refresher!” The Allied Arts Association Gallery on the Park, Richland, was decorated to create a splendid Christmas holiday spirit that provided a festive atmosphere for the “refresher.”
It seemed everyone enjoyed listening to our speaker, Juergen Grieb, Treveri Cellars owner and winemaker. He talked about his background and his winery – to date, the only winery in Washington State devoted exclusively to sparkling wine. He presented information about the process for making sparkling wine. Guests also had the opportunity to talk with him one-on-one throughout the event.
To start things off, guests were greeted with a sparkling Riesling Mojito. This was followed by tastings of a variety of sparkling wines from around the world: Veuve Cliquot, France; Bohigas Brut Cava, Spain; Tesoro della Regina Prosecco, Italy; Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz, Australia; Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut, California; and Washington State, Treveri Cellars’ Brut Blanc de Noirs, Sparkling Gewürztraminer, and Sparkling Syrah Brut. The wines were all different, but all equally delightful.
Sparkling wine is often considered to be the perfect pairing with food. So, Amy Davis, our event caterer, prepared delicious, and plentiful, appetizers that included: marinated chicken skewers with roasted garlic and herbs; sausage skewers; mini shrimp quiches; mini mushrooms and Jarlsberg cheese quiches; panini bites with fire-roasted tomato jam, manchego, arugula and ham; and, baked brie with holiday garnish. But, equally appealing – society member Kurt Ammann’s dessert tortes! Thank you, Amy and Kurt!
The silent auction, and the drawing for gold-medal-winning wines from the 2017 Tri-Cities Wine Festival, brought in more than $800, which will be applied to scholarships for students in area enology and/or viticulture programs.