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A Walk Down Memory Lane
Compiled by the 50thAnniversary Committee Hank Bruce, Carolyn Christian, Linda Flemins & Jane Goodnight
As we approach our 50th anniversary as an organization, the Orange County Wine Society has started a committee to pull together the history of the organization over the last five decades.
The committee has been researching, documenting and collecting historical information including a complete list of the board members since 1976, the various mega-tastings like the Wine Classic and Wine Extraordinaire, statistics on the various years of the OC Fair Wine Competitions and The Courtyard, timelines and milestones of the organization and much more.
To collect personal accounts of the organization, the committee started the Vintage Member Luncheons. These events have been both successful and incredibly fun. Our ultimate goal is to produce a history of the organization’s first 50 years.
The luncheons feature various stations where longtime members can view old videos taken by our own Charley Owen, view and identify photos from early events, share their own stories with interviewers and contribute to idea boards for things like 50th anniversary events and keepsakes. All of this is designed to trigger memories of the early years.
OCWS members who have attended the Vintage Member Luncheons have had a great time sharing memories of bus trips to Temecula and Paso Robles and cruises to Mexico. Being together with other vintage members in this social setting has greatly facilitated our ability to gather information that is not documented elsewhere. Believe it or not, a few of our original members such as Jane Goodnight and Judy Brady are still active. And the memories that attendees shared made it seems like only yesterday.
Here is a taste of some of the things that were shared…
- Charley Owen always had his video camera with him, but no one ever saw the videos, so there was a rumor they didn’t exist (thankfully the family donated the videos to OCWS and we are preserving them for the future!).
- Attendees who watched the videos, marveled at the younger and thinner versions of themselves on the screen.
- Wine glasses from previous events had various logo designs, many of them designed by OCWS member and artist Marjorie Trout who passed away recently.
- The OCWS Recipe Book was published in 1992 and it was not as popular at the OC Fair as hoped, so many were given away to members years later.
- Members had fond memories of our competition judges and their antics, such as Kent Rosenblum and his endless supply of Sven and Ollie jokes.
- Attendees shared stories of the various winemakers who presented at the OCWS anniversary tastings, which have been held every five years.
- Attendees brought historical items for others to view: glasses, awards, award booklets (before WineCompetition.com was created), posters and more.
- In the early days at the OC Fair (late 1970s), OCWS was required to serve food with the wine tastings and the organization had a yellow submarine next to our wine booth that made sandwiches.
In addition to sharing memories, attendees are treated to a gourmet lunch and wine.
Invitations are being sent out based on the member’s join date. The first two luncheons included those who joined between 1976 and 2000. We are currently in the process of planning our third luncheon. If you are invited to a luncheon but unable to attend, you will be invited again until you are able to attend one.
To allow all members to attend these luncheons, we are limiting members to attending only one luncheon. Watch your email for an invitation in the future as we include more recent members.
by Carolyn Christian
It has been a great honor to serve as president of the Orange County Wine Society this past year and I am very thankful to be re-elected as President for another term to continue the work that I have started.
We have a great board this year that I am very proud to lead: Vice President – Fran Gitsham, Treasurer – Fred Heinecke, and Secretary – Rich Skoczylas, along with six Board Members – Sue England, Linda Flemins, CL Keedy, John Lane and Daniel Vlahovic. Together we will bring OCWS forward with several goals to keep the organization resilient, vibrant and fun.
With wine as our shared interest, we will continue to focus on what we share in common and work together to bring members along on their personal wine journey. Although we are an organization that focuses on wine education and enthusiasm, we do share the value that wine is a personal taste and there is a wine for everyone.
As stewards of the organization, the board is focused on keeping the organization financially successful. We continue to invest in our members and grow our flagship events such as the OC Fair Competitions and The Courtyard at the OC Fair, while keeping the organization fiscally viable.
One of our goals this year is to work on member retention, involvement and engagement with more volunteers to share the work that we do. Member feedback is important to us and you will be given the opportunity to share your thoughts with us.
Recruiting new members will be a focus this year with community outreach at wine festivals and new opportunities like our recent community partnership with the Newport Beach Film Festival. We will be exploring new events such as wine trivia and finding new ways to share our love of wine with members.
The Winemakers’ Group is one of my favorite parts of the organization. As the founders of our organization in 1976, they are a vital part of our group to which we owe much gratitude. If you have not tried some of the incredible wines that our Winemakers’ Group members make, you are missing out. And if you ever wondered about making wine on your own, this group is a great resource and provides mentors to help you achieve that goal.
As members of OCWS, we are all ambassadors of the organization. I invite you all to champion our organization to California wineries and discuss with them the many benefits of our competition to market their wines to our members and the Southern California wine market.
And lastly, as we draw closer to our 50th anniversary in 2026, I invite you to participate in our gathering of historical information and planning of anniversary events and keepsakes. We will be continuing with our Vintage Member Luncheons, moving forward in time by member join dates.
I am very excited about the upcoming year and hope that you will join me in promoting the OCWS to prospective members and wineries. This year’s List of Responsibilities will be posted on our website and I invite you to review the list and contact the committee chairs if you are interested in participating. I appreciate the opportunity to share my vision and lead this organization that has been part of my life for over 38 years. As always, I welcome your input and feedback and hope you continue your participation in this incredible all-volunteer organization that brings us all together in the name of wine and wine education.
As our tagline says… “Pairing Wine Education and Fun Since 1976!”
Cheers to you all!
(Link to Responsibilities List)
Merchandise will be available for sale at upcoming Orange County Wine Society events. Aprons and hats (four standard colors) are always available online as they are one size fits most.
But did you know the OCWS logocan be added to other apparel?
If you don’t see a style, size or color that I’m selling, a shirt from home can be an option. The logo looks great on a fleece vest or denim jacket too! For custom apparel, there is a $15 embroidery fee. Bring your item to an event or drop it off
in the OCWS office. Merchandise also will be available at upcoming Winemakers’ Group dinners, January through May.
—Courtney, Merchandise Maven
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Volunteer Recognition Reception
Last month, we recognized our top volunteers at the NEW Volunteer Recognition Reception. Our hope is to make this an annual tradition.
Pre-COVID, we recognized our volunteers at the Annual Business Meeting in September. When we moved the annual meeting online, the OCWS Board recognized that this was a better format for the financial review of the organization. However, while the online format worked well for the business meeting portion, it was not the best format for recognizing volunteers. As such, we decided to hold an in-person event to celebrate our amazing volunteers who put in more than 23,000 hours between September 2023 and August 2024.
The event featured appetizers from Newport Rib Company and wine from the OCWS Cellar. Volunteers were recognized at three levels (Gold, Silver and Bronze) based on the number of hours they volunteered. In addition to being invited to the Volunteer Recognition Reception, the volunteers received printed certificates, and an online coupon good toward a future OCWS event ($50, $25 and $10, respectively). We would like to recognize the following volunteers for their many hours of service to the organization:
Volunteers that make a Difference
The afternoon soiree ended with the most coveted OCWS award, the President’s Award, given to this year’s top volunteer or volunteers who have given amazing service to the organization, not only this year, but over many years.
Thank you to the committee who made this year’s Volunteer Recognition Reception possible: Rochelle Randel, Don Mayer, Sue England and Carolyn Christian.
Congratulations to all the volunteer award winners. For those who were unable to attend the reception, your names will be posted on the OCWS website and you will see your online discount coupon in your account no later than November 1.
—Carolyn Christian, OCWS President
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. olive oil
¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
¼ cup vegetable broth (I used lemon wine)
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (divided)
½ cup fresh basil, chopped
½ tsp. lemon zest
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
¼ tsp. fresh ground pepper
11/2 lbs. fresh cod
For the sauce: heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat.
Add red pepper flakes and garlic, sauté for 1 minute. Add tomatoes and cook until soft and blistered. (9-12mins) Stir in liquid and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Simmer gently, then add basil and 2 tbsp. lemon juice, zest, salt, sugar and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes, set aside.
For the cod:
Heat olive oil in another pan over medium heat. Season cod with salt & pepper.
Cook until golden brown. About 3 minutes per side. Pour the tomato basil sauce over the cod, warm up for a minute, enjoy!
Orange County Wine Society funds scholarships for eight California colleges and universities, including the University of California Davis.
UC Davis has a dedicated Department of Viticulture and Enology that was established back in 1880 by the California Legislature to help the developing California wine industry and is considered one of the top programs in the country. In 2011, UC Davis opened a facility for making wine, beer and processed foods with sustainability and the environment in mind.
The campus hosts a four-acre vineyard next to the Robert Mondavi Institute. The department typically graduates about 20 undergraduate students in viticulture and enology per year. UC Davis also offers a Master of Science degree.
The Viticulture & Enology Graduate Group (VENGG) provides opportunities where students can conduct research on current issues in the wine industry through independent research and internships. This program graduates five to 10 students per year. The department also offer a Wine Executive Program that teaches the fundamentals of winemaking and management skills necessary to be successful in the challenging wine business world.
Next month we will be highlighting another of the colleges/universities supported by the OCWS Scholarship Fund. Just a friendly reminder there is always time to donate to the OCWS Scholarship Fund for 2024. There are two ways to donate:
- Mail a check – Make your check out to OCWS and mail it to the OCWS office at OCWS, P.O. Box 11059, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Attn: Scholarship Fund. A donation letter will be sent to you.
- Donate Online – Log on to your account at OCWS.org and go to the scholarship donation page: OCWS.org/product/scholarship-donations/. You can make your donation online and print a receipt for tax purposes at the same time.
—Damian Christian, Scholarship Chair
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Wine Wisdom – Know Pinot?
September’s Varietal Hour was all about Pinots. Well almost. Of course, the French grapes; Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Meunier, as well as the Italian grape, Pinot Grigio, were all discussed.
But what about the lesser known or even obsolete Pinot-X grape names? What about a Pinot grape that was bred specifically for one country or a Pinot grape that really wasn’t a Pinot grape? Test your knowledge as we go.
In 1924, at South Africa’s University of Stellenbosch a viticulture professor crossed two French varietals, one more robust with one more difficult to grow, to create a unique grape that would thrive in South Africa’s climate.
- True
- False
ANSWER: True. Professor Abraham Perold performed an open-air hybridization in the vineyard and not in a controlled greenhouse.
Which two French grapes did Professor Perold cross?
a) Pinot Noir and Merlot
b) Pinot Noir and Malbec
c) Pinot Noir and Cinsaut
d) Pinot Noir and Gamay Noir
ANSWER: C. Pinot Noir with Cinsaut or Cinsault, a red grape that is heat tolerant and grown predominantly in the Rhone Valley, Languedoc, Roussillon and Provence regions of Southern France.
Cinsault is one of the 13 approved grapes allowed to be used to make Chateauneuf du Pape wine.
- True
- False
ANSWER: True. Cinsault is a minor blending grape along with predominately Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre for red wine in the Southern Rhone region.
The grape, a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, was named PINOTAGE. Why?
a) Because Professor Perold wanted it to be a heritage grape of South Africa
b) Because an old South African name for Cinsaut was Hermitage
c) Because it took several stages to propagate
d) Because they didn’t like the name Herminoir
ANSWER: B and D. When the Cinsault grape originally arrived from France in the 1850’s it was misnamed as Hermitage. And yes, they discarded Herminoir!
Although Pinotage has failed to develop a significant presence in planted acreage, how many countries currently have Pinotage in their vineyards other than South Africa?
a) 2
b) 4
c) 6
d) 8
ANSWER: D. Eight very diverse countries are growing Pinotage: Brazil, Canada, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, Switzerland, U.S. (Arizona, California, Michigan, Oregon, Virginia and Washington) and Zimbabwe.
Every grape seems to have its day. On May 17 it’s Pinot Grigio Day; Aug. 18 is International Pinot Noir Day; and Dec. 16 is Pinot Meunier Day. Does Pinotage have a day?
a) Yes
b) No
ANSWER: Yes. International Pinotage Day is Oct. 12. Hope you didn’t miss it this year!
Now what about that obsolete Pinot grape?
In the 1880s and 1890s red French grapes were being planted in California and used to make wines sold as “Burgundy.” Pinot’s many synonyms caused a great deal of confusion when it came to naming the grapes being used to make the wine.
Which of these names were used as Pinot Noir synonyms in California vineyards?
a) Pinot Franc
b) Pinot Pernand
c) Pinot Noirien
d) Pinot St George
e) All of the above
ANSWER: E. Although three of these grape names are for true Pinot Noir Clones, one turned out later not to be a Pinot Noir Clone.
In 1997, it was determined through DNA testing that a California grape, believed to be a Pinot Noir clone was actually a grape from southwestern France, known as Negrette. In the same year the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) ruled that Negrette could no longer be called by what name?
a) Pinot France
b) Pinot Pernand
c) Pinot Noirien
d) Pinot St George
ANSWER: D. The name Pinot St George was originally used because it was believed that the grape came from the Nuits-St-George region of Burgundy.
The Negrette grape, although very rare, is from the French region of Frontonnais near Toulouse. Its origin is not known and genetic studies have not been able to determine a source, but legend has it that it was brought to France from the Near East by the Knights Templar.
a) True
b) False
c) Perhaps
ANSWER: C. Who knows? It’s a legend!
Negrette is rare not only in France but also California. But a few acres of Negrette can be found in which California county?
a) San Luis Obispo
b) Monterey
c) San Benito
d) Santa Cruz
ANSWER: C. The only two wineries I could find that make a Negrette wine are both in San Benito County—Stirm Wine Co. and DeRose Winery.
If it’s a Pinot cross, bred for a country or a Pinot that isn’t a Pinot, don’t get confused. No matter what it’s called, when you find one you like just open it and enjoy! Cheers!
—CL Keedy, Wine Education Committee
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Corner Cellar
When Tom and Laureen Baldyga moved into their Cowan Heights home in 2011, they had a set of priorities: a house with a view, a three-car garage and a wine cellar.
While the home had sweeping views of Orange County and Catalina Island as well as the three-car garage that would accommodate practice sessions for Tom’s band, the couple had to find the space for the cellar.
They finally settled on a 6×6 spot underneath the stairs. The couple got some of their inspiration from Bacchus Secret Cellars in Irvine where Laureen once worked. After working with a contractor on the design and its features, the cellar was built and has become a centerpiece of the Baldyga home.
The outside of the cellar is adorned with about 30 wine case panels emblazoned with the logo and name of wineries from around the world that the Baldygas have gotten from Bacchus or collected themselves.
Some of the panels that are represented by some of the most renowned wineries such as Caymus, Silverado, Opus One and Screaming Eagle, are separated by rows of corks. The cellar’s door has bunches of grapes etched onto the glass.
At just 36 square feet, the cellar holds 300 bottles and has enough room to seat two people. A majority of the wine is from Duckhorn and Calcareous vineyards where the couple are wine club members.
“We like to store the Duckhorn for about five years and then drink it,” Tom said. “Both wineries are extremely consistent with what they make and Calcareous produces excellent Syrahs and have great whites like Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc.”
The cellar also has a glass rack and two storage spots for wine accessories. One of those spots is a nook with a marble top. On the back wall is a painting entitled “Perfect Zen” by popular artist Michael Godard.
Like any good cellar, the couple ensured it was temperature controlled and would hold enough wine to make it worth their while.
“I’d recommend finding a place that has drainage built in,” Tom said. “Try to know someone who can do the design. It’s amazing what you can do with a small space.”
Tom said the cellar does serve the main purpose of storing the wine but he and Laureen also make sure they enjoy the wine with family and friends. His prized possessions are a 1994 Harlan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2011 Perry Moore Cab.
“I don’t think I would change a thing,” Tom said. “I like that it’s not too big so it’s always full. But part of the fun is drinking the wine and refilling the cellar.”
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President’s Message
It is a great honor for me to serve as the president of the OCWS. Watching the organization develop over the past several decades has been a great highlight of my life. With the summer over, we begin a new board year in October and plans for 2025.
Annual Business Meeting
Thank you to those who attended our Annual Business Meeting on Sept. 6. A recording of the proceedings is available to members on our website.
Board Elections
Please join me in congratulating our newly elected board members Fran Gitsham, C.L. Keedy and Daniel Vlahovic. They will be joining the remaining six board members for the 2024-2025 board term: Sue England, Linda Flemins, Fred Heinecke, John Lane, Rich Skoczylas and myself. Our volunteer board of nine directors spends countless hours organizing events and performing administrative duties. I would like to again thank them for their commitment to the organization and their dedication to making our amazing events and programs very successful.
Volunteer Recognition Reception
Before the pandemic, our volunteer recognition was handled at the in-person Annual Business Meeting. With the transition of the meeting to online, we have separated our volunteer recognition into a new event. On Oct. 20, we will hold our first Volunteer Recognition Reception 1 to 4 p.m. in The Courtyard at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. In addition to enjoying appetizers and wine, we will recognize the volunteers who have dedicated so many hours to the organization. Based on the number of hours volunteered in the past year (September to August), volunteers will be invited to attend the reception and receive a voucher for $10, $25, or $50 toward a future OCWS event. The President’s Award will also be presented at the event. Invitations will be sent in mid-September to those receiving awards. Space allowing, we will provide an opportunity for those not receiving awards to purchase tickets to attend and help celebrate our amazing volunteers.
Vintage Member Luncheons
This past May, we started Vintage Member Luncheons to help us prepare for our 50th Anniversary celebration in 2026. Attendees are helping us gather stories and information about the organization that we are compiling into a book. Invitations have been sent out through a join date of 2000. If you joined after 2000, look for your invitation in the future as we work through the list over the next 15 months. If you received an invitation to one of the previous events but were unable to attend, you will be kept on the invitation list until you are able to attend.
Upcoming Events
We have a host of upcoming events for you to attend. With over 1,000 members, it is important for you to purchase tickets as soon as they become available as they often sell out. Once they sell out, please contact our office to be put on a waiting list. Here is a brief list of upcoming events: Varietal Hours (every other Tuesday), Hocus Pocus Fall Social (Oct. 6), Winemakers’ Group Quarterly Meeting (Oct. 19), OCWS Outing at Laguna Canyon Winery (Nov. 1), Bubbles and Brunch at the Cannery (Nov. 3), Holiday Dinner Dance (Dec. 6), and Winemakers’ Group Holiday Potluck (Dec. 22). For more details on all upcoming events, please read the articles in this newsletter and sign up online.
Closing
Thank you to all our members who volunteer their time and attend our events. As a membership organization, we rely on your participation, and you have made this an incredibly successful organization over the past several decades. Sharing wine, food and good times with such an amazing group of individuals is a magnificent honor. Cheers to all!