Autumn Meeting of The Rocky Mountain Assn. of Vintners & Viticulturists
Saturday, November 9, 2002
Grand Vista Hotel
2790 Crossroads Blvd., Grand Junction

 Agenda

8:00 - 8:30 a.m.     Registration ($10.00 charge for nonmembers; members free)
8:30 a.m.                Welcome by John Mathewson, RMAVV president
8:30 - 9:45 a.m.     Business meeting - Part I
      1. Report of nominating committee - Walt Morrison
      2.  Introduction of candidates and remarks
      3.  Nominations from the floor
9:45 - 10:00 a.m.     Break/ Voting for officer candidates
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
    Gordon Burns, Dr. Steve Price and Dr. Eric Herve of ETS Laboratories, St. Helena, California.
    ETS Labs, established in 1978, provides analytical services to the wine and beverage industry.
    Topics: analysis for
                 -  TCA (2,4,6-trichloroanisole, the compound that makes wine 'corky'),
                 -  oak aromas
                 -  red wine phenolics.
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.       Lunch***
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.           Doug Caskey, executive director of the Colorado Wine Industry
                                     Development Board. Topic: Merlot tasting, comparison.
3:15 - 3:45 p.m.           Business meeting - Part II
       1. Mike Heck, RMAVV treasurer’s report
       2. Doug Phillips, Winefest co-chairman: 2002 Winefest
       3. John Mathewson - Election results
3:45 - 5:00 p.m.          Social hour –  Bring a bottle of wine to share!

** Buffet-style lunches will be provided at the Grand Vista Hotel at a cost per lunch of $10.00 per person.

Subject: Brown Bag Reminder
Date:      Mon, 21 Oct 2002 19:59:58 -0600
From:      "John Bauer" <deannak1@dmea.net>
 
Brown Bag lunch meeting, Wed. Oct. 23rd at Rogers Mesa Research
Center at 12:00, noon. Horst will talk about getting ready for winter.

Subject:      Winemaking competition results
Date:          Sun, 22 Sep 2002 13:32:39 -0600
From:         "dcaskey" <dcaskey@coloradowine.com>
Reply-To:  <dcaskey@qwest.net>
 
Attached are the results of the winemaking competitions that took place
yesterday at the Colorado Mountain Wine Fest in Palisade. I am including the
results in both an MS-Word file and as text below.

Congratulations to the winners, and to all of you for creating such a
successful festival.

Wineries, because the preparation and time allotted for the judging was so
rushed, you have very cursory comments of some of your score sheets. The
Wine Board is in the process of creating a tasting event for evaluation
purposes that would allow you to sit down with winemaking and/or wine
industry professionals to discuss issues relating to your wine.

Also, in the craziness of the festival yesterday, we ended up distributing
the 3-bottle carriers free in the park, even though I told you previously we
were going to charge for them. If you did not get any yesterday, or would
still like to order more, please contact me soon. I think we will just start
the order process from scratch. The carriers come 80 to a case and are $0.75
each or $60 for the case. We will just follow the honor system in regards to
whether you got some or enough in the park during Wine Fest. Thank you for
your assistance. I apologize for the inconvenience.

"Best of the Fest" Winemaking Competition Results
The results of the 2002 Colorado Mountain Wine Fest winemaking competitions
awarded medals to several familiar faces and some new labels, as well, on
Saturday, September 21, 2002.
In the commercial competition, J.A. Balistreri Vineyards of Denver won the
gold medal for the red wine category and claimed the "Best of the Fest"
designation with their 2000 Merlot from Grand Valley fruit. Runner-up for
"Best of the Fest" was Canyon Wind 1999 Chardonnay, also from the Grand
Valley, which took the gold medal in the white wine category.
The silver medal in the red wine category went to Two Rivers 1999 Cabernet
Sauvignon and the bronze to Corley Vineyards 2000 Lorinda's Merlot. Both
wineries are located in the Grand Valley AVA.
The Carlson 2001 Gewürztraminer (Grand Valley) took the silver medal in
among the white, followed by Corley's 2000 Chardonnay. Canyon Wind claimed a
gold medal for their Desert Rosé and Garfield Estates, a brand new winery in
the Grand Valley, took the silver for their dry Merlot Rosé.
Fruit wine medals went to Augustina's Cherry (gold), a very tart, refreshing
wine made in Boulder, and to Steamboat Springs Cellars' Strawberry Park
(silver).
Plum Creek Vineyards, one of the state's oldest wineries located in
Palisade, tallied the highest overall scores for a winery across averaged
all three of their entries, 2000 Cabernet Franc, 2001 Riesling and 1997
Redstone Reserve Merlot. Corley Vineyards and Canyon Wind were close behind
in the cumulative scores.
The most impressive showing for one of the many new wineries debuting their
products at the 2002 Festival in the Park in Palisade came from Reeder Mesa
Vineyards in Whitewater, just south of the Grand Valley, for their strong
entries of Riesling and Merlot.
The amateur winemaking competition Best of Show and gold medal for the white
wine category went to longtime amateur winemaker and grape-grower Rusty
Price of Palisade for his stunning, Chablis-like Chardonnay. Rusty was the
founder and organizer of the amateur winemaking competition at Wine Fest
several years ago, who retired from that role so he could enter the
competition.
The biggest surprise of the competition was the dessert-styled Canadice, a
hybrid grape variety from the Finger Lakes area of Canada and New York, made
by Robert Schadek of Arvada. The fragrance and balance of this sweet white
was remarkable and claimed the silver medal for whites and the Runner-up
Best of Show award.
The bronze medal in the white category went to Patrick Chirchillio of Avon
for a very distinctive Muscat Blanc. Mr. Chirchillio also claimed the silver
and bronze medals in the red wine category for Chateauneuf- and
Bordeaux-styled blends. He claimed the most medals of any entrant in either
the amateur or commercial competition.
The gold medal red came from Chris Owens of Boulder, who blended Colorado
Cabernet Franc with a touch of California Zinfandel for a deep and
impressive wine.
Fruit wine medals went to Michael Maiella of Grand Junction for a luscious
plum wine. Bill and Nancy Brooks of Arvada took the silver medal for their
brilliant and refreshing raspberry wine. Marcel Theberge of Grand Junction
claimed the bronze medal for fruit wines.
Overall, 37 amateur winemakers from all over Colorado and Utah turned in 87
entries into the amateur competition. Twenty-three of the 27 Colorado
wineries that participated in the 2002 Colorado Mountain Wine Fest entered
the commercial competition with 64 different wines.
Thanks to all of the judges for both competitions: Dave Westfall, The Wine
Experience, Broomfield; Douglas Henn-Macrae, importer, Rochester, UK; Dave
Buchanan, The Grand Junction Sentinel; Dave Dame, Chefs' Restaurant, Grand
Junction; Christine Feller, writer, Grand Junction; Marc Tarry Killinger,
wine writer, Boulder; Michael Poe, Meridian Wine and Spirits, Lafayette;
Greg Thomas, Evergreen Discount Liquor; Jacques Wilson, executive chef,
Steamboat Springs Sheridan Hotel; Aaron Essig, executive chef, UNC, Greeley;
Brad and Alta Smith, authors of The Guide to Colorado Wineries; and David
Hughes, amateur winemaker, Longmont.

Doug Caskey, executive director
Colorado Wine Industry Development Board

Subject:      Event schedule update
Date:          Fri, 27 Sep 2002 16:40:00 -0600
From:         "dcaskey" <dcaskey@coloradowine.com>
Reply-To:  <dcaskey@qwest.net>
 
Please take a moment out of your insanely busy schedule in the middle of
crush and bottling and harvest to read this memo about more marketing
opportunities, so your schedule can be even busier.

Thanks for all you do this time of year and year round!

TO: All Colorado wineries
RE: More marketing opportunities to distract you from crush and bottling

Wednesday, October 2, 5-9 PM: Colorado Springs chapter of the ACF fundraiser
        This event is the primary fundraiser of the southern chapter of the
American Culinary Federation that includes many of the better restaurants in
Colorado Springs and surrounds. We need 8 cases of wine to help support this
event, put on by 20 area chefs for about 300 people. While the organization
has a small budget for wine, at least 50% will need to be donated. Please
call me immediately if you are interested.

Saturday, Oct 12, 1-5 PM: Parking Lot Tasting at Pyramid Liquors, Littleton.
        Redstone Meadery had applied for the temporary tasting permit for
this event. That means that any other winery pouring samples under their
license needs to zero invoice Redstone Meadery for the samples poured.

        If you want to get your wines in Pyramid, please set up a tasting
for James Sletten (303.794.0101) ASAP so he can decide whether or not to
bring in your products prior to the tasting. You will also need to let Julia
Herz at Redstone know of your intentions (720.406.1215). I realize that
there is also a tasting at Wines Off Wynkoop this same day, so your
participation in either event is appreciated.

Sunday-Monday, October 13-14: The Governor's Symposium on Colorado Cuisine,
The Broadmoor Hotel.
        I will try to provide the wines for the opening reception on Sunday
night out of the CWIDB's promotional stock. If, however, you definitely want
your wine poured at this reception, please contact me, as I made need you to
deliver samples to the Broadmoor.

        The Colorado Chefs Association will select some Colorado wines to
serve with their banquet on Monday night. They do have money to purchase
this wine, but are hoping for some special pricing from wineries. If you
would like your products considered for this dinner, please let me know. As
much as I can, I will facilitate the delivery of these wines to The
Broadmoor.

Thursday, October 17, 5:30-7:30 PM: Legal Aid Foundation Wine Tasting,
Denver
        This benefit to raise money for the legal Aid Foundation will
attract 200-300 lawyers, law school students, and judges. It will be held at
Michael's of Denver, an event center at 1770 Sherman Street in downtown
Denver. If you would like your wine poured at this event, please contact me
and make arrangements to get me samples. You do not need to be present.

Saturday, Oct 19, 2-5 PM: Arvada Elks Lodge Colorado Wine Festival.
        Note change of time to the afternoon! We have five wineries signed
up for this event, originally scheduled for the evening. Hopefully,
Cottonwood, Redstone Meadery, Old Town, Balistreri and Canyon Wind will also
be available to pour samples and sell bottles in the afternoon. If you have
any conflicts, please let me know now. Thanks!

Wednesday-Friday, October 23-25: The Governor's Conference on Tourism, Grand
Junction.
        The Grand Junction VCB has already solicited the participation of
the Grand Valley wineries, requesting a one case donation for the opening
night reception. I will have a table for wineries outside the Grand Valley
as well. If you would like your wine poured there, please let me know what
varietals. You will need to arrange to get samples to the Grand Junction
Adams Mark by noon on Wednesday, October 23. I will deliver what I can, but
I won't have time to pick up wine from everyone.

Grape Expectations Parking Lot Tasting, Saturday, October 26, Noon-5 PM,
Denver
        Ulla Merz at Bookcliff is licensing this parking lot event at one of
Denver's trendier wine shops at 22nd Ave. and Kearney, just west of Monaco.
I have heard that Trail Ridge, DeBeque and Garfield Estates are
participating. If you are not already on this list and want to participate,
please talk to John King (303.320.7783) about getting your wines into his
store. Then call Ulla  (303.499.7301) to be sure you are listed on the
application.

Conifer Chamber of Commerce Wine Festival, Bailey Farmers Union, Friday,
November 1, 5:30-8:30 PM
        This is the third year for this event, which keeps growing nicely.
Creekside Cellars will license this as a wine festival. Bottle and case
sales have been good in this wine-starved community southwest of Denver, and
attendance usually passes 200-300 or so. Please let Bill Donahue
(303.674.5460) know if you want to participate.

Meridian Wine and Spirits Parking Lot Tasting, Saturday, November 2 (Times
TBA), Lafayette
        Dave McLoughlin of Garfield Estates Winery is organizing a parking
lot tasting at Meridian Wine and Spirits at 95th and Arapahoe in Lafayette,
the same store that hosted the Lafayette 95th Street Wine Festival last
June. Please talk to Michael Poe at Meridian (303.673.0220) to get your
wines into the store and to Dave (dave@garfieldestates.com
<mailto:dave@garfieldestates.com>) to get your name on the application.
 

You can only do as many events as you can do. And I thank you for each and
every one you do do, especially during such an already busy time of year.
Thank you.

The 3-bottle carriers
        Due to a miscommunication at Wine Fest, the carriers were
distributed for free there. Since the Wine Board's revenues are looking
strong so far this year, I want to make sure that each winery gets one free
case, if you didn't get one at Wine Fest. Most of you have stayed with your
previous orders in addition to the free case. Please note that we will be
offering these carriers free to retailers and wholesalers again this holiday
season.

        Please call me or e-mail me to confirm the number of additional
cases of 80 carriers ($60 per case or $0.75 each) you would like. Let me
know then if you still need a free case.

Doug Caskey, executive director
Colorado Wine Industry Development Board
4550 Sioux Drive
Boulder, CO 80303-3733
Ph: 720.304.3406 / Fax: 720.304.3405
www.coloradowine.com
 

Subject:     CO Wine accessories
Date:          Wed, 9 Oct 2002 11:05:42 -0600
From:         "dcaskey" <dcaskey@coloradowine.com>
Reply-To:  <dcaskey@qwest.net>
 
I have received some special pricing on some jackets from Promo Ad Gear, the
company that makes our CO Wine baseball hats. I am attaching a PDF file of
the jackets and pricing. If we put together a 24 piece order of one style,
they will embroider with the CO Wine logo at no additional charge.
Turn-around time will be 2 weeks or so. My preference would be for the
Fleece-lined Bomber Jacket or the Full-zip Anorak. The wholesale pricing
will be passed directly on to the wineries. I may have you pay Promo Ad Gear
directly, but details will be forthcoming if an order materializes.

Also, I am beginning to get low on the CO Wine baseball hats. We should
order more now if you think you will be selling a lot of them for the
holidays. I believe the price will remain at $60/dozen. Please let me know
ASAP if you want to order some.

One additional event for the calendar is the Red Cross' Red, White and Brew
wine tasting at the Denver Adams Mark on Saturday, October 19 after the
Arvada Elks Lodge tasting. I will be attending to pour Colorado wines. If
you would like your wine at this event, please be sure that either your
distributor or I have samples, about 3 bottles of each product. This
prestigious tasting draws about 1500 affluent Denver area people to taste
hundreds of wines. While it is a great tasting, we will be only a drop in
the bucket, albeit a bucket from which some very key consumers will be
tasting.

Finally, I have heard several comments about the CWIDB doing too many events
or doing events that favor some wineries over others. The Wine Board will be
reviewing its promotional policies at it Annual Retreat on December 2-3. If
you have comments or suggestions on how we can improve our promotional
activities, please let me or your CWIDB rep hear your input. Winery and
grower board members include: Bob Witham, Two Rivers; Diana Read, Cottonwood
Cellars; Steve Smith, Grande River Vineyards; Julie Domenico, Balistreri;
Jeff Carr, Garfield Estates; and Guy Drew, Crooked Creek.

I have also been asked to prioritize the event opportunities that I offer to
wineries. I can't really prioritize an event according to the individual
needs and marketing plans of 42 licensed wineries. I will however provide
you with a rough description of attendees and demographic of each event. I
am afraid that you will have to make the final decision of which events work
for your winery. If you want more information about any particular event,
please contact me.

We obviously don't do many events in certain areas of the state. If you know
of events in your area the CWIDB should be involved in, please let me know,
or have the event organizers contact me. As much as possible, we want to
support each winery in the region you are targeting. Thanks for your
participation and support.

Doug Caskey, executive director
Colorado Wine Industry Development Board
4550 Sioux Drive
Boulder, CO 80303-3733
Ph: 720.304.3406 / Fax: 720.304.3405
www.coloradowine.com
 

Mesa County Health Department
Surface Parameter Modeling Project for the Grand Valley
and North Fork / Uncompahgre of West Central Colorado

Working Session

October 11, 2002
Mesa County Health Department is providing leadership in developing the groundwork for a surface parameter atmospheric modeling project, which involves combining resources from several governmental agencies and the private sector.  The goal is to create a common vision for one comprehensive air modeling capability.

AlphaTRAC, Inc., an atmospheric consulting firm, is assisting Mesa County in identifying the stakeholders and conducting a needs assessment as well as developing a top level design for a comprehensive modeling system including source characterization, meteorological characterization and prediction, atmospheric transport and dispersion, user input, data acquisition, output products, product communication and distribution and hardware.  To date, AlphaTRAC has conducted interviews for the purposes of assessing resources for meteorological and air quality networking data.

Mesa County Health Department has identified your organization or company as a valuable stakeholder, and would like to invite you to participate in a one- day working session on October 29, 2002 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.   This working session is intended to further identify stakeholder needs; to discuss opportunities for collaboration; and to receive an overview of available atmospheric models involving diagnostic and real-time applications.

Your input and contribution is critical to the success of the pilot project, and Mesa County Health Department highly encourages your participation.  Please RSVP no later than October 25, 2002 as lunch will be provided.
(NMJ - I will be attending this meeting)

Sincerely,
Perry Buda

Location:
Western Colorado AHEC  (Area Health Education Center)
592 32 Road
Clifton, CO  81520  (North of Walgreens)

RSVP info:
Please RSVP to Perry Buda – Mesa County Health Dept – via email:
pbuda@co.mesa.co.us

nmj -10/22/2002