AWS Conference 2019

The 52nd annual American Wine Society National Conference  was thankfully held in the warmth of Florida's gulf coasts at Tradewinds Resort, St Pete Beach from 30 October to 2 November 2019.

Because AWS room allocation at Tradewinds was full we stayed at neighbouring sister location Rumfish Resort.

Executive Director David Falcheck

The Conference, my eighth, was superb with many great sessions, especially Joel Peterson, founder of Ravenswood and now owner/winemaker of Once and Future, with Mixed Black Magic, an examination of how complementary varieties add to Zinfandel.

Joel Peterson

Joel's tasting

Joel showed 
Once and Future 'Forcini Vineyard' Zinfandel 2018
(100% Zinfandel planted 1904)
Once and Future 'Oakley Vineyard' Zinfandel 2016
(100% Zinfandel planted 1890)
Sandlands Carignan 2018
(100% Carignan planted 1890's on own roots)
Bedrock 'Papera Ranch'  2017
(70% Zinfandel, 30% Carignan planted 1901: "Carignan adds zip -acidity and spiciness) to Zin")
Once and Future 'Palisades Vineyard' Petite Sirah 2017
(100% PS planted in 1976, budwood from original 1894 vineyard: "PS is a pain to grow, lacks colour, structure, is extremely tannic.")
Ridge Lytton Springs 2017
(74% Zinfandel, 15% Petite Sirah, 9% Carignan. 2% Mataro)
St Amant 'Mohr-Fry Vineyard' Alicante Bouchet 2017
(100% Alicante Bouchet:"a little AB goes a long way, can quickly dominate a wine.")
Bedrock 'Pagani Ranch'  2018
(Field blend of Zin, some Carignan, PS and white Chasselas & Palomino)

and then we were invited to make our own blends with the first two 100% Zins.

L>R Diane Meyer, Kate Kearney, John Hames, Marge and Tom Wallman

Randall Grahm, Bonny Doon

Randal Grahm was honoured with the AWS Award of Merit and gave a fascinating and humorous talk on the history of Bonny Doon and his failures, and finally giving up his dream of making a Burgundian style of Pinot Noir in California.

Naples, Florida

On Naples Pier

Five nights at Naples, staying in Staybridge Suites.

Just after taking the picture above, there was an intense heavy rain shower and we sheltered under the roof on the right. Afterwards we walked to end of pier and saw dolphins close by going around and under the end of the pier.

Looking back the way we'd walked - from the pier

Then we walked into Naples old town and had lunch at Jane's Café before walking back. Outside the café they were getting ready for Xmas.

On our way back north to St Pete Beach we crossed the bridge to Sanibel and Captiva Island to lunch at a favourite from our stay two years ago - Green Flash on Captiva.

Crispy Grouper Sandwich, Green Flash, Captiva Isalnd

View from Green Flash, Captiva Island

Flying to Tampa

Crossing the coast as we come in to land at Tampa

Starter

Main Course

After a night at Gatwick Hilton we flew to Tampa, spending the first night at Holiday Inn Express, Rocky Point Island, just two miles from the airport.


Next morning we caught the hotel shuttle back to the airport to pick up our rental car to drive south to Naples

Prime with Peter and Sue

To Prime for a pre-birthday dinner with Sue and Peter Chasney, talking advantage of Prime's zero corkage on Monday.

Peter and Sue supplied a gorgeous Piper Heidsick Champagne as the aperitif, and the luscious Clark Estate Noble Late Harvest Pinot Gris 2011 Single Vineyard from Awatere Valley, Marlborough, NZ with dessert.

With the steaks we had Ridge Lytton Springs 2013 Zinfandel blend.

And Prime added a message and candle to my dessert.

Last Chillies of 2019

Cold today but not raining. I took the opportunity to harvest the last of the chillies from my unheated greenhouse. (I have been picking them for the past couple of months) 

In the photo, Prairie Fire, Spike and Rooster Spur . I won't grow the latter again because its chillies are too small, though they have a kick. Prairie Fire are the fat bullet-shaped ones at top right, the long thin ones are Spike, the small ones are Rooster Spur.

Because only one each of the first two germinated and a lot of Rooster I have three plants of the latter.

I brought Prairie Fire into the kitchen in the hope warmth there will help it ripen its remaining chillies, and maybe that it will survive the winter

Caroline's Birthday at Olso Court

9 September is Caroline's birthday. 

We'd booked Oslo Court and Caroline had arrived in London for a meeting the following day.

Happy Birthday, Caroline!

Pic by Caroline

Pic by Caroline

GOM at Anastasias

Andy organised this meeting at Anastasias. He'd ordered the Meze menu.

From left

• Fred
• Peter
• Gerry W
• Andy
• Gerry M
• Mike
• Derek
• Colin
• Ron
• John
• Mark

Thanks to Gerry M for photo