All American Appetizers with Sparkling Wines East of the Mississippi

To honor our 228th Year of Freedom, the Annual AWS Holiday Celebration pairs All American Appetizers with Sparkling Wines East of the Mississippi.  Hopefully, you have set aside the evening of Saturday, December 4th to join your American Wine Society friends in this joyous annual Holiday Event.

Tasting:

Once again, Dick Scheer from the Village Corner has helped us select the theme Sparkling Wines for our annual event.  As in past Sparkling Wine events, these wines were selected with care to surprise and delight your palate.

Food:

The food to accompany the wines will be All American Appetizers. Please bring a dish to share with 20 to 25 people and your own serving utensils. If your dish requires warming, we ask that you bring your own chafing dish or non electrical warming device.  Cooking or baking services are not available.   Champagne glasses and plates will be provided for the tasting.

There will be prizes for the highest scoring dishes of the evening.  Your dish will be numbered, tasted and voted on by the attendees. Please bring a copy of your recipe for later publication to all attendees.

Reservations:

For this festive occasion, semi formal wear is suggested and black tie is an option. Smoking is not allowed at AWS tastings and we ask that you refrain from wearing strong fragrances.

Attendees recognize they will consume alcohol and assume responsibility of having done so.

Attendance will be limited to the first 40 members.  Reservation deadline is Monday, November  29, 2004.

$18.00 per Member        (Members Only)

The Sparkling Wines were from Michigan, with three from the very expert Larry Mawby, one from long time resident and respected Tabor Hill, and two from relatively new and very good vintners, Shady Lane and Bel Lago.

M. Lawrence Sex Brut Rose by L. Mawby

L. Mawby Blanc de Blancs Brut

1997 Shady Lane Blanc de Blancs Brut

Tabor Hill Grand Mark Brut

1999 Bel Lago Brut

1997 L. Mawby Mille Brut

All were very well made, the styles were different, and each one was enjoyed.  Frank and Jackie did a very nice job in sorting out the better wines.  We did not vote on a winner, but Larry Mawby continues to be hard to surpass.

As always there were bountiful and delicious appetizers.

And the winners were:

1^st Place     Dan Riling    Apricot Wraps     Recipe

2^nd Place   Bob Bilenchi  Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Bruschetta   Recipe

3^rd Place   Beverly Brisko   Artichoke Canapes   Recipe

Honorable Mention    Margaret Grezlik  Bacon and Tomato Cups    Recipe

Honorable Mention    Bob Christina   Smoked Whitefish Cheesecake    Recipe