For member write ups of the event please surf over to their sites:

Tom Maresca, “good gravel!”
Robert Simonson, “Chateau Haut-Bailly and Domaine de Chevalier Meet in New York”
Charles Scicolone, “Tasting Domaine de Chevalier and Chateau Haut-Bailly”
Peter Hellman mentions the tasting in a recent piece for the Wall Street Journal.
As others appear, we will link to them here. UPDATE: and John Foy on NJ.com
UPDATE: and Louisa Hargrave on 27east.com

Thanks to member Mark Golodetz for organizing this lunch!

Above, Peter Sichel is inducted into the Wine Writers’ Hall of Fame by Wine Media Guild member John Foy.

Photo credit : Len Speier

Perry Luntz graduated from Boys High and  NYU with a degree in marketing. He served in the Army Air Force with the occupation forces in Berlin after WWII. He was involved in one way or another with the beverage alcohol business most of his adult life. For more than 20 years he was publisher and editor of Beverage Alcohol Market Report, an international e-letter for marketing executives in beer, wine, and spirits. He served as Director of Marketing Communications (a term he coined) for Seagram Distillers for a decade, worked on the creative side of several advertising agencies– including a spell as a creative director of a Young & Rubicam division– and for several years headed his own marketing communications agency.

As Chairman of the Wine Media Guild, he showed he knew his way around vineyards and breweries, as well as distilleries. Like many native New Yorkers, Perry was a political junky. He served several years as president of the Eleanor Roosevelt Political Club, He was a member of  Manhattan Community Board 6 and a founder of the Manhattan Neighborhood Council. For the past decade, Perry was Senior Editor of the Beverage Media Group, a network of trade magazines read by 140,000 licensed retailers. He also wrote a weekly column for the group’s B-to-B Internet site. At age 80, he wrote his first book, Whiskey and Spirits for Dummies, and was working on a new book at the time of his death.

He is survived by wife, Carol Ann Rinzler, sons Ira and Russell (a third son, Lloyd, is deceased), and two grandsons, Ari and Eli.

Ron Kapon: On a personal note Perry helped me when I started writing about wine and spirits, making concrete suggestions that have made me a better writer. He asked me to join the Manhattan Neighborhood Council and whetted my appetite for politics while showing me the way things got done in New York City. He mentored many people in the wine and spirits business, and I have quoted his Whiskey and Spirits for Dummies book in several magazine articles and use it as a texbook for one of my classes. His gruff exterior hid a warm, friendly, caring person. I will miss our weekly phone calls. I raise my glass to you, Perry. Help organize heaven.

Ron Kapon
The Peripatetic Oenophile
www.ronkapon.com

And here’s another take from Marisa D’Vari (republished here).

And don’t forget our next lunch: Austrian Rieslings!

Pat Savoie has just been appointed Associate Editor of Celebrity Chef Tour magazine, a twice yearly publication of the James Beard House that supports the JBH Celebrity Chef Tour. The Tour goes to 16 cities in the US, where a dinner is held in the Spring and Fall. One of ten top chefs who have won Beard Awards cooks at each of the dinners.

TASTINGS

Sun 1st-Tues 3rd: 10am-5pm Press & Trade. International Restaurant & Foodservice Show- Javits Convention Center.  Reed Expo runs the show: 888-334-8705 or  www.internationalrestaurantny.com . The New York Wine Expo finishes on Sunday March 1st (Press day) so you can go to both shows that day. For NYWE contact: Karen Pineman 212-725-4500-X311 or kpineman@schwartz.com . They will give you a press pass.

Tues 3rd: 11am-5pm. Baron Francois Tasting. 5 Ninth Restaurant (Ninth Ave @ Gansevoort St).  No other info available.

Tues 3rd: Noon-4pm. Martin Scott/Ole Imports Tasting. The Benjamin Hotel (125 East 50th Street) RSVP: Tracy Striano- 516-327-0808 X211.

Wed 4th: 11:30am-2:00pm. Wine Media Guild Portuguese Native Grapes. Felidia restaurant. Still places open. RSVP: psavoie@nyc.rr.com .

Thurs 5th: 5-8:30pm. Vinho Verde walk around tasting. 5pm- Guided tasted by Robin Kelley O’Connor. Astor Center. (399 Lafayette Street) RSVP: vinhoverde@dunnrobinsgroup.com .

Thur 5th: 7:30pm.  Invitation to a film opening and VIP party at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center (65th & Broadway), celebrating French film and Longboard Vineyard’s wines.  The festivities include a screening of the film “Paris 36″ and discussion with the director prior to the film, a director’s Q&A after the film, and then a Longboard-sponsored gala. They have extended the invitation to the first 10 WMG members who RSVP: Jeffrey Grava. Jeffrey@longboardvineyards.com .

Fri 6th: Noon. Press. Gambero Rosso & Slow Food tasting. Metropolitan Pavilion (125 West 18th St) 

Saturday 7th: Daniel Johnnes’ La Paulee

Mon 9th-Thurs 12th: Taste Napa Valley NY. Series of events with 100 vintners spread out all over the city. Mon 9th: 1-5pm. Metropolitan Pavillion. (125 West 18th Street). RSVP: Michael Gitter- 212-867-5581 or Michael@firstpresspr.com  or register online at www.napavintners.com .

Tues 10th-Fri 13th: Wineries Unlimited 2009. Valley Forge Convention Center, King of Prussia, PA. Not sure what the policy is re press comps. Call 866-483-0164 or www.wineriesunlimited.com .

Tues 10th: 11am-Noon. Press Preview.  Noon-5PM. Press & Trade. Today’s Bordeaux. 100 Affordable Wines & Barrel Tasting of 2008 vintage. Tribeca Rooftop (2 Desbrosses St- corner of Hudson St). RSVP: eventsUSA@spoexa.com or 212-386-7436.

Fri 13th-Sun 15th:  USA NJ Food & Wine Festival. Crystal Springs Resort & Moet Hennessy . I spoke to the PR person & WMG members can contact her for free admission to the Saturday night Grand Tasting, 6-10pm (ONLY THAT EVENT). The resort has a Wine Spectator Grand Award for its Restaurant Latour. Member John Foy was a consultant for the restaurant. The resort is in Hamburg, NJ.  RSVP: Natasha Wright- nwright@resortsofcrystalsprings.com  or 973-823-6678. MENTION Ron Kapon.

Wed 18th: 2:00-4:00pm. Germany’s Pinot Trio. Wines of Germany. Tasting of Pinot Noir, Blanc and Gris. The London NYC, Green Room 2nd floor (151 West 54th St).  RSVP: 212-994-7523 or germanpinot@rfbinder.com

Wed 18th:  Noon-5pm  The New Values of Spanish Wine. The Powerhouse @ Museum of Natural History (Columbus Ave & 79th Street). RSVP: Gregory White- 718-403-0097 or RSVP@gregorywhitepr.com
Mon 23rd: TIME??  VOS Portfolio tasting.  City Winery (155 Varick Street) RSVP: Victor Schwartz- 212-967-6948

Wed 25th: 6-10pm. Wine & Wishes.  Charmer Sunbelt Group Make-A-Wish Foundation charity event.  Not sure if they will comp writers.  Call (212) 957-WISH for info.

Paul (Dr. Z) Zimmerman has done a radio commercial for Dr. Pepper playing himself.  Now that’s type casting.

NEWS

The Oenovideo International Film Festival was held in September in Paris. It featured Documentary Films about Grapes and Wine.  The American documentary “Crush” took the prize for best short (20 minutes) film.

OCTOBER TASTINGS

Wed 1st:  11:30am-2:00pm.  Wine Media Guild Luncheon.  Chenin Blanc in all its Guises. Speaker Roger Dagorn. At Felidia. Still a couple of places.  RSVP psavoie@nyc.rr.com .

Tues 7th: 1-5pm. Great Match Wine & Tapas ’08.  Metropolitan Pavilion (125 West 18th Street) RSVP: 888-772-4694 or go to www.greatmatch.org/GreatMatch/ to register online.

Thurs 9th-Sun 12th: NYC Wine & Food Festival. Over 35 events taking place in many different venues.  Go to www.wineandfoodfestival.com for more information.

Fri 10th: 2-5pm. Beverage Media Trade tasting at Pier 54 (15th Street & the Hudson River). It is listed as “for Invited Customers of Southern W&S.” They instruct you to ask a Southern W&S representative for a ticket.

Tues 14th: 11:00am -3:00pm. The Tasting Panel Double Gold Winners from the San Francisco International Wine Competition. At the Bowery Hotel (335 The Bowery). RSVP: 800-338-7819 x6 or email rsvp@tastingpanelmag.com

Thurs 16th-Wed 18th: Wine Spectator California Wine Experience. Marriott Marquis Hotel. You are on your own getting comp tickets.

Mon 27th-Wed 29th:  Finger Lakes Wine Alliance press trip for WMG members. A separate memo has been sent out. We will be back early afternoon, in time for members to catch the Vinitaly tasting (below).

Tues 28th: 1-4pm. New Zealand New Release Tasting at Public (210 Elizabeth Street between Prince & Spring). Register at www.nzwine-eventsusa.com/

Tues 28th: 6:30 pm. Lecture and Tasting: Wine and Climate Change. At the American Museum of Natural History, Linder Theater, First floor (77th Street & CPW). Discussion and wine tasting with climatologist Gregory V. Jones of Southern Oregon University; author and blogger Tyler Colman; and wine importer and distributor David Bowler.  Topics include redrawing the wine map, wines and their cultural identities and calculating wine’s carbon footprint. For tickets ($20), call 212-769-5200 or visit www.amnh.org .

Wed 29th: Vinitaly US Tour. Seminars 11am; Walk around tasting 2-6pm.  NY Public Library (42nd Street & Fifth Ave). RSVP 877-217-9867 or  ssilvernale@balzac.com
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NOVEMBER 5 save the date – Wine Media Guild Wines of Puglia.

See the exciting new calendar for lunches!

SEPTEMBER TASTINGS

Thurs 4th: 2:00-6:00pm. Ultra Premium Sake & Shochu Tasting. At Intercontinental Barclay Hotel (111 East 48th St). RSVP: (973) 835-8585 or sake@wineofjapan.com .

Mon 8th: 1:00-6:00pm.  Martin Scott Portfolio Tasting. 583 Park Ave (63rd). RSVP: cornellas@martinscottwines.net or (516) 327-0808.

Mon 8th: 1:00-6:00pm. Vias Imports Portfolio Tasting. Marriott Marquis Hotel (1535 Broadway @ 45th – 8th Floor Ballroom). Bring business card.

Mon 15th & Tues 16th:  1 to 7:00pm.  Panebianco Boutique Wine Tasting. Italian wines. At 1140 Broadway, Suite 504.
RSVP : wines@panebiancollc.com.  Phone: 212/685-7560

Tues 16th:  4:00-7:00pm. Terlato Wines International Portfolio Tasting. Icon Restaurant at W Hotel (130 East 39th St).  RSVP: hausern@terlatowines.com  or (847) 604-5723.  (May also be a 9:00pm-Midnight shift, but not sure what’s happening with that.)

Tues 16th and Wed 17th: 12:00-1:00pm Press Only; 1:00-6:00pm Press & Trade. Winebow’s annual Vintner’s Harvest. At
Skylight (275 Hudson Street (between Spring & Dominick). Winemakers/owners attending include: Marilisa Allegrini, Alberto Antonini, Alessandro Cellai, Paolo Librandi, Christof Tiefenbrunner, Vittorio Fiore, Giuseppe Tasca, Nadia Zenato, Miguel Àngel Cerdà, Ana Martín, Rob Dolan, Kevin O’Brien, Diogo Campilho, Jose Bento Dos Santos.

Thurs 18th: Noon- 5:00pm.  Sake Expo at Loft Eleven (336 West 37th St betw 8th & 9th – 11th Floor). RSVP: (718) 456-8805.

Thurs 18th: 7:00-11:00pm.  Co-Chair Pat Savoie has arranged for free admission to Wine 2.0 NY Expo at Webster Hall (125 East 11th St). There is also an after party from 11:00pm-4:00am. For info: www.winetwo.com .

Mon 22nd:  12 to 5:00pm.  LOIRE VALLEY WINE BUREAU.  Tasting of Loire Red Wines (Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir). At 3 West Club, 3 West 51st St.   RSVP by Sept. 17 to 212/244-0800 or info@loirevalleywine.com .

Mon 22nd:   11:00am to 5:00pm.  VOS SELECTIONS Fall line up. At 555 Eighth Avenue (at 38th Street- New VOS offices)
RSVP to wine@vosselections.com  or 212/867-6948.  Wines include 2006 Burgundies. Spirits include a new Absinthe.

Tues 23rd: 3:00-10:00pm. Empire (Charmer) Holiday Trade Show at Empire City Gaming at Yonkers Raceway (off Major Deegan Expressway). RSVP: rsvp@empiremerchants.com .  Not sure if they welcome journalists. Ask your local liquor store for a card.

OCTOBER PREVIEW

Wed 1st: 11:30am-2:30pm.  Wine Media Guild kick-off tasting lunch at Felidia. “Chenin Blanc in its Many Guises – sparkling, still and sweet.”  Speaker: Roger Dagorn, MS, of Chanterelle restaurant. Roger was born in France and is winner of the James Beard award of wine service. Member Sponsor Cynthia Sin-Yi Cheng is getting wines from the Loire to California, South Africa to Canada. Full invitation will be sent in September. Reserve by September 20: psavoie@nyc.rr.com

Sat August 2: WMG Pool Party. (Rain date: Sun, August 3)

August 5-6: The Art of Balance: Cool Climate/Maritime Wines in a Global Context at SUNY Stony Brook (Organized by Louisa Thomas Hargrave, WMG member and director). Many notable local and international speakers; tastings of Long Island wines as well as wines from Friuli, Bordeaux, the Rheingau, the Finger Lakes, Rias Baixas, the Loire, and Coastal California. details and reservations

Tues August 12: 6:00-8:30pm THE GOLD STANDARD: Double Gold and Gold Medal Winning Wines
Location: Estonian House (243 East 34st bet 2nd/3rd). Sponsored by Tasters Guild International. The 2008 Competition involved over 1,820 entries from 17 countries and 31 states, but only a handful acheived a prestigious double gold medal. Most of the double gold medal winners and many of the gold medal winners will be offered at this stand-up, walk-around tasting. Over 65 wines are available for your tasting pleasure. $60 for everyone.
WMG members MUST RSVP to Ron Kapon if they wish to come as the Estonian is a private club. Ron@tastersguildny.com

Thurs August 14 6:30 – 8:30 pm. “Cool Italian Wines, Hot Summer Nights”- Italian wines taught by Charles Scicolone, who is now teaching at the Astor Center in Manhattan ( www.astorcenter.com ) $65. Registration

October 1 – Chenin Blanc in all its Variety-Still, Sparkling and Sweet. Member Sponsor: Cynthia Sin-Yi Cheng

November 5 – Wines of Puglia. Member Sponsor: Charles Scicolone

December 3 – Champagne (theme not yet more specific). Member Sponsor & Speaker: Ed McCarthy

Put these on your calendar now–other fun themes to follow in the new year!

For accounts of the event check out member Robert Simonson’s blog as well as member Tyler Colman over at DrVino.com.