If you missed our Holiday Dinner & Dance held on November 30, you missed out on a really great party. There was a record attendance of 111, up from 82 the previous year.

Comments from those attending suggest the food was the best ever. The Three 2 Sevens, the OCWS honorary band, played great music to dance to all night long (the dance floor was never empty). And the SAX WAS BACK!

Our President and Cellar Master, Bill Redding, pulled some great wines from the wine cellar for all to enjoy. We doubled down on the passed appetizers.

Four bags of unwrapped toys were given to the Costa Mesa Fire Department for their “Spark of Love” program to benefit underprivileged children (get the pun?  “Spark” of Love – Fire Department?).

My thanks to the Atrium Hotel staff who were great to work with, and to my wife Sue for correcting my typos.

Below is a sampling of photos taken during the Holiday Dinner & Dance. Please log in to the OCWS website at ocws.org to view nearly 90 photos taken during the event.

– Brian McDonald, Event Chair

Patricia L. Wells, a long-time member of the Orange County Wine Society and a frequent supporter and scorekeeper of the Commercial Wine Competitions, passed away in Anaheim on November 4 at the age of 66.

Patty was a native of Los Angeles and grew up in the LA and Orange County areas.

Patty generously shared her knowledge of fine wine – and her collection – with family and friends. She loved most a fine red wine and favored several wines from the Temecula wine region, particularly those from Weins, Lorenzi, and Hart Wineries. Patty could be found nearly every Friday afternoon with her close friends at the Seal Beach Winery.

In addition to wine, Patty loved horses and was an active board member of the California Equine Retirement Foundation since 1986.

The Wine Society extends its heartfelt condolences to Patty’s family and friends.

Greetings to everyone on behalf of the OCWS Board of Directors. A special thanks  is extended to Jim Beard, Fran Gitsham, and Rich Skoczylas for their outstanding leadership and service over the past six years.

At the Annual Installation Dinner last month, our new Board members were introduced: Leslie Hodowanec, Mel Jay, and Sara Yeoman. This year’s Officers were also introduced: President—Bill Redding, Vice President—Ken Scott, Treasurer—Brian McDonald, and Secretary—George Cravens. The Board Members’ contact information is in every newsletter. Please feel free to introduce yourself to this year’s Board at upcoming OCWS events.

For those who don’t know me personally, my wife, Carolyn, and I have been members since 2001. Since that time, we have taken an incredible journey through the OCWS. We have learned a great deal about wine, winemaking, California’s wine industry, and have had the opportunity to meet many of California’s premier winemakers who graciously assist in judging at the Commercial Wine Competition each year. Just as importantly, we have come to know numerous people, many of whom we now count as friends. It is my sincere hope that our members participate in the many activities that are available as attendees, volunteers, or as members of the various committees that make events possible each year.

The success of the OCWS over time is due to the tremendous support of its members. Last year, members contributed 20,682 volunteer hours. As a non-profit educational foundation, we have contributed scholarship funding totaling over $633,000 to select California colleges and universities in support of students who will become the next generation working in California’s wine industry and the culinary arts.

Upcoming activities are posted on our website at ocws.org and in our newsletter. The Wine Press is mailed out at the beginning of each month.

Please join your fellow members at one of our upcoming events. Cheers!

– Bill Redding, President

The OCWS mourns the loss of OCWS member, Paul Peal, the recipient of the 2015 President’s Award. Paul’s extraordinary volunteerism, warm and gentle demeanor, and tireless efforts spoke volumes regarding his devotion to the success of the Wine Society.

Paul, a longtime member along with his wife, Janet Owen Peal, will be remembered for his huge heart and amazing ability to build and repair anything and everything imaginable. His handiwork can be seen in every physical aspect of the organization from the OCWS office to The Courtyard and well beyond.

The family requests that any donations in his memory be made by helping a veteran, supporting a student, or donating to the OCWS scholarship fund.

Paul will be sorely missed by all who had the great fortune to have crossed paths with him in life. Cheers, our friend!