CellarTracker Main Site
Register for Forum | Login | My Profile | Member List | Search

RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend!

 
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest
Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
All Forums >> [Cellar Talk] >> General Discussion >> RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! Page: <<   < prev  1 [2] 3 4 5   next >   >>
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/3/2008 9:49:37 PM   
grapist

 

Posts: 8
Joined: 11/30/2005
From: Chicago
Status: offline 		Sounds like fun no matter where or what.  My wife and I love to travel, but we're in Chicago, and as that has been mentioned several times, I can offer a venue for large amount of people.  I have a lumberyards in the city right off the Kennedy Expressway.  Not cushy, but certainly spacious.  We have tables for meetings that will seat over 100 and can easily rent more.  Sunday would be the only available day, but any evening is ok.

_____________________________

The last time I said no to an offer of wine was when someone asked me if I had enough.

(in reply to deb293)
Post #: 31
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/4/2008 3:29:38 PM   
stevetimko

 

Posts: 115
Joined: 2/20/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: deb293

Somebody start the poll thing; I don't know how to do it.



Screw polls. We tried that in trying to organize a national offline on the Squires board and you end up with a lot of lobbying, whining and angry people. Pick a spot, pick a date, define what types of wines are allowed and see who shows up. That's the lesson from that eBob fiasco. Vegas has a lot of pluses for air connections and hotel rooms but not a lot of venues.
Also, if a deposit is required, make people pay up front.






(in reply to deb293)
Post #: 32
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/4/2008 5:15:48 PM   
deb293

 

Posts: 289
Joined: 8/24/2005
Status: offline 		Hmm, who would pick the spot, who would pick the date?

(in reply to stevetimko)
Post #: 33
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/4/2008 7:07:58 PM   
cgrimes

 

Posts: 895
Joined: 10/8/2007
From: Massachusetts
Status: offline 		I'd be willing to do some planning.  I think the city should be Chicago for practical purposes and the date should be sometime in 2009, not on a Holiday weekend.  We'd have to see if Eric thinks this would be feasible as would definitely need his support.  The next step would to get volunteers and form a committee of sorts to figure out how to proceed next.

(in reply to deb293)
Post #: 34
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/5/2008 11:09:55 AM   
NiklasW

 

Posts: 435
Joined: 10/13/2007
From: Finland
Status: online 		Looks like it's getting serious, great! Yep, Bill, you can count on me when we organise it on this side of the pond (preferably somewhere far south of Finland)! 

(in reply to Bill)
Post #: 35
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/5/2008 11:21:56 AM   
cgrimes

 

Posts: 895
Joined: 10/8/2007
From: Massachusetts
Status: offline 		Eric, Is this something that would be possible to plan (with help, of course) or are we all just fantasizing?  Be honest...

(in reply to NiklasW)
Post #: 36
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/5/2008 11:34:50 AM   
fingers

 

Posts: 682
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: offline 		Our patience will be rewarded with the inevitable



I just made that one up

(in reply to cgrimes)
Post #: 37
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/5/2008 6:13:50 PM   
stevetimko

 

Posts: 115
Joined: 2/20/2007
Status: offline 		Chicago sounds like a compromise, but also consider holding it on one of the coasts. Alternate coasts every year or every other year.

(in reply to cgrimes)
Post #: 38
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/6/2008 8:41:41 AM   
Wrighty

 

Posts: 643
Joined: 10/3/2005
From: Hong Kong
Status: offline 		I would be willing to host and organise a wine dinner, or afternoon and dinner in Hong Kong. I'm basing this on the fact I have somewhere to hold it and the numbers are likely to be in the single digits - or maybe teens, who knows.

If there's any response I'll even set a date and theme and perhaps the first annual event will be in HK. Somehow doubt it would qualify......unless Eric flew over?

(in reply to stevetimko)
Post #: 39
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/6/2008 7:15:28 PM   
jamscreator

 

Posts: 313
Joined: 9/10/2007
From: Indiana USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: cgrimes

I'd be willing to do some planning.  I think the city should be Chicago for practical purposes and the date should be sometime in 2009, not on a Holiday weekend.  We'd have to see if Eric thinks this would be feasible as would definitely need his support.  The next step would to get volunteers and form a committee of sorts to figure out how to proceed next.

I'm only a couple of hours from Chicago by car.  I'd be more than willing to help any way that I could.

_____________________________

Jeff Lawson

"Drink what you like, and like what you drink."
-Robert Mondavi

(in reply to cgrimes)
Post #: 40
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/7/2008 6:31:27 AM   
cgrimes

 

Posts: 895
Joined: 10/8/2007
From: Massachusetts
Status: offline 		Thanks for your interest.  Sounds like we could get a committee together, but I don't want us all to get excited about something without Eric's blessing.  We'll really need his help to spread the word and other logistics.  I'll be in Chicago briefly in a few weeks and could start some research on venues.  Sounds like there could be some interest in this though...

(in reply to jamscreator)
Post #: 41
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/7/2008 1:22:31 PM   
cgrimes

 

Posts: 895
Joined: 10/8/2007
From: Massachusetts
Status: offline 		By the way, Wrighty,
Thanks for your hospitality.  Have always wanted to go to Hong Kong...Perhaps someday...

(in reply to Wrighty)
Post #: 42
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/9/2008 7:23:41 AM   
Wrighty

 

Posts: 643
Joined: 10/3/2005
From: Hong Kong
Status: offline 		CG - Thanks.
Would love to make the US event but somehow doubt it, even if it's a direct flight from HK.  Not had any bites for the HK event so might be a quiet night at home with a few half bottles!
If you do make it over, please make sure to let me know.
Wrighty

(in reply to cgrimes)
Post #: 43
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/9/2008 7:46:50 AM   
fingers

 

Posts: 682
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: offline 		Okay friends, in regards to putting together this CellarPallooza, here’s my proposal:
 
The site I’m pushing for is Yakima, Washington.  I like this because it’s close enough to pull Eric from Seattle, it’s easy to make airline connections through Seattle to Yakima, it is a beautiful area that produces some outstanding wines, and there are plenty of activities available.  Yes, it is probably only 2 or 3 stars as far as accommodations/golf/spa, etc.  But I’d like to think that a couple would be able to make the weekend for $1200 - $1500, travel included. That won’t happen in Chicago, Dallas, Napa, or Newport.  However, it certainly could happen in other areas like Paso Robles,  etc.  But again, I feel that it’s imperative for our founder to make it and I don’t know how far he’s willing to go for something like this. 
 
At any rate, our agenda would also depend on the size of the group.  I’m sure we’re looking at a welcome reception for Friday night and a full soiree on Saturday night.  I’d love for the day Saturday to be full of winery visits, private tours for CT people, maybe seminars.  Maybe an open tasting session for sharing personal bottles.  Then, the highlight of course, a full-blown banquet (emcee Serge?) with gourmet paired menu.  There are a few wineries in Yakima with beautiful banquet facilities and settings that can handle up to 300 people.  I think Sunday would allow for personal recreation time along with a Champagne brunch and then our good-byes.
 
Even if only 30 people show it could still be the start of something bigger and better in the future.  Another consideration is timing.  Is it too ambitious to think it could pull together this fall?  What effect would harvest time have?  Might be cool to actually get out in the vineyards and pick some berries.  Or is 2009 more realistic?
 
So, let’s see.  We need airline, ground transportation/rental cars, hotel, banquet facilities,  winery contacts, chefs, servers, sommeliers, decorator, photographer, sign maker, awards, gifts, swag,  and an accountant.
 
Anyone care to step up?
 
Actually, I’ve already consulted with a professional that organizes culinary adventures to Burgundy, Bordeaux, Spain, Italy, Australia and the like.  The final logistics are not as hard to make come together as I portend.  However, where I’m most lacking is actual knowledge of Yakima.  I know, I know- I pick a place I’ve never been but I have had their wines and I just thought it made sense.  I have requested information from the local tourism agencies and would like to build up a committee amongst us so that I’m not acting unilaterally. The formula for the party could be applied to anywhere so I guess I’ll be looking for everyone’s input and advice now.
 
Respectfully,
 
Bob

(in reply to jamscreator)
Post #: 44
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/9/2008 9:25:03 AM   
Blue Shorts

 

Posts: 297
Joined: 2/5/2008
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline 		Even though Yakima might be nice, I think that something more centralized (on the west coast) would make more sense.

If the event were held in the San Jose / Santa Cruz area, we could avoid the outrageous costs in San Francisco, but we could still be close enough to Napa for a day trip.

However it works out, I think that being close to Napa makes the most sense.  We could visit some of the top US wineries and maybe even hold the event at one of the wineries.  I know that Terra Valentine and others host gatherings.

_____________________________

The best wine is the one that you haven't yet tried.

(in reply to fingers)
Post #: 45
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/9/2008 9:50:07 AM   
cgrimes

 

Posts: 895
Joined: 10/8/2007
From: Massachusetts
Status: offline 		I think that if we have a gathering closer to Seattle, we'd have a better chance of support from Eric.  Simplicity would also make this more feasible.  While fingers's idea of a festival sounds great, I don't think any of us has time to plan a "wedding."  If we start small (for example a BYO event with a dinner) we could probably pull this off.  We all have cellars and great wine--what would be the point of  paying someone else a premium to supply drinks?  I communicated briefly with Eric and I think he would support an event as long as it was not too ambitious--and not too far away.  So what do you think?

(in reply to Blue Shorts)
Post #: 46
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/9/2008 11:17:28 AM   
fingers

 

Posts: 682
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: offline 		A scaled-down, single evening event is completely fine with me.  The thread topic led me to believe that a more ambitious agenda was in order.  Personally, the wife and I would still make a weekend out of it, especially if it involves travelling to the PNW.  Even Seattle proper is a good idea since Puget Sound is also an AVA and there must be some decent wineries close by.  The trick is still getting a local contact to coordinate details and make necessary arrangements.  Eric indicated to me that Yakima or Walla Walla are acceptable spots, too.  I believe Washington's best wines are from Walla Walla, but those areas involve an extra travel link for eveybody.  If it's Seattle, I'd probably do the Amtrak to get there.  That way I could bring lots of wine without paying extra baggage!  Although sharing of our personal wines sounds great, it could be like Harrod's after-Christmas sale, i.e.: a little chaotic.  I think that finding a well-respected, highly-rated winery site would not only offer an ideal setting for us to share personal favorites but learn and discover the local product, as a compliment to the event. 

I suppose if the 50,000+ users were aware of this discussion (instead of the dozen or so of us in here), someone in Washington would take this over. 

Eric, would you consider a little targeted recruiting?  A "help wanted" ad on the home page? 

(in reply to cgrimes)
Post #: 47
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/9/2008 11:37:22 AM   
RoundersRob

 

Posts: 634
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: offline 		The more I think about this, the more I like it.  I would think that final decisions would need to be hammered out soon if you are thinking of this fall as a lot of people need to make travel arrangements, etc.  I do like the idea of the San Jose / Santa Cruz area (not just because I live there) but because there are a lot of wineries up here in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the San Jose airport makes for easy travel.  I'd consider attending anything on the west coast area, be it northwest or southwest. I also think that it would be fine to start small for a first event and let it grow on its own each year.  Eventually we can end up with our own CellarTracker Burning Man event in the forests of the pacific northwest.  :)


_____________________________

Skype id - robandlisa_santacruz

(in reply to fingers)
Post #: 48
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/9/2008 12:33:50 PM   
cgrimes

 

Posts: 895
Joined: 10/8/2007
From: Massachusetts
Status: offline 		I think either metro area would be feasible.  Going back to early threads, Eric did mention he knows there are about 100 active CT users in the Seattle area which would be a good base (he even mentions a couple of venues).  I'm sure there are similar numbers in the SF area.  I guess one would just have to pick the area and a tentative date and go with it.

As for the BYO--I like deb293's idea.  Participants could declare their wines ahead of time, and a designated person could assign them to a table so there would be some order.

Dinner would be catered, of course, but it need not be extravagant.  Tasting stations could even be arranged by wine groupings.

Logistics:
Pick City, Date
Find Venue
Advertise to general CT community
Arrange for hotel blocks, package
Caterer/Servers
Gather Wines

If we divy up responsibility, I think we could do it.  Thoughts?, Doubts?


(in reply to RoundersRob)
Post #: 49
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/9/2008 5:43:01 PM   
Maestro

 

Posts: 521
Joined: 10/4/2007
Status: offline 		I am probably not going to make it, as I live in Europe, but let me offer help to expedite things here.

a) Seattle is CT's homebase. Pick a hotel in wine country within reasonable driving distance from Seattle.
b) Pick a date in the fall when the vines are displaying their beautiful fall colors.
c) Pick a hotel where everyone can stay from Friday through Sunday if they wish, but make the main event on Saturday night.
d) Pick a hotel that can rent out the venue for the tasting and handle the catering, so as to deal with only one vendor.
e) BYO. Set up a tagged wines list in CT so everybody can see what is going to be tasted.
f) Set up a list (here in the Forum, for instance) of people who are coming.
g) Let every one make their own arrangements with the hotel for accommodation.
h) Pick one person to handle the payment of the venue/catering and make every one who is coming wire their payment by a deadline well in advance.
g) Organize an informal tour to wineries on Saturday afternoon, if desirable.

Voilà...

Maybe next year or the year after I will host you guys in Piedmont or Tuscany...

PS: If Tim Schroeder decides to join, let him handle the wine tasting. That way we get a proper sommelier from the community to do it...



< Message edited by Maestro -- 5/9/2008 5:44:45 PM >

(in reply to cgrimes)
Post #: 50
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/9/2008 5:43:27 PM   
deb293

 

Posts: 289
Joined: 8/24/2005
Status: offline 		I must admit, I'm more a fan of a paired down event as opposed to something that feels like a Wine Spectator Grand Tour Wannabe (no black tie please!)  It's true, the EWS 25th Anniversary was a bit chaotic, but apart from some private hoarding (wines shared with a select few) pretty much everyone had a great time, and I don't think a whole lot of planning was involved (sorry Howard, if I've underestimated you).

Having the event at a winery sounds like a great idea.  More fun than a hotel, don't you think?  When it all comes down to it, apart from sharing our wines, isn't part of the event about meeting one another?  (Eric, this means you, too.)  If it weren't, we could all go to tastings locally.  I vote for intimacy over grandeur, and someplace Eric is likely to attend.

< Message edited by deb293 -- 5/9/2008 6:00:21 PM >

(in reply to cgrimes)
Post #: 51
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/9/2008 10:11:42 PM   
mbannon

 

Posts: 268
Joined: 10/1/2004
From: Portland, OR
Status: offline 		I'm all for the toned-down version, too.

What if we held 3 or 4 simultaneous events in different cities?  Well, there would be a time zone difference, of course, but it could be the start of a worldwide movement.  Maybe that's getting a little ambitious...

(in reply to deb293)
Post #: 52
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/10/2008 5:56:39 AM   
deb293

 

Posts: 289
Joined: 8/24/2005
Status: offline 		Not mention a little hard on Eric...

(in reply to mbannon)
Post #: 53
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/10/2008 6:34:47 AM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 1495
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: online 		Why don't we all meet in Las Vegas?
Plenty of things to do, plenty of lodging, plenty of restaurants to have offliner, and kinda, sort of close or far away equally to everybody
:)

_____________________________

Having a good day? I can spoil it! -

(in reply to deb293)
Post #: 54
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/10/2008 8:33:16 AM   
fingers

 

Posts: 682
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: offline 		I think Vegas is a good alternative, Serge.  There's no nearby winery and it might be tricky getting our wine through the desert heat, but there's still plenty of great wine and more than enough activity and entertainment.  Aureole at Mandalay Bay holds the distinction of the worlds most expensive wine bar and would be an awesome setting.  Any of you that have seen the Wine Tower with the "Wine Angels" that repel up & down know what I'm talking about.  As long as time and place are set so that Eric would be there, we would only need to make that announcement and leave everything else up to the users that want to go.  The only thing to register for would be the main event and by doing so, you determine the size of the group.

The scariest part of any of this is that someone eventually must cough up the $$ for a deposit and thereby assume financial risk.  No doubt, it is a legitimate promotional expense for CellarTracker but I think Eric has indicated that he's not too interested in becoming a party planner. 

We need a dedicated CT'er that works at Aureole!

http://secure.lasvegasrestaurantsonline.com/aureole/index.jsp?referrer=

< Message edited by fingers -- 5/10/2008 8:47:46 PM >

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 55
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/10/2008 10:43:43 AM   
deb293

 

Posts: 289
Joined: 8/24/2005
Status: offline 		With all due respect, folks go to Las Vegas for all kinds of reasons, but is wine tasting in an intimate setting usually one of them? For reasonable hotel accommodations, is this really an option?  I think the main thing is to identify the spirit of the get-together.  Beware of getting sucked into the "mega-chef" aura of some of these venues...


< Message edited by deb293 -- 5/10/2008 11:10:52 AM >

(in reply to fingers)
Post #: 56
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/10/2008 11:20:53 AM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 1495
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: online
quote:

ORIGINAL: deb293

With all due respect, folks go to Las Vegas for all kinds of reasons, but is wine tasting in an intimate setting usually one of them?


yes.

Evidence #1:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&ie=UTF-8&rls=SUNA,SUNA:2007-12,SUNA:en&q=wine+tasting+las+vegas

Evidence #2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvVrdTqKWuo

Evidence #3:
http://nocomments.com/2/LasVegas/index2.html


As this one shot shows, appearances might be deceiving
;)



_____________________________

Having a good day? I can spoil it! -

(in reply to deb293)
Post #: 57
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/10/2008 11:38:47 AM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 1495
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: online 		As far as organization of the event is concerned:
let's pick up the date 5-6 months in adavnce, make a reservation for the place
and get there. Very simple, pure KISS formula at work, no financial exposures to anybody, everyone picks the hotel and activities one wants to attend (I personally for for any town between Anchorage and Key West, I've seen 'em all with few exceptions and will find things to do besides drinking & eating.

_____________________________

Having a good day? I can spoil it! -

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 58
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/10/2008 1:31:59 PM   
RoundersRob

 

Posts: 634
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: offline 		I agree with Serge.  Keep it simple for this first outing.  Vegas can be tough to organize.  High prices and long lead times for venues.  I will put my hand up for something in the Seattle area so that we are close to our "creator" Eric.  If it was an informal Saturday BYOB somewhere then that would be a good start.  We can all enjoy some good wines and also put faces to names and that will get us kick started for a bigger event the following year.

_____________________________

Skype id - robandlisa_santacruz

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 59
RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! - 5/10/2008 1:54:10 PM   
Eric

 

Posts: 5590
Joined: 10/10/2003
From: Seattle, WA
Status: offline 		I too was thinking about something less ambitious for this first year. A Pacific-NW/Seattle gathering in late summer. Seattle is amazing in July/August/September and serves as a nice leaping off point for wine trips to Walla Walla or Oregon or just general travel to Vancouver/Victoria/Whistler or the nearby islands. My house is a pretty effective venue for 50-100. If we get bigger there are other nearby venues that both cater and I believe would be BYO friendly.

If other, more ambitious events came together in Chicago or New York or Napa I would definitely do my very best to attend, but maybe we try something smaller this first time?


_____________________________

Cheers!
-Eric LeVine

(in reply to RoundersRob)
Post #: 60
Page:   <<   < prev  1 [2] 3 4 5   next >   >>
All Forums >> [Cellar Talk] >> General Discussion >> RE: FIRST ANNUAL Cellar Tracker Wine Weekend! Page: <<   < prev  1 [2] 3 4 5   next >   >>
Jump to:





New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts




Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.4.5 ANSI

0.172