Women of Wine—Seriously WOW!

• Pre-pour: surprise!
• Airlie Pinot Gris Willamette Valley Oregon 2007
  Vintage: 2007
• Susana Balbo Wines, Susana Balbo winemaker, Argentina
  Torrantes
  Crios De Susana Balbo Torrontes
  Vintage: NV
• Cullen Wines, Vanya Cullen winemaker, Margaret River Western
  Australia (bio-dynamic)
  Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
  Cullen Sauvignon Semillon Ephraim Clarke 2007
• Susana Balbo Malbec Mendoza 2008
  Vintage: 2008
• Venus La Universal Dido Montsant
  Spain 2005
• Casa Lapostolle Syrah Cuvee Alexander 2007
  Vintage: 2007
• Kathryn Hall Winery Napa Valley
  Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2006
  Vintage: 2006

We have a first for Pennsylvania Wine Society—a guest speaker who is new to PWS and an event about women in wine: either owners or vintners. Please join us for this event on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at the Hilton Harrisburg and Towers from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Our speaker for the evening is Cecily Mukhtar, a restaurateur and sommelier from the Washington D.C. area. Cecily is used to pairing wines with food and, although wines will be highlighted at this event, food-pairing descriptions will also be included.

If you do an Internet search for women involved in wine, you will discover a plethora of interesting sites, blogs, and information. The reason for all of this great communication is the fantastic presentation of wines throughout the world made by women oenologists or female vineyard owners. In fact, there is an international group for women in wine called International Associated Women in Wine (IAWIW). It is a professional association for women involved in wine. Here is their description:

A federation of associations of women involved in wine related activities from all over the world. The aim of the IAWIW is to promote the intelligent consumption and to develop the cultural side of the wine world by:

• Exchange of information and experiences among their members
• Support of women working in the field of wine
• Educational activities for both professionals and consumers

The members are a unique combination of two kinds of women’s associations:

• Associations of professionals such as producers, oenologists, wine merchants, sommeliers, journalists, marketing experts
• Associations of wine amateurs and connoisseurs

Unfortunately for us, their location is Athens, Greece. So for this PWS tasting, we will not be traveling abroad. However, this organization has a Facebook page and your host, Frances Teslar, has recently joined their Facebook group. You can find their Website at: www.iawiw.com. Editor's note: At the time of this publishing, their Web site was unavailable.

Some studies say women producers have a sensing palate that includes many more nuances than a man’s palate when making wines. Since the wine profession has been a male dominated industry for thousands of years, we want to see if a woman’s influence really makes a difference in the end product. March’s event is welcoming both genders to experience a fun, and interactive event, but ladies—you won’t want your girlfriends to miss this one! Please bring them too!

We are still finalizing wines for this event to ensure your delight. And so...a little suspense. But we hope that for most of you that’s the joy in coming to the event! We are making this event fun and educational for you. We will have some delicious wines from different geographic regions. For those who must know, we will post the wines on the PWS Website closer to the event.

We want to have a good time and enjoy good wine and fine conversation. Join us in March on the 15th at 7 p.m. for Women of Wine—Seriously WOW! See you at Hilton Harrisburg and Towers. Please register early so that you can be assured of a seat.

Do NOT miss this delight! Your hosts ask you to join them March 15, 2011, 7 p.m. at the Hilton Harrisburg for a tasting not held before by PWS. Our Women of Wine features a guest speaker, Cecily Mukhtar, who is both a restaurateur and sommelier. We are so lucky to have a person who understands the complexity of wine, food, and their delicious pairing. Our focus for the evening will be on wine by women who are involved in the winemaking process, either by being winery owners, vintners, or oenologists.

Traditionally, women have only been involved in the winemaking in a supportive role. Long ago, a woman’s involvement meant being a wife, mother, or sister of men who were winery owners. Today, as well as over the last 20 years, women are making their own mark on wine by being able to own wineries, and direct and finesse grapes into luscious beverages. Many of these wines are perceived to have well developed nuances and complexities. In fact, there is even a woman CEO of a website devoted strictly to women in wine. On the website, women blog and twitter about their experiences. Celebrations and award contests are for female producers and reported on through a variety of venues, including the website.

PWS wants all of our members to experience some great wines where a woman’s influence has been involved. We will feature several grape varieties, wine types and styles for your critique. Our speaker is the perfect woman to do the job. Suggesting wines and examining them are all part of her daily responsibilities. Cecily will guide us through the evening to determine if these great wines are indeed special due to a woman’s touch. We will complete the evening by asking your interpretations of our choices during your tasting experience. We would love to see you at this event - the first one in PWS history! Mark your calendars and send in your registration early for WOW! on March 15, 2011 at the Hilton Harrisburg.

Women have been significant participants in winemaking for hundreds of years. However, it has only been in the last twenty years that women were in positions of power as winemakers, oenologists, and winery owners. We are intrigued about the women’s influence and want to offer to our members the opportunity to taste excellent wines produced by women. Our guest speaker is Cecily Mukhtar. As a Sommelier and restaurant owner from the Washington, D.C. area, Cecily is excited about showcasing wines with well-developed nuances made by women. We are enthusiastic about her first guest-speaking engagement for the Pennsylvania Wine Society.

Our showcase of wines will be from different continents, with different styles that will please the palates of both men and women. We hope you will be as excited over these wines as our hosts and speaker. Please come and enjoy these red and white wines from some of the most exciting women in wine today. We will see you March 15, 2011 at the Hilton Harrisburg and Towers. We will begin at 7 p.m.

Event Registration Instructions