Alexander Valley Cabernet is chosen for the Blue Coast Collection Private Reserve

The sun was sinking and the fog rolling over the Belmont hills Wednesday night as many Friends of Blue Coast arrived to help us choose a wine for our new Blue Coast Collection Private Reserve, which will be part of the music and wine gift packages we are preparing for this holiday season.

Scott Thompson and Ezra Crowley were on hand early to prepare finger foods to sustain the judges in their night of wine tasting. The Blue Coast Collection (and other records produced by our founder, Cookie Marenco, proved the sonic backdrop as Cookie presided over the ceremonies. Six California varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon from Windsor Vineyards were passed around, discussed and ultimately consumed by the lively and enthusiastic crowd. In the end a variety from the Alexander Valley region of Northern California emerged the winner…

The judges were also asked to help us choose the artwork for the custom label that will adorn bottles of the Blue Coast Collection Private Reserve. Rain Palace, a painting by Simone Raoux, which also graces the cover of the Blue Coast Collection SA-CD, will be featured on the label.

Everyone had a great time, by all accounts, with some staying into the early hours. After the event, Cookie said "Some of the smartest people I know were in that room drinking a lot of wine! There was determination to complete the task at hand—DRINK, DECIDE, DRINK!"

Many thanks to all who attended….

Adam Lundeen
Anne Vrolyk
Bob and Lisa Peek
Brain and Elizabeth Mantia
Cookie Marenco
Ezra Crowley
John Johnsen and Maritza Vande Voorde
Maeve Daugharty
Mark Anders
M.I.R.V.
Patrick O'Connor
Rob Modeste and Jean Manocchio
Sebastien and Simone Rauox
Scott and Susan Thompson

Our sincere apologies if we forgot anyone or misspelled a name. We were not diligent with the guest book.