Cheers in the Vineyard
Cheers Editorial Advisory Board Visits Napa

It may have been the earliest harvest in memory in Napa and Sonoma, but that didn’t stop some of the best-known wineries from graciously hosting members of the Cheers Editorial Advisory Board in September.

Sponsored by Allied Domecq, Brown-Forman and Diageo (all members of the Cheers Publishers Advisory Board and diamond sponsors of the Cheers Beverage Conference) and the Rudd Center at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, the fall EAB meeting brought together restaurant beverage professionals, wine makers, industry executives and consultants for a series of educational seminars and tours.

The group visited the Sonoma-Cutrer vineyards and winery, toured the works at the Mumm Cuvee Napa facility, took the long tram ride up the hill to the Sterling Vineyards winery, and participated in a fascinating class with the CIA’s Karen MacNeil, who welcomed the board and the Adams Beverage Group and put them through the paces in the Rudd Center’s state of the art wine classrooms. The wine training seminar led by MacNeil, well-known wine author and chair of the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies, covered emerging varietals and blends and evaluated newly popular wines for inclusion in a variety of menu strategies.

The EAB samples wines at Sonoma-Cutrer. 

Stewart Slocum of Friday’s and Tracy Finklang of Rock Bottom in the vineyard. 

The Cheers EAB blind tastes emerging varietal wines under the tutelage of CIA’s Karen MacNeil. 

Adams Beverage Group’s Bianca Romano and Dave & Buster’s Barry Carter share a moment. 

David Smith of Pappas Restaurants visits with BSI’s Sharyn Iler. 

Allied Domecq’s Mike Ginley with Patrick Henry of Patrick Henry Creative Promotions. 

Stan Novack of HMS Host and Diageo’s Paul LeConte.