Wine Media Guild May Newsletter
Ron Kapon, Editor

MEMBERS’ MEMOS

The outpouring of good wishes for Paul Zimmerman (Dr. Z) from our members has been heartwarming. Jonathan Levine has collected wines for the silent auction from the members of his wine tasting group.  Many WMG members have donated wines or cash, and, at the time of writing of this newsletter, we have 6 members going to the event but need two more to fill the WMG table. The event, featuring Giants coach Tom Coughlin and Jets coach Rex Ryan, is May 18 at Mayfair Farms in West Orange, N.J. Open bar beginning at 6:15, followed by dinner and a round-table with Peter King of Sports Illustrated, coaches Coughlin and Ryan reviewing the draft and previewing the season, followed by questions for the coaches from the audience. Then, there will be a football insiders’ roundtable after which the winners of the auction items will be announced. Tickets are $225 apiece, or $1,500 for a table of eight, and are available by sending a check, payable to “Dr.Z/Nothing is Impossible Foundation” to: Dr. Z/Nothing is Impossible Foundation 21 Pine Street- Suite 202-Rockaway, NJ 07866. All tickets are tax-deductible. In addition, donations may be sent to that address. For further information, please email Barbara Neibart, at bneibart@yahoo.com .

We have learned that Perry Luntz passed away from Legionnaire’s Disease, which he contracted while at a skilled nursing rehabilitation facility where he was recovering from lung cancer and a broken hip…You may be interested to learn that Wiley will soon publish German and Spanish language versions of his Whiskey and Spirits for Dummies.

MAY TASTINGS

Sun 3rd: 6pm – Reception; 7pm – Awards & Dinner. James Beard Media Awards. Hudson Theatre @ Millennium Broadway Hotel (144 West 44th Street) For info: 212-925-0054.

Sun 3rd:  3-10:00pm.  Mendoza Grape Crush Fest. City Winery (155 Varick St).  30 Argentinean wines plus a barbecue.  RSVP: Nestor Lara-Baeza – Nlarabaeza@geoffreyweill.com or 866-PRWEILL.

Mon 4th:  6pm – Award Ceremony; reception to follow (around 9pm).  2009 James Beard Foundation Awards. Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center (Columbus Ave & 65th Street). Black Tie. For info: 212-925-0054.

Mon 4th:  Noon-7pm. Lauber Grand Tasting. Marriott Marquis Hotel (46th & Broadway- 6th Floor). Bring Business Card.

Tues 5th: 10:30-12:00pm- Comparative Tasting; 12:15-3:30pm-Finger Lakes aromatic whites tasting with food pairings. Finger Lakes Riesling Summit 2009. Astor Center (23 E. 4th St @ Lafayette). For more information go to www.rieslingsummit.com.   RSVP: Elissa Doyle elissa.doyle@dc-intl.com or 212-725-0707.
Fri 8th:  1-3pm. Wines of Argentina. Consulate General of Argentina. (12 West 56th Street). RSVP:  winetastingmay8th@gmail.com or 212-206-7375.

Mon 11th: 3pm. Duoro Boys Masterclass Porto tasting. The Study at Astor Center (23 East 4th Street, 2nd Floor). RSVP:  f.zimmer@wine-partners.at

Tues 12th: 11am-Noon – Seminar; 12:30-4:30pm -Walk-around tasting & buffet. Wines of Cahors. Astor Center. (399 Lafayette @ 4th St). RSVP: www.terroirevent.com

Wed 13th: 3:30-7:00pm. Austrian tasting. Austrian Consulate General. (31 East 69th Street) RSVP:  Stephanie.artner@austriantrade.org  or 212-421-5250.

Fri-Sun 15-17th: Westchester Wine & Food Festival. Kick-off party, Grand Tastings, Chef Demos, Wine Seminars, Sparkling Wine Brunch. Doubletree Hotel Tarrytown (Formerly the Hilton). Press contact: Elizabeth Thompson.  liz@thompson-bender.com  or 914-762-1900.

Tues 19th: 11:30am-4:30pm. Wines from Greece Walk-around tasting. W Hotel Manhattan (541 Lexington Ave @50th St).  RSVP: Sofia Perpera: sperpera@allaboutgreekwine.com or 404-545-2324.

Wed 27th: 2-4:00pm. Discover Calabria. Astor Center (399 Lafayette Street @ 4th St). Wine & delicacies. RSVP: calabria@thefoodgroup.com .

JUNE

Wed 3rd: Grand Tasting- 1:00-5:00pm; Seminars- 12:00-1:00pm and 3:30-4:30pm. Wines of Chile Grand Tasting. Gotham Hall (1356 Broadway @ 36th St). RSVP: www.keysurvey.com/survey/248957/129b

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Send in your reservations now: Sunday, June 14 – WMG Annual Dinner at Del Posto.
Save the date: Monday, June 15 – Business Meeting