in a block tasting, tasting four different blocks from the Quintessa estate and then the final product, the 2016 Quintessa. Each block we tasted was from different terroirs and micro climates all resulting in unique wines that could stand on their own but instead were part of a bigger picture and became just one element in the Quintessa. Huneeus Family Wines also presented us with their Flowers Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Illumination Sauvignon Blanc, and Faust Cabernet Sauvignon. Each course was paired beautifully by the team at Restaurant Nicholas with the food and wine complementing each other wonderfully.
The 2019 wine calendar came to an end at historic Baltusrol with the wonderful wines of Williams Seylem. Mark Malpiede brought several wines from Williams Seylem’s highly allocated portfolio which made for an exciting and unique experience at this luncheon. Each course was paired with the thought in mind to highlight “warm climate” versus “cool climate” to help accentuate the nuances between the vineyards. The wines of Williams Seylem, while mostly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, because of the commitment to “hands on” vinification each one couldn’t be more different from the last. One more Old-World Burgundian in style while another more New World fruit forward and mellow. Baltusrol took these characteristics into account when pairing and preparing a fall seasonal menu that complemented the wines.
Society Happenings
Business Meeting to Feature Fred Dame
The 2019 Annual Wine Society Business Meeting and Education Session will be held on Monday, February 10, from, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center. The business portion of this event will include the election of the Wine Society Board of Managers, the announcement and recognition of the Wine Program Awards, and the annual membership recruitment awards. And don’t forget to be prepared for the annual Wine Test!
Frederick L. Dame, Master Sommelier brings an impressive blend of experience, expertise, and enthusiasm to the world of wine and cuisine. He is the first American to have served as President of the Court of Master Sommeliers. He is currently the President of the Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation. He holds Honorary Professorships at Purdue University and The University of South Carolina.
Dame's ability to transmit his passionate interest in wine make him a natural teacher. One of just 73 Americans to have passed the Master Sommelier Examination, Dame was the first to successfully pass all three parts in a single year. This feat and his high score won him the coveted Krug Cup of the British Guild of Sommeliers in 1984. Dame founded the American Branch of The Court of Master Sommeliers in 1986 and has played an active role in the expansion of the Master Sommelier program throughout America since that time.
As Cellarmaster of The Sardine Factory in Monterey, CA, for twelve years, Dame created a wine list which won the Wine Spectator Grand Award. With the many wine events held in the brick and wine lined Wine Cellar, Dame turned The Sardine Factory into a wine destination restaurant of world renown. He is also active in the culinary arts serving as an Honorary Trustee of The American Academy of Chefs, the honor society of The American Culinary Federation. He was awarded the Antonin Careme Medal and was made a Supreme Knight of the Knights of the Vine in 2000. He was elected to the prestigious National Restaurant Association College of Diplomates in 2004. In 2006, he received Sante Magazine’s Wine Professional of the Year as well as Starwine’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2010 he was elected to the American Academy of Chefs Hall of Fame.
Dame is also an active member of the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, serving as the current Vice Conseiller Culinaire of the Monterey Peninsula Bailliage. He has been awarded Officier Commandeur in recognition of his 30-year membership with La Chaîne and is the recipient of the Bronze Star of Excellence, awarded for outstanding service by a Bailli.
Fred is now the Global Wine Ambassador of Daou Vineyards and Winery in Paso Robles, CA, where proprietors and brothers Daniel and Georges Daou are hoping to create another breakthrough for the Paso wine region.
“Our goal is to elevate the quality of our wine and also to elevate the quality of the region,” said Daniel Daou in a phone conversation from his Paso Robles Daou Mountain estate. “Fred’s going to play a big role in that.
“He’s the most respected sommelier pretty much on this planet,” Daou added in appreciation of Dame, the first American to have served as President of the Court of Master Sommeliers and is counted among the prestigious group of 116 Americans to have passed the Master Sommelier examination.
Daou continued: “Fred’s role is to bring awareness to our wines and to the Paso region.” In that capacity, Dame’s mission will be to target and focus on the sommelier community. “He’s not going to carry a sales bag around selling wine but rather bring credibility by simply creating the right awareness for our brand and Paso,” said Daou.
Rest assured this is one meeting you do not want to miss!
Get Involved in the 2020 Wine Auctions
The Wine Society’s Silent and Live Auctions are annual events to benefit the members of the Wine Society. The auctions, held annually at the CMAA World Conference and Club Business Expo, have been successful, lively, and lucrative in the past and your donations can ensure that 2020 is the best year ever. The auctions are a fun way to raise money for a worthwhile venture—your industry’s future. The Wine Society will use the auction proceeds to produce exceptional education and member offerings to those in the Society.
This year’s auctions, of course, cannot be a success without the support of Wine Society members. There are several ways to participate in the exciting events.
Donate. Regardless of whether you are attending the World Conference, the easiest way to get involved is to donate to the auction. The Per Capita Bucky Award Winners typically donate $100 wholesale value per chapter member and the Overall Bucky Award winners typically donate more than $20,000 in wholesale value.
Donations should be shipped to the clearinghouse no later than Thursday, January 30, 2020.
Please complete the online donation form and include the packing slip at the time of shipping with each box you ship to the 2020 Wine Auction Clearinghouse:
IWS Auction Donation
Attn: Raymond DeTullio
Lakewood Country Club
6430 Gaston Ave.
Dallas, TX 75214
Additional information on the Wine Society Silent Auction can be found online.
Volunteer. Are you attending Conference? Volunteer to help set up and work the auctions—it’s a lot of fun! Help is especially needed during set up, the Live Auction and Auction Shipping. Please email Sara Thom if you are interested in helping.
Bid. The Wine Society and The Club Foundation will again enlist the help of the experts at GiveSmart, a silent auction technology company, to host the auctions on an online platform. Bidders can preregister for the auction or in person with the swipe of their credit card.
Checkout will improve as you can pay your bill as soon as the auction closes. Just don’t forget to pick up your winning lots on Wednesday, February 12.
Silent Auctions – Bidding will run from Sunday, February 9 at 10:00 a.m. through Tuesday, February 11 at 3:40 p.m. Bidders may view the merchandise in Wine Auction room (location TBD) during the following dates and times:
Sunday, February 9 10:00 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Monday, February 10 7:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Tuesday, February 11 7:30 a.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Live Auction—The Annual Live Auction will be held on Monday, February 9 at 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. located on the Expo floor at the Satellite Lounge.
For more information, contact Sara Thom.
Previewing the Wine Society Annual Dinner
Cellarmaster Colin Mack-Allen, CCM, CCE
The International Wine Society’s 32nd Annual Dinner will take place on Sunday, February 9, 2020 as The Fort Worth Club welcomes Wine Society members and guests to the top of the town! Executive Chef Tim Prefontaine, 2014 ACF Chef of the Year and the entire team at The Fort Worth Club have done a truly marvelous job pairing what will be an unforgettable evening that will include a five-course meal accompanying the seventeen wines selected. Dress for the evening will be black tie optional (with boots and suits strongly encouraged) and buses will depart the Gaylord Texan starting at 6:00 p.m. so that we can all enjoy a wonderful evening of camaraderie along with tremendous food and wine. Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Welcome Our Newest Members!
This quarter, the Wine Society welcomed 34 new members:
Ms. Leslie Blakely, St. Francis Yacht Club
Ms. Lindsey Bolander, CCM, Country Club of Lincoln
Mr. Michael Comerate, CCM, San Jose Country Club
Ms. Nora M. Cotter, CCM, Monterey Peninsula Country Club
Mr. Thomas Emison, La Quinta Country Club
Mr. Steve Felix, Long Beach Yacht Club
Mr. Joe Furlow, CCM, Academy of Magical Arts
Mr. Jeremy Gregory, CCM, Del Paso Country Club
Mr. Ronald Haas, Moraga Country Club
Ms. Tammy N. Hackney, San Diego Yacht Club
Mr. Jon Hays, Country Club of Lincoln
Mr. Rigoberto J. Headley, Almaden Golf & Country Club
Ms. Dixon C. Hollis, San Diego Yacht Club
Ms. Beth Hunter, Toscana Country Club
Mrs. Jennifer Hunter, Del Paso Country Club
Mr. Guy Steven Hupe, Spring Creek Golf & Country Club
Mr. Chad W. Johnson, Tamarisk Country Club
Mr. Artie D. Keenan, Bay Head Yacht Club
Mr. Paul Koojoolian, CCM, St. Francis Yacht Club
Mr. Joe Koran, Golden Gate Park Golf Club
Mr. Peter Manno, Jr., Elmwood Country Club
Mr. Justin McNaughton, Country Club of Lincoln
Mr. Jason Miller, TPC at Jasna Polana
Mrs. Ana P. Muniz-Trboljevac, Metropolitan Club
Mr. David P. Nightingale, The Peninsula Golf & Country Club
Ms. Josephine Ortilla, Metropolitan Club
Mr. Michael Perry, St. Francis Yacht Club
Ms. Lindsay Pizarro, CCM
Mr. Jay Reis, Pine Mountain Lake Golf & Country Club
Mr. David J. Robinson, CCM, San Francisco Yacht Club
Mr. Frederick Schultz, CCM, PGA, Valley Hi Country Club
Mrs. Kathleen L. Sharkey, Lake Arrowhead Country Club
Mr. Glenn Smickley, California Golf Club
Mr. Brian D. Thomas, Orinda Country Club
Mr. Reid Warren
Do you know someone who might be interested in joining the CMAA Wine Society, but they’re not a CMAA member? They’re in luck with the Wine Society’s Associate Membership!
Associate Membership in the Wine Society shall be open to individuals who are 21 years of age or older and are not members of CMAA. These individuals must be from a club that has a CMAA and Wine Society member to sponsor them. The membership is nontransferable and nonrefundable if the individual leaves employment at the club and moves to a property that is without a CMAA and Wine Society member. They shall be admitted to membership following the receipt of a completed application, a sponsor endorsement, and payment of dues.
Idea Fair
Interactive Cocktail Station: Sign the Barrel, Roll the Dice
Michael Nyerges, from Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, NJ, shared this idea in the Breakthrough Ideas category
“We created a fun and interactive cocktail station used for golf outings. The barrel consists of barrel aged cocktail, the cocktail ages in the barrel for a unique flavor profile. We ask all participants to try the aged cocktail and sign the barrel. Next to the Barrel, we also set up a pop-up bar with cocktail dice. Each dice consists of different spirits, juices, bitters, and syrups resulting in a unique, creative cocktail. Adventurous participants can roll the dice for a surprise libation. At the end of the reception, in addition to having participants walk away with some new drink ideas, the barrel is then raffled off.
The barrel has become a sought-after keepsake and a popular fundraiser for the organization. The beverage team bathes a gin or bourbon cocktail at least two weeks before the event takes place. The cocktail is then sampled throughout the day and reception. The beverage team also takes pride in the "roll the dice" station. It allows them to be creative and gives them an opportunity to create new cocktails. The dice and barrel aged cocktail have become so popular that we offer an aged cocktail on beverage menus and allow members to play with the dice at our bars before they sit down for dinner.”
Read more from CMAA’s 2019 Idea Fair
Do you have a great idea from 2020? Enter the 2020 Idea Fair.
Wine Industry Trends, News, & Stats
Richer Wine Is on the Table from California's Record Power Cuts
Winemakers let fruits hang longer during the outage and the harvest delay could result in more complex flavors and balance.
Is Scandinavian Wine the New Frontier? A Warming Climate Tempts Entrepreneurs
Hotter weather is fueling efforts to create a commercial wine industry in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
The French Wine Region You’ve (Probably) Never Heard of
For a few years now, the wines of a small pocket of France have been the toast of the sommelier and wine shop owner community. But for most, Jura means very little (and no, we’re not talking about the Scotch whisky). It’s almost as though industry types have been trying to keep the secret, safeguarding a small but delicious supply of funky French wine just for themselves.
Research Question: What Is the Average Beverage Revenue for a Private Club?
Answer: $715,629
Average Beverage Revenue for a Private Club with a Total Operating Revenue less than $3.5 million is $280,672- Average Beverage Revenue for a Private Club with a Total Operating Revenue between $3.5-$4.9 million is $405,524
- Average Beverage Revenue for a Private Club with a Total Operating Revenue between $5-$7.49 million is $568,301
- Average Beverage Revenue for a Private Club with a Total Operating Revenue between $7.5-$9.9 million is $716,650
- Average Beverage Revenue for a Private Club with a Total Operating Revenue between $10-$14.9 million is $937,348
- Average Beverage Revenue for a Private Club with a Total Operating Revenue more than $15 million is $1,715,102
This information can be found in the recently released 2019 Finance and Operations Report.
If you have any questions, please reach out to CMAA’s Research team.