2018 - OIB AWS

OIB Chapter News

March 2023

OIB Chapter Event - Wine and a Movie

03/19/23 - Wine and a Movie - Explore wines impact in the movies
Sixty members of the Ocean Isle Beach North Carolina AWS Chapter were welcomed in March with paparazzies snapping photos as they receiving a bubbling champagne flute of prosecco and walked a red carpet to experience “Wine and a Movie.” Guest hosts Mary and Rich Berezinsky, co-chairs of the Myrtle Beach South Carolina AWS Chapter, took us to Hollywood and Vine to share their viewpoint on the impact of wine in the movies.

Master of Ceremonies, Stan Barwikowski, shared a humorous monologue setting the stage for an evening of laughter and fun. The gathering brought out glitz and glamor and lots stars, along with delightful movie clips highlighting some of Hollywood’s wine selections in well-known motion pictures. This was definitely an Oscar worthy gathering celebrating good movies and great wines!

MOVIE WINE PRICE
Bottle Shock 2019 Grgich Hills Chardonnay $42.00
There’s A Girl In My Soup 2021 Gilles Blanchet Single Vineyard Pouilly-Fume $21.00
For Your Eyes Only 2021 Gentilini Robola Rhombus of Cephalonia $19.00
The Silence of the Lambs 2017 Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva $15.00
Diamonds Are Forever 2020 Coppola Diamond Collection Claret $22.00
Sideways 2021 Silver Coast Merlot $18.00
Casablanca NV Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut Champagne $65.00

Submitted by: Barb Taylor

New Member
03/19/23 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Michele Tomlinson residing in Carolina Shores, NC. Please pass along a welcome to Michele at the Chapter's upcoming events!

February 2023

New Member
02/21/23 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Kathyanne Rose residing in Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Please pass along a welcome to Kathyanne at the Chapter's upcoming events!

New Member
02/20/23 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Janis Masco residing in Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Please pass along a welcome to Janis at the Chapter's upcoming events!

OIB Chapter Event - Battle of the Sexes

02-19-23 - Battle of the Sexes: Which Sex Makes the Best Wine?

An enthusiastic crowd of 60 eager tasters gathered in February at the Ocean Isle Beach North Carolina tasting to settle once and for all who makes better wine – men or women?

The fun filled evening began with a drawing for a beautiful basket of wine and treats. This raffle helped the chapter raise enough money to fund our second AWS educational scholarship to be awarded this year!

Each guest had two wine glasses and blind pours were shared of four different varietals of wine. After each varietal comparative pour, guests voted on their favorite (A or B) before knowing if it was from a male or a female winemaker. Some votes were oh so close!

Blind Pour Position   Winemaker   Price Votes
  #1 The Pinot Grigio Battle
A F Stephen Millier $ 9.99   31
B Karen Birmingham $12.99 29
  #2 The Chardonnay Clash
A Camille Benitah (North Coast)   $16.99 14
B Scott Kelly (Oregon)   $17.99   46
#3 The Shiraz Skirmash
A Adam Barton (Rabbit & Spaghetti)   $26.99   26
B Jen Pfeiffer (Rock It Like a Redhead) $20.99 34
  #4 The Cabernet Campaign
A Sharon Weeks (Cattoo) $15.99 14
B Richard Bruno   $26.99 46

And the winner is . . . . . .GUYS  3  versus  GALS  1

Male winemakers won the vote, but all in attendance were the real winners with good wine to savor!

Two photos shown

New members, Joe and Ginny Mack, had the lucky number drawn for a great basket of wine and treats
Blind pours kept the members on their toes to compare wines from male and female winemakers

Submitted by: Barb Taylor

New Member
02/16/23 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Susan Chopard residing in Calabash, NC. Susan attended an event with some member friends and decided to join in on the chapter fun & events. Please pass along a welcome to Susan at the Chapter's upcoming events!

January 2023

OIB Chapter Event - Exploring the World of Orange Wines

01/22/23 - Is Orange Your Wine Color? Did you know historically there were only two colors of wine – red and orange? For more than 6,000 years Georgia has produced coral-hued wine in a tradition styled long before any viticulture was established. Ocean Isle Beach NC kick-started the year with a deep dive into the latest wine fad, “Exploring the World of Orange Wine.”

Once you get past the innovative labels, 55 members discovered some very interesting wines including a wine from Romania - a first for most in attendance. The unusual technique of producing orange wine from white grapes includes maceration on the skins giving the wine its distinct color pigments and tannins. The Qvevri Wine Cellar in Georgia continues the age-old methods of orange wine production in terracotta qvevri.

Orange wines explored through the tasting were:

Solar Natural Amber Orange Wine - Banat region of Romania $11.99
L’un des Sens Orange Wine - Lorie Valley of France [70% Chenin Blanc 30% Melon Blanc] $19.99
Poderi DiCarlo Ribolla Gialla Orange Wine - Giulia Italy [a region known for orange wines] $24.99
Sun Goddess Pinot Grigio Ramato Orange Wine - Mary J. Blige Italy [the Ramato style was exclusive to this region until the 1960’s when Pinot Grigio production changed to clear colored wine] $19.99
Armani Orange From the Basement – Italy [Armani Winery was founded in 1607] $19.99
Armani Pino Grigio Colle Ara Orange Wine – Valdadige, Veneto, Italy $22.99
Forlorn Hope Ramato Pinot Gris Orange Wine – Sierra Foothills, California [made in the traditional Italian Ramato style] $36.49

All agreed this trendy wine was a great way to celebrate the start of a new year of wine education.

Photos: 1 – Orange wines ready for tasting 2 – A few of the creative labels 3 – Stan pouring orange wine

Submitted by: Barb Taylor

New Members
01/11/23 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Todd Buskirk & Dawn Schaefer residing in Wilmington, NC. Please pass along a welcome to Todd & Dawn at the Chapter's upcoming events!

December 2022

OIB Chapter Event - Holiday Party at Talk of the Town

12/11/22 - Please see OIB Events section for holiday party pictures that can be downloaded, Talk of the Town menu from dinner and the 5 Petrea Imports wine selections paired with dinner, along with tasting notes.

October 2022

OIB Chapter Event - A Taste of North Carolina Wines

10/23/22 - We all may live in North Carolina, but members of the Ocean Isle Beach Chapter learned this month that there are local wineries we should be certain to include in our travel around the state. Member and Certified Wine Judge Carol Maher took us on a mini tour with select wines from the Yadkin Valley AVA through her presentation “A Taste of North Carolina Wines.” Several of the wineries have been featured in On The Vine and Our State magazines.

Samples were poured of:

Piccione Vineyards, Ronta NC,
Sparkling “Vino di Lusso” $36
Jones von Drehle, Thurmond NC,
2018 Petit Manseng $30
Fire Clay Cellars, Siler City NC,
2020 Chardonel $28
Laurel Gray Vineyards, Hamptonville NC, 2019 Chardonnay $32
Jolo Winery, Pilot Mountain NC,
2021 Jolo Pink Rosé Blend $32
Jones von Drehle, Thurmond NC,
2015 Cabernet Franc $26
Jolo Winery, Pilot Mtn NC,
2021 Crimson Creek Chambourcin $44
Fire Clay Cellars, Siler City NC,
2018 Chambourcin Reserve $28
Jones von Drehle, Thurmond NC,
2017 Petit Verdot $36

Members were impressed with the variety of wine selections and the growth of the state wine industry. Be sure to include one of the wine trails on your visit to our state! https://www.ncwine.org/regions

Submitted by: Barb Taylor

New Members
10/20/22 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Louise & Bill Gerber residing in Calabash, NC. The timing of them joining allowed their participation & welcome in that weekend's monthly Chapter event. If you didn't have a chance to say hi, please pass along a welcome to Louise & Bill at other upcoming events!

September 2022

OIB Chapter Event - A Few of Barb & Steve Taylor's Favorite Wines

09/18/22 - Julie Andrews welcomed 56 members to the September Ocean Isle Beach AWS meeting celebrating “these are a few of my favorite (things) wines!” Club members Steve and Barb Taylor led the group in an evening interlaced with wine themed music and educational tastings focused on a few of their favorite wines.

A highlight of the evening was the extremely rare Saint Macaire wine, one of the original but considered lost noble red grapes of Bordeaux. Hanna Winery, in Alexander Valley Sonoma County, has one half acre devoted to growing this very rare grape varietal. Members were extremely delighted to hear about this unique grape and experience a very special tasting.

Those gathered helped close out the evening with a mini wine auction raising $220 to support the Ocean Isle Beach Chapter AWS Scholarship Fund.

Wines Sampled Favorite Because

White & Sea Colombard Sauvignon Blanc $7.99 We Don’t Have to Drink Box Wine Any More
Aime Boucher Vouvray $11.99 Pairs with Every Appetizer
Rombauer Chardonnay $32 Perfect Accompaniment for Authentic Chesapeake Bay Crabcakes
Hanna Saint Macaire $$$$$ Best Rare Wine Story
Rombauer Zinfandel $28 Unbeatable Served with Smoked Meats (or against any other Zin)
La Giaretta Amarone $33.99 Italian Wine for non-Italian Wine Drinkers
Los Bermejos Listan Negro $19.99 Just When You Thought You Knew Everything About Wine
Taylor Cellars Caramel Brule Steve shared his homemade dessert wine

Submitted by: Barb Taylor

August 2022

OIB Chapter Event - National Tasting Project - Wines of Sicily

08/21/22 - It was an evening of work for members of the Ocean Isle Beach Chapter who gathered in August to participate in the AWS National Tasting Project. Forty-eight members explored the wines of eastern Sicily, learning more about the wine history of the country, the terroir and their expanding wine regions.

Chapter Chair Stan Barwikowski prepared the group by sharing the AWS Wine Evaluation with Aaron Mandel instructional video on completing the wine evaluation chart so all were prepared for the “You Be The Judge” task. Seven wines were poured – three whites, three reds and a dessert wine. Members gave thoughtful consideration to each wine poured, using the wine aroma wheel for help identifying aromas and flavors.

The wines selected for tasting were:

Tenuta di Fessina
Donnafugata Lighea
Passopisciaro Passorosso Etna Rosso
Valle dell’Acate Nero D’Avola
Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Donnafugata Ben Rye
Baglio di Grisi

NTP - You Be The Judge

SCW Winemaker Dana - An Experienced Pour

AWS Wine Evaluation Chart

"The Thinker" - Deep Thought & Contemplation

Only a few members of the chapter shared they have traveled to Sicily. This tasting may have inspired some to consider adding the destination to their travel bucket list.

Submitted by: Barb Taylor

June 2022

OIB Chapter Event - Wines of RayLen Vineyards & Winery

06/19/22 - The Ocean Isle Beach Chapter returned to its roots and welcomed Steve Sheppard from RayLen Vineyards & Winery at its June meeting. RayLen was one of the featured wineries at the Chapter’s inaugural wine tasting event ten years ago.

Winemaker Steve Sheppard was warmly greeted after guests enjoyed social wine. Steve shared a short history of the winery which functioned as a dairy farm for nearly a century until 1998. During the tasting he discussed his process of growing grapes, the various grapes grown at the vineyard and use of grape varieties in blends.

Eight wines were poured for the tasting pleasure of the 60 guests.
Each wine was a medal winner in various California wine competitions.

2020 Barrell Fermented Chardonnay $16.99
2020 Rosé of Cabernet Franc $18.99
2019 Carolinius (blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot,
Petit Verdot, Syrah & Cab Franc) $14.99
2020 Cabernet Franc $16.99
2019 BB Select (Bourbon Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon) $18.99
2020 Category 5 (their flagship wine named for a
category 5 hurricane that was barreling down on the
North Carolina coast) $19.99
2017 Eagle Select Meritage Bordeaux blend $24.99
2019 Riesling $15.99

Guests were impressed with the wine selections. It’s time to plan a Yadkin Valley wine tour! www.raylenvineyards.com

Submitted by: Barb Taylor

May 2022

New Members
05/31/22 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Jennifer Tritt & Kevin Talhelm residing in Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Please welcome Jennifer & Kevin at upcoming events!

OIB Chapter Event - The Wines of Abruzzo

05/22/22 - The Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, Chapter traveled to southern Italy for their May meeting exploring The Wines of Abruzzo. Chapter Chair Stan Barwikowski was our tour guide as we traversed four provinces bordering the Adriatic which benefit in wine production from two distinct climates. The area boasts of two principal grapes, trebbiano for white wine and montepulciano for red. Our tasting was focused on learning about the production of wine from each.

Sixty-eight attendees were delighted to sample seven wines with a nice selection of cheese, salami, pasta, crackers and chocolate pairings.

2020 Umani Ronchi Terre di Chieti Vellodoro Pecorino $18.99 served with Pecorino cheese
2019 Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo $11.99 this wine is sold in over 50 countries
2019 Fantini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo $12.99
Zaccagnini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo $15.99 some referred to this as “stick wine” for their unique bottle presentation
Pietra Majella Montepulciano d’Abruzzo $17.99 a blend of 85% montepulciano and 15% merlot; many liked the flavor enhancement from the merlot
Barba i Vasari Old Vine Montepulciano $18.99
2017 Miglianico Il Fondatore Montepulciano Riserva $21.99 names after the founder of the winery

With over half of the region devoted the national parks, the overall consensus of the members was that this wine region should be included in any tour of Italy. Salute alla nostra salute! Cheers to your health!

Submitted by: Barb Taylor

April 2022

OIB Chapter Event - Reustle's vs. the Old World

04/24/22 - Steve and Gloria Reustle from Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards, Roseburg, Oregon, presented a fascinating presentation for the Ocean Isle Beach North Carolina Chapter during their April east coast tour. Sixty-eight members gathered at Silver Coast Winery on April 24 for “The Umpqua Challenge” as the Reustle’s bravely poured blind comparative tastings of four of their top varietals against other world-renowned wines.

After sipping the 2021 Reustle Matrix wine in a social setting, members sat down and began their serious tastings. The four challenge pourings were:

2019 Gruner Veltliner - a $36 Reustle vs an $80 Austria Alzinger

Comparing the terroir of the Umpqua River in the Umpqua Valley of Oregon to the Danube River in the Wachau Region of Austria, the Reustle was the clear favorite of the group

2019 Pinot Noir – a $45 Reustle vs a $99 Cote de Beaune Dominique Lafon

Comparing the Pinot Noir grown from their estate vineyard to that from the rich Burgundy Region of France, the French Pinot was the favorite of the group

2019 Syrah – a $45 Reustle vs a $65 Dumien Serrett Cornas

Comparing their consecutive 13-year award-winning Syrah Reserve to the extremely limited case production from 3 ½ acres in the northern Rhone, the Reustle slightly edged out the Serrett as the group’s favorite

2018 Tempranillo – a $42 Reustle vs a $70 Artadi Pioneer

Steve’s introduction to wine was with a 1966 Cune Grand Reserva Tempranillo. Our final comparison was his award-winning Reserve to one from one of the top six winemakers in Spain. Consensus was they were almost too close to call with the Artadi as a slight favorite

Steve shared information about the winery location, terroir and their personal wine passion throughout his presentation. He concluded the presentation with a special pour of his 2015 Rojo Dulce $38. The applause was hearty for this unique and most informative educational tasting. www.ReustleVineyards.com

Submitted by: Barb Taylor

New Members
04/04/22 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members George & Darlene Neumann residing in Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Please welcome George & Darlene at upcoming events!

04/04/22 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Bill Conner residing in Calabash, NC. Please welcome Bill at upcoming events!

March 2022

OIB Chapter Event - Italian Wine School

03/20/22 - Seventy members of the Ocean Isle Beach (NC) Chapter AWS warmly welcomed presenter Letizia Ciappi at our March 20 meeting. Held at Silver Coast Winery, Ms. Ciappi led the group for the Tenuta Torciano Wine School – an educational evening of fine Italian wines.

The evening started with an array of social wines and lively conversation. Chapter Chair Stan Barwikowski opened the meeting with announcements including the latest update on the Chapter’s continued efforts to fund our first AWSEF scholarship before welcoming our guest presenter.

Ms. Ciappi, niece of the Tenuta Torciano Winery winemaker, shared a short overview of the family owned and operated winery. With 13 generations of winemakers from Tuscany, the family is celebrating their 301st year of winemaking in the Chianti Region.

Eight wines were presented for the group to sip and evaluate starting with their two lightest wines:

a white Vernaccia S. Gimignano, the first wine in 1996 to receive the DOCG designation
Chianti, a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% of the winemaker’s discretion
a lovely Petite Verdot Toscana was poured third, followed by a trio of Super Tuscans
Baldassaree - a blend of one-third each Merlot, Cabernet and Sangiovese
Cavaliere – 70% Sangiovese and 30% Merlot, aged three years
Bartolomeo, a lighter Super Tuscan 50/50 blend of Cabernet and Sangiovese. The bottle label featured a painting by Letizia’s grandfather
Brunello Di Montalcino – at 15% APV this is a recommended winter drinking wine. Barrel aged four years, this 2015 vintage is the youngest available
Terrestre – the signature wine of the winery, this 2018 blend of Shiraz, Merlot, Cab Franc, Pinot Noir and Cabernet will continue to age well

In addition to the outstanding wines served, tastings of Tenuta Torciano extra virgin olive oil and pepper flavored EVOO were offered with bread. These homemade oils were a small sampling of their farm to table philosophy passed through the generations.

This unique tasting garnered great applause from those gathered.
www.torciano.com

Submitted by: Barb Taylor

Board of Director Changes
03/20/22 - This month there were 2 announcements made that Barb Taylor has been elected as Secretary and Steve Rosen has been elected for the newly established position of Member-At-Large. Both BOD members have already started in these roles.

February 2022

OIB Chapter Event - Portuguese Table Wines

02/20/22 - The Ocean Isle Beach (NC) AWS Chapter met on Sunday, February 20, 2022, at the Silver Coast Winery, with 63 participants, to learn about the Wines of Portugal. The tasting began with members and guests enjoying social wines with time to mix and meet. Following that Stan Barwikowski, Chapter Chair, opened the meeting with announcements and a review of our 2022 chapter tasting schedule. He then reviewed what our chapter is doing to raise funds for the AWS Scholarship Fund.

Stan shared the history of wine in Portugal followed by displaying a map of Portugal to point out and describe four major wine regions where the events wines originated: Douro, Vinho Verde, Lisbon and Alentejo.

We enjoyed the following seven wines:

2020 Blanka Vinho-Verde ABV 11% $10
2020 Rapariga Da Quinta White ABV 13% $15
2017 Quinta Das Carvalhas Tinto ABV 14.5% $15
2018 Destino Fifth Empire Douro Red ABV 13.5% $17
2016 Quinta Das Carvalhas Touriga Nacional ABV 14% $20
2016 Colossal Reserva ABV 14% $8
2016 Rapariga Da Quinta Reserva ABV 14.5% $25

When the Touriga was presented, our Silver Coast staff member generously offered us a taste of their 2017 Touriga for comparison.

Our wines were paired with two types of Portuguese cheese, two types of Portuguese sausage (Chourico and Linguica) with honey mustard, a Portuguese Biscoitos and Belgian chocolate. Many of us only associate Port with Portugal so it was a mind opener to taste so many other good Portuguese wines and to learn more about them. A fun time was had by all!
Useful web site - shopportuguese.com

Submitted by: Jan Stocklinski

New Member
02/15/22 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Jeff Gormley residing in Little River, SC. Please welcome Jeff at upcoming events!

January 2022

OIB Chapter Event - Low Alcohol Wines, Are They For You?

16/22 - On Sunday, January 16, The Ocean Isle Beach (NC) Chapter of AWS kicked off our 2022 tasting schedule with a look at low and no alcohol wines – as January is known for making or breaking New Year’s Resolutions – as well as being known as “Dry January”.

As always, our members started the evening with a Meet and Greet before the tasting. Stan Barwikowski, our Chapter Chair, began by thanking the 10th Anniversary Celebration committee for a job well done on December 12 and then reviewed our tasting schedule for 2022. Stan then shared a wealth of information about low alcohol and no alcohol wines. If you would like to learn more, please visit our OIB AWS website. We post all of our events and power points there.

We tasted the following wines:

St. Regis Chardonnay 0% ABV 60 calories $7.99
Kim Crawford “Illuminate” 7% ABV 70 calories $16.99
Gazela Vinho Verde 9% ABV 87 calories $7.99
St. Regis Shiraz Rose 0% ABV 60 calories $7.99
Klean Rose 9% ABV 85 calories $12.99
Ariel 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon .5% ABV 52 calories $8.49
Fre Merlot 0% ABV 70 calories $8.49
Klean 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon 9% ABV 85 calories $13.99

Wine having no alcohol is not recognized to be a wine by the US Government and must include nutritional facts on their bottles. Our food pairings included skinny popcorn, several types of cheese and crackers, olives, prosciutto and salami with cookies for dessert.
We learned a great deal and enjoyed the presentation. A generalization we came to at the end of the evening is that we learned just how important alcohol is to the taste of wine!

Submitted by: Jan Stocklinski

December 2021

OIB Chapter Event - "Cheers to Ten Years" Anniversary

12/12/21 - The Ocean Isle Beach (NC) Chapter celebrated 10 years of operation with its “Cheers to 10 Years” gala held at the Silver Coast Winery. 96 participants, including guests from Silver Coast Winery, attended the celebration. Stan Barwikowski, OIB Chapter co-chair, told the gathering, “It was hard to image how successful the chapter has been since its start in August of 2011 with only 2 members.”
The OIB Chapter was founded on August 25th, 2011, with the help of Dana Keeler, Silver Coast winemaker and the support of Maryann Azzato, Silver Coast owner.
The celebration began with a glass of Prosecco, followed by the wine tasting stations and a course of appetizers. Attendees then dined on a buffet dinner. The chapter presented Silver Coast with a gift of appreciation for its decade-long support. The evening continued with a challenge activity, a photo booth, and dancing to the music of DJ Butch Barnes. Also, throughout the evening a continuous video history of the chapter was played on a large screen TV. AWS Executive Director David Falchek attended to mark the occasion.

Anniversary Committee Co-Chairs: Heidi DeMuro & Jan Stocklinski
Also see the following Press Release and Article.

November 2021

OIB Chapter Attendance - AWS National Conference

11/4/21 - The Ocean Isle Beach (NC) Chapter had a number of members attend the 54th Annual American Wine Society National Conference in Atlantic City, NJ on Nov 4th through the 6th. The conference was held at the Harrah's Waterfront Conference Center. During the number of informative conference sessions and dining events, OIB Chapter member Carol Maher achieved her Certified Wine Judge certificate.

October 2021

OIB Chapter Event - Kirkland Challenge

10/17/21 - The Ocean Isle Beach (NC) Chapter met on Sunday, October 17, 2021 at the Silver Coast Winery for a Kirkland Challenge. 47 members attended the tasting. Before the tasting, the quarterly 50/50 raffle ticket was drawn. Half the pot was awarded to Dana Keeler and half the pot was reserved for the AWS Education Fund.

Chapter Chair, Stan Barwikowski selected four pairs of wines that received similar ratings. One in each pair was a Kirkland brand purchased from Costco and the complementary wine was a name brand. Attendees had to determine which of the pair was the Kirkland brand and also vote on which wine they preferred. Only the type of wine was given before each tasting. While the voting was close in each case, Kirkland brand edged out the more expensive brand 3 of 4 times. Our takeaway? Price is not the best indicator of preference. Asterisk below (*) represents the wine receiving the most votes.

1A Kirkland Sonoma County Chardonnay * $ 9
1B Latimer Ranch Chardonnay $28
2A Tenuta Di Renieri Chianti Classico $20
2B Kirkland Chainti Classico Reserva * $ 8
3A Kirkland Rioja Reserva * $ 7
3B Marques De Murrieta Rioja Reserva $30
4A Mascota Vineyards La Mascota Malbec * $15
4B Kirkland Malbec $ 7

Submitted by: Heidi DeMuro

September 2021

OIB Chapter Event - Cool Climate vs Warm Climate

09/19/21 - The Ocean Isle Beach (NC) Chapter met on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at the Silver Coast Winery for a presentation of Cool Climate vs Warm Climate. 42 members attended the tasting. After a brief discussion of the influence climate can have on the scent, taste, after taste and appearance of a wine, host Stan Barwikowski put us to the test. We blindly tasted four pairs of wines to see if we could discern which came from grapes grown in a warm climate as opposed to the cool climate. Seven of the members correctly identified the origin. After some tie breaker questions, Carol Maher was presented with a prize.
Pairings included: salami, two cheeses, breadsticks, cashews, dark chocolate and fig spread.

1A Groth Sauvignon Blanc (w) $18
1B Kia Ora Sauvignon Blanc (c) $16
2A Olema Chardonnay Reserve (w) $20
2B Domaine Loubejac (c) $18
3A Grove Pinot Noir (c) $22
3B Tuli Pinto Noir (w) $30
4A 1858 Cabernet Sauvignon Paso (w) $35
4B Radius Cabernet Reserve (c) $18

Submitted by: Heidi DeMuro

August 2021

OIB Chapter Event - National Tasting Project

08/15/21 - Oh what a night as 50 of our members became wine JUDGES in the AWS National Tasting Project as we enjoyed the Wines of Illyria (Croatia and Bosnia) at the Silver Coast Winery in Ocean Isle Beach. The evening began with our regular Meet and Greet followed with a welcome and introduction from our OIB AWS co-chair Stan Barwikowski. The presentation opened with the 14 minute video by Aaron Mandell on Tips of How to Complete the Wine Evaluation form. We found it to be a most helpful reminder on how to judge the wines. Co-chair Stan then reviewed the types of grapes in the coastal and continental wine regions.

We enjoyed the following wines:
Croatian Wines

2018 Terra Modie Posip 13% alc.
2019 Volarevic Plavac Mali La Chic Rose 13.5% alc.
2016 Komarna 7 (K7) Plavac Mali 14.5% alc.
2015 Volarevic Plavac Mali Syrtis 14% alc.

Bosnia/Herzegovina

2019 Vukoje Tanjanika 12.7% alc.
2016 Teuta Warrior Queen 13% alc.
2015 Trnjak 13.5% alc.

These wines were served with a plate of meats, cheeses, grapes, crackers, breadsticks and an Oreo java chip cookie. (Some of us were amazed at how well the java chip cookie paired with some of the wines.) As we were walking out of the winery at the end of our event, several people were sitting outside and one member said “I loved every wine tonight”. We now all look forward to learning how we compare with all others in the Judging of these wines!

Submitted by: Jan Stocklinksi

June 2021

New Members
06/25/21 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Bob & Marie Krut residing in Calabash's Brunswick Plantation. After attending the most recent chapter event as guests of member friends Bob & Heidi DeMuro, there was no question about joining. Please welcome Bob & Marie at upcoming events!

OIB Chapter Event - High End Italian Wines

06/20/21 - The Ocean Isle Beach (NC) Chapter met in the Silver Coast Winery barrel room to taste a variety of Italian products presented by importers, Rusty and Carol Petrea and their COO Joseph Oates. Sixty-five guests and members started the tasting with two olive oils and a red wine vinegar. Rusty then took us on a Grande Italiano tour starting outside of Venice with a delicious prosecco and ending near Verona with a dessert wine. The chapter has been holding quarterly 50/50 raffles with the proceeds going to the AWS Educational Fund. The first quarter winner was Jan Stocklinski. This quarter’s winner was Pat Trombetta. Both Jan and Pat graciously donated their winnings to the scholarship fund. It was a happy Father’s Day for all who attended.

Terre di San Venanzio Prosecco Superiore di Valdobbiadene $16
Palagetto Chianti Reserva $32
Villa Girardi Amarone Classico DOCG $70
Palagetto Brunello $65
Gigi Rosso Barolo “Arione” $70
Palagetto Vin Santo Del Chianti $25
Villa Girardi Recioto della Valpolicella Classico DOC $50

Submitted by: Heidi DeMuro

May 2021

New Member
05/27/21 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Ellen Caruso residing in Ocean Isle Beach. Please welcome Ellen during upcoming events!

New Member
05/27/21 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Fran Queen residing in Ocean Isle Beach. Please welcome Fran during upcoming events!

New Member
05/25/21 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Grace Wimbish residing in Calabash. Please welcome Grace during upcoming events!

New Member
05/17/21 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Claire Eisenbise residing in Ocean Isle Beach. Please welcome Claire during upcoming events!

OIB Chapter Event - Highly Rated Summer Sippers Under $25

05/16/21 - Nothing beats a crisp white or rose in the dog days of summer and North Carolina is no stranger to hot, humid weather. May seemed the perfect time to sample “Summer Sippers rated 90+”. On May 16, 2021, 51 members and guests of the Ocean Isle Beach, NC AWS chapter met at the Silver Coast Winery to taste seven highly rated but reasonably priced wines. Pairings included: shrimp cocktail, a triple cream French cheese, prosciutto, grilled chicken, turkey and swiss wrap and Teddy Grahams.

Kia Ora Sauvignon Blanc (92 BD) $14
Sun Goddess Sauvignon Blanc (90 JS) $20
Albino Armani Pinot Grigio (91 BD) $12
Atrevida Chardonnay (92 JS) $14
Crimson Ranch Chardonnay $15
Olema Rose (92 JS) $17
Samuel Robert Winery Pinot Noir Rose (92 BD) $15

Submitted by: Heidi DeMuro

April 2021

OIB Chapter Event - 90+ Big Bold Reds Under $25

04/18/21 - The Ocean Isle Beach (NC) Chapter met on Sunday, April 18, 2021 at the Silver Coast Winery for a presentation of Big, Bold Reds. With so many wonderful wines to choose from, host Stan Barwikowski added the criteria of wines rated 90 or better and retailing under $25. It was still hard to narrow down the choices but he presented seven delicious wines to the 44 attendees. Prior to the tastings, we had a short trivia quiz about our local chapter website. AWS member, Pat Trombetta, won a bottle of Robert Mondavi Private Selection Bourbon Barrel Aged Red Blend for knowing the most about our chapter and its website. Pairings for the tasting included: salami, kielbasa, gouda, aged cheddar, cheese puffs, sea salt dark chocolate caramels, dark chocolate/almond bark and crackers.

2017       Brotte Creation Grosset Cairanne (91 JS) $16
2017       Brotte Gigondas Le Marasque (93 WE) $25
2017       Klinker Brick Syrah Farrah (90 WE) $19
2017       Quinta Do Crasto Douro Tinto (90 RP) $19
2018       Pendulum Red Wine (91 JS) $18
2016       Chateau La Vielle Cure Fronsac (92 JS/91 WS) $25
2018       Penley Estate Phoenix Cabernet (92 WE) $18

Submitted by: Heidi DeMuro

March 2021

OIB Chapter Event - Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines

03/21/21 - 44 members of the Ocean Isle Beach chapter met at the Silver Coast Winery for a tasting of seven of Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2020. Each year since 1988, Wine Spectator has released its Top 100 list. The editors select the most exciting wines from the thousands reviewed during the course of the year. These wines are a diverse group—ranging from emerging labels and regions to traditional estates exploring new directions—and all generate the excitement they call the “X-factor.”

The selection prioritizes quality (based on score), value (based on price) and availability (based on the number of cases either made or imported into the United States). These criteria are applied to the wines that rated outstanding (90 points or higher on Wine Spectator’s 100-point scale) each year to determine the Top 100.

While we couldn’t sample all 100 (darn!) we had a great cross section by variety and geography, all of which were reasonably priced.
It was obvious why these seven earned their much-deserved spot on the Top 100 list.
Pairing items included: lobster dip, blue cheese with pepper jelly, grilled chicken, olives, salami, crackers and dark chocolate.

2019 Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc (#21) $12
2018 Forge Cellars Seneca Lake Dry Riesling (#31) $15
2018 Reata Chardonnay (#80) $20
2018 Stoller Pinot Noir (#79) $20
2015 Perano Chianti Classico (#36) $24
2016 Tormaresca Torcicoda Primitivo (#82) $20
2019 Domaine Bousquet Malbec (#43) $13

Submitted by: Heidi DeMuro

OIB Chapter 50/50 Drawing
03/21/21 - The OIB Chapter held it's 1st quarterly 50/50 drawing in support of the AWS National Scholarship Foundation.
See description and results on the web page under OIB Chapter Info.

New Members
03/02/21 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Kimberly & Chris Politis residing in Supply. Please welcome Kimberly & Chris during upcoming events!

February 2021

OIB Chapter Event - Malbec Old World vs New World

02/21/21 - 42 members of the Ocean Isle Beach chapter met at the Silver Coast Winery for a tasting of Malbec: Old World vs. New World presented by chapter chair, Stan Barwikowski. After watching a YouTube video “The Basics of Malbec”, we were eager to try our hand at determining whether we could tell an old-world Malbec (from France) from a new world Malbec (from Argentina or the US.)
In a blind tasting, we compared four pairings. Not only were we trying to choose the origin of the wine, we were also determining our taste preferences and value of the wines. Only a handful of participants scored 100% by correctly knowing which of each pair were old vs new world wines. We found it trickier than first thought and saw that the old world can learn a thing or two from the new world vintners.
Food pairings included: dates stuffed with bleu cheese; roast beef; aged gouda; herbed goat cheese and crackers; and a sugar cookie.
Wines tasted were:

A1 Chateau de Mercues 2015 $29.99
B1 Kirkland Malbec 2019 $6.99

A2 Reustle 2017 Estate Select $31.00
B2 Luc Pirlet Classique 2018 $14.99

A3 Catena Malbec 2018 $16.00
B3 Antisto Malbec 2015 $23.99

A4 Atruim Malbec Cahors $16.99
B4 Finca Flichman Tupungato $19.99

Submitted by: Heidi DeMuro

New Members
02/05/21 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Stephanie Starling & Jeffrey Griffin residing in Sunset Beach. Please welcome Stephanie & Jeffrey during upcoming events!

January 2021

OIB Chapter Event - Everyday Italian Wines

01/24/21 - 40 members of the Ocean Isle Beach AWS Chapter met at the Silver Coast Winery for a tasting of “Everyday Italian Wines.” Rusty and Carol Petrea, of Petrea Imports, Inc., brought us nine of their favorite, affordable (read every day!) Italian wines. The Petreas have travelled extensively throughout Italy and have relationships with many wineries. They offered assistance in arranging tastings at these wineries to members planning tours to Italy. After sampling these wines, everyone was ready for a trip abroad.

The nine wines were paired with peanuts, mixed nuts, prosciutto, two cheeses, crackers and Milano cookies.

Rocca Pinot Grigio $12.99
Palagetto Sauvignon Blanc $16.99
Villa Girardi Lugana $16.99
Rocca Don Ernesto $14.99
Rocca Primitivo $12.99
Rocca Montepulciano $12.99
Palagetto Chianti $16.99
Dezzani Moscato $12.99
Dezzani Malvasia $12.99

Submitted by: Heidi DeMuro

New Member
01/20/21 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Pete Harper residing in North Myrtle Beach. Please welcome Pete when you get the opportunity to see him!!

December 2020

OIB Chapter Event - Holiday Tasting

12/13/20 - 37 members of the Ocean Isle Beach chapter met at the Silver Coast Winery to celebrate with Holiday Wines. The meeting space was decked out with festive décor and attendees were greeted with a glass of prosecco to kick off the event.
Co-Chairs Stan & Tess Barwikowski presented several chapter members with a gift of wine for their work during the past year. The Chapter also recognized Stan & Tess by presenting them with restaurant gift cards and other goodies.

Attendees were encouraged to bring their favorite $15-20 wine and include a recipe or pairing suggesting when wrapping it. These presents were then distributed by a cork pull so everyone bringing a bottle left with a bottle. A fun way to share your favorites and try something new.

The six wines were paired with cheese popcorn, cashews, salmon spread on a cracker, dates stuffed with blue cheese and topped with slivered almonds, roast beef with horseradish sauce, and chocolate truffles. What a joyful way to start the holiday season (even if we had to mask and be socially distant)!

Rondel GOLD Brut Cava $10.99
Louis Bouillot Perle de Vigne Brute $19.99
2018 Reustle Addie’s Sparkles $38.00
2017 Baldacci Chardonnay Sorelle Carneros $39.99
2017 Amici Cabernet Sauvignon Napa $49.99
Carvalhas Reserva Tawny Porto $21.99

Submitted by: Heidi DeMuro

New Members
12/01/20 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members De Lora & Hermione Cummings residing in Calabash. They decided to join the Chapter after attending an event as a guest. Please welcome and say Hi to De Lora & Hermione when you get the opportunity to see them!!

November 2020

New Members
11/18/20 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Lisa & Shannon Collins residing in Supply. Please welcome and say Hi to Lisa & Shannon when you get the opportunity to see them!!

AWS National Event - 2020 Virtual Conference

11/4/20 thru 11/7/20 - AWS National held a totally Virtual Conference over 4 days with a series of tasting sessions that any AWS member could sign up for. Overall a very successful conference enjoyed by many via Zoom. See AWS National Website for links to all the recorded sessions.

October 2020

OIB Chapter Event - Spooky Wines

10/25/20 - 39 members of the Ocean Isle Beach AWS Chapter met to taste Halloween themed wines. The event, called “Ghosts, Devils and Other Spooky Things”, was hosted by Heidi DeMuro. Eerie table decorations and scary music greeted guests as they arrived at the tasting. Many wore Halloween costumes and prizes were given to the Taylors (dressed as wine and cheese) and the LaClairs (in Roman attire). Best table décor went to Alice McDonough. Each attendee received a unique tarot card to foretell their future for the coming year.

The discussion centered around marketing and some creative ways winemakers have to attract your attention, pique your interest and hopefully entice you to buy their wine. From imaginative names, colorful and descriptive labels, apps that make labels come to life and an adorable, mini Vampire cape, we saw several ways marketers made their products stand out. We found all the wines enjoyable. Definitely more of a treat than a trick!

Prophecy 2019 Pinot Grigio (Italy) $11.99
The Walking Dead 2016 Chardonnay (California)                 $17.99
Bogle Phantom 2018 Chardonnay (California)                      $19.99
Prayers of Sinners 2017 Red Blend (Washington) $ 9.99
Witching Hour Reserve Deep Red Blend (California)            $10.99
The Velvet Devil 2018 Merlot (Washington)                           $10.99
Vampire 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (California)                    $14.45
Ghost Pines 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (California)              $16.99

Submitted by: Heidi DeMuro

September 2020

OIB Chapter Event - Wines of Southwest France

09/20/20 - 38 members of the Ocean Isle Beach chapter met to taste seven wines of Southwest France purchased from winerydirect.com. Following social distancing and masking guidelines, the attendees gathered to learn about a lesser known region. Host/Chapter President Stan Barwikowski, gave a brief history of the area followed by detailed descriptions of each of the wines presented. We found them to be a refreshing change and a real bargain for the price.

2018 Chateau Belingard Bergerac Blanc $12.99
2018 Pigmentum Malbec Rose $11.99
2016 Chateau Belingard Bergerac Rouge $12.99
2018 Atrium Malbec Cahors $12.99
2015 Antisto Malbec Cahors $17.99
2015 Chateau De Mercues Cahors $24.99
2016 Domaine Du Moulie Madiran $14.99

Submitted by: Heidi DeMuro

August 2020

OIB Chapter Event - National Tasting Project

08/23/20 - Thirty five members of OIB AWS Chapter met on August 23, 2020 at the Silver Coast Winery for the National Wine Tasting Project. The NTP event was a great opportunity for chapter members to be a quasi-wine judge for a couple hours, where their scoring will contribute to overall national ratings.

After an update of upcoming activities and events including the National AWS virtual conference to be held in November, chapter co-chair Stan Barwikowski began with a review of the AWS Wine Evaluation Chart. All the wines were from Washington State featuring Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Washington Portfolio. (Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine estate is the largest producer in the state of Washington.) We sampled wines that represented the largest AVA, the Columbia Valley, while learning interesting facts including that Washington State ranks 2nd in Fine Wines in the US.

Eroica 2018 Riesling 12% alc $18
Horse Heaven Hills 2015 Chardonnay 13.5% alc $10
Horse Heaven Hills H3 2015 Merlot 15% alc $12
Intrinsic 2016 Red Blend 15% alc $19
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon 13.5% alc $12
The Burn-Borne of Fire 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon 13.5% alc $24
Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Vineyard 2015 Cabernet Sauv 14.5% alc $31

At the completion of the NTP tasting, all scoring sheets were passed up to Stan to be tabulated and forwarded to National. From our perspective it appeared that all wines were enjoyed by everyone. Now we are REALLY looking forward to the rescheduled AWS National Conference that was postponed to 2022 in the state of Washington!!

Today was another great OIB AWS event with the “masked and distanced” members of our chapter!!!!

Submitted by: Jan Stocklinksi & Dave LaClair

July 2020

OIB Chapter Event - Wine Barrel Polka

07/26/20 - Thirty members of the OIB AWS Chapter met on July 26, 2020 at the Silver Coast Winery for a tasting - WINE BARREL POLKA. After an introduction by co-chair Stan Barwikowski, presenters Mary and Rich Berezinsky (co-chairs of the Myrtle Beach chapter of AWS), we explored the latest fad of aging wines in barrels that once held rum, bourbon or tequila. Rich and Mary gave an upbeat and fun filled presentation of the history of aging in Barrels. For them personally, they feel that aging this way does take out some of the tannins in the red wines.

Beringer Sauvignon Blanc tequila barrel 15.1% alc $15
Robert Mondavi Bourbon barrel 2018 Chardonnay 14.5% alc $12
Barrelhouse Bourbon Barrel 2017 Chardonnay 13.2% alc $15
Fetzer 1000 Stories 2017 bourbon barrel Zinfandel 15.8% alc $14
19 Crimes Uprising 2017 red blend in rum barrels 15.0% alc $10
Robert Mondavi 2017 Merlot in rum barrels 14.5% alc $13
Robert Mondavi Red blend in rye barrels 14.5% alc $14
Robert Mondavi 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon in bourbon barrel 14.5% alc $12

It was an enjoyable evening and It seemed that most wines were appreciated by all.

Submitted by: Jan Stocklinksi

OIB Chapter Event - Reustle Wines vs The Old World

07/16/20 - 58 members and guests in the OIB Chapter met at the Silver Coast Vineyards in Ocean Isle Beach NC, for a fantastic tasting with the Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyard owners, Stephen and Gloria Reustle. This tasting was the third time that our chapter leaders, Stan and Tess Barwikowski, have invited the Reustles to one of OIB’s chapter meetings. Each presentation the Reustles create, attendees can count on it being unique & very informative to increase member knowledge & tasting skills.

During these unique times, member masks were required by our event host Silver Coast Winery and during the OIB event, when not tasting and enjoying self-provided member pairings. The usual pre-event social time was excluded while members took their seats with a refreshing glass of Reustles Matrix white wine. Silver Coast staff did a great job in working with the Chapter to provide the best social distancing setup along with disinfected equipment.

The event theme was – Judgment in OIB - Reustle Wines vs The “Old” World. Owner/winemaker Stephen Reustle presented 4 wines from the Umpqua Valley: AVA along with their European counterparts in a blind tasting. Participants tasted each side by side and then by a show of hands voted individual preferences. The Old World challengers not only included highly-scored quality wines, but even higher price points.

Old World Reustle Wines (Roseburg, Oregon)
2017 Nikolaihof Wachau Hefeabzug Gruner $32 2017 Reustle Gruner Veltliner $26
(Austria)
2017 Savigny Aux Serpentierus Premier Cru $54 2017 Reustle Pinot Noir, Estate edition $36
(France)
2017 Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage $34 2017 Reustle Syrah, Estate edition $32
(France)
2012 Coto De Imaz Grand reserve $47 2012 Reustle Tempranillo $42
(Spain)

The first three wines from Reustles received a majority of votes as the favorites. The 4 th wine Coto De Imaz received slightly more votes than the Reustles Tempranillo. Our Chapter takes our hats off to the Reustles for being risk takers in this blind tasting. This challenge approach not only exemplifies the confidence and pride of Stephen & Gloria, but a further spotlight on the award recognized status of many Reustle wines. The evening was capped with a surprise pour of their Rojo Dulce Red Port. The entire event was so much fun and absolutely delicious!!

Submitted by: Jan Stocklinksi & Dave LaClair

New Member
07/13/20 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Larry Garner residing in Myrtle Beach. Larry will be participating in both the OIB & Myrtle Beach Chapters. Please welcome and say Hi to Larry at upcoming events!!

June 2020

OIB Chapter Event - WS Top 100 List for 2019

06/21/20 - In our first in-person meeting since the pandemic, the Ocean Isle Beach (NC) Chapter celebrated with seven wines from the Wine Spectator Top 100 list. Each ranking on the Top 100 list is included below in parentheses. The 40 members in attendance complied with Government recommendations regarding social distancing and sanitizing while still enjoying being together again. Since pairings could not be provided, host Stan Barwikowski, sent participants suggested items they should bring to taste with the wines. We tried the wines with lemon, sugar cookies, cured meats, various cheeses and salty snacks to see how the wine’s taste changes depending on what you paired it with. This led to some lively discussions as we worked our way through the wines. Zoom meetings are fun but nothing can replace sharing a good wine with friends!

2018 Terre Brulec Chenin Blanc (#65) $15.99
2017 Michel Gassier Costieres de Numes Nostre Pias (#63) $20.99
2017 Cambria Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay (#61) $18.99
2018 Pere et Fils Bandols Reserve Rose (#86) $16.99
2017 Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria (#83) $23.99
2016 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (#54) $31.99
2015 G.D. Vajra Barola Albe (#48) $38.99

Submitted by: Heidi DeMuro

May 2020

OIB Chapter Event - Virtual Happy Hour

05/03/20 - The Ocean Isle Beach (NC) Chapter of AWS met virtually on May 3rd, 2020 via its first Zoom Video event titled "Virtual Cocktail Hour". 19 remote connections representing approx. 30 Chapter members, joined virtual coordinator & Chapter Chair Stan Barwikowski. Stan provided an overall update of what's new along with a host of potential event reschedulings due to the pandemic. Interspersed between some prepared slides, each participant gave a quick overview of what they're drinking these days. There were quite a few stories that led up to why members were drinking certain concoctions, not just wine.

Our trial virtual session was quite interesting & interactive as well as a test for feasibility of doing other OIB Chapter events remotely. It was a successful exchange of member updates & a fun event that lifted "spirits" in more ways than one. Members felt a heightened optimism that using AWS HQ's Zoom Video account for getting together was indeed very helpful during these challenging times. The OIB Chapter continues to support our favorite local & remote wineries via curbside pickup and deliveries. Continue to stay safe! Cheers....

February 2020

OIB Chapter Event - 3 German Pinots

02/16/20 - The Ocean Isle Beach (NC) Chapter of AWS met on February 16, 2020 at the Silver Coast Winery to learn about The Three German Pinots. After the usual meet & greet with welcome wines, Champagne & Cheddar cheeses, 45 members were ready for another interesting European related wine tasting.
So, many of us think Rieslings when we consider wines of Germany. Tonight our chapter co-chair Stan Barwikowski enlightened members about other popular wines crafted in Germany. We learned that Pinot Blanc is a mutant of Pinot Noir, traditional Pinot Noir’s are lighter in color and exposed us to facts about ice wine….Eiswein!! Silver Coast Winery winemaker Dana Keeler reviewed some interesting facts of German wineries and personal tasting notes, given his years of experience working for a German winemaker in the U.S. earlier in his career.

Wines & pairings tasted were as follows;

Wine Alc Pairing Price

Villa Wolf Pinot Gris 2018 12.5% seafood salad $18.99
Wittmann 100 Hills Pinot Blanc 2017 (WE88) 12% onion tart $19.99
Maximin Grunhaus Pinot Blanc 2017 (WE 90) 12.5% mozzarella/tomato $34.99
Schmitt Sohne RELAX Pinot Noir 2016 12% bratwurst bites $11.99
A Christmann Pfalz Spatburgunder 2013 12.5% chocolate humus w/
raspberry on pretzel $28.99
Daily August Trocken Pinot Noir 2016 13% mushroom pancetta $17.99
Koehler-Ruprecht Kabinett Trocken 2017 Pinot Noir 13% chocolate bark $34.99

Eine tolle Zeit hatten alle! (A great time was had by all!)

Submitted by Jan Stocklinksi

New Members
02/11/20 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Christine & Thomas Gill residing in Calabash. Please welcome Christine & Thomas at upcoming events!!

New Members
02/10/20 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Edward Sharp & Holly Brenneman residing in Ocean Isle Beach. Please welcome Edward & Holly at upcoming events!!

New Member
02/07/20 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Carolyn Cancellieri from Crow Creek in Calabash. Please extend a warm introduction to Carolyn at upcoming events!!

January 2020

OIB Chapter Event - Wines of Uruguay

01/26/20 - The Ocean Isle Beach (NC) Chapter met on Sunday January 26 at the Silver Coast Winery for a presentation of Wines of Uruguay. Host Stan Barwikowski started the presentation with a short video produced by the Bodega Garzon, Wine Enthusiast’s 2018 New World Winery of the Year. We learned about the minerality of the local soil as well as one of Uruguay’s most prominent varietals, the tannat grape. The scenery at this vineyard was spectacular. A poll of the 58 attendees revealed almost no one could recall drinking Uruguayan wine prior to this meeting. No doubt many will be seeking it out now. Pairings included: shrimp cocktail, marinated mozzarella balls, salami, smoked kielbasa, BBQ pork slider, Roquefort cheese and chocolate truffles.

2019 Bodega Garzon Reserve Albarino $19.99
2018 Bodega Garzon Reserve Pinot Noir Rose $17.99
2017 Bodega Garzon Reserve Cabernet Franc $19.99
2019 Bodega Garzon Single Vineyard Petit Verdot $29.99
Pisano Tannat Merlot Cisplatino $12.99
Pisano Tannat Rio De Los Pajaros $17.99
2015 Pisano Tannat RPF $22.99

Submitted by : Heidi DeMuro

Remembering Jim Kraut
01/24/20 - The OIB Chapter extends condolences on the passing of Jim Kraut. Jim was one of the initial & founding members of the AWS OIB Chapter and even recently was a very active participant in OIB events. Pictured right is Jim toasting another event with Silver Coast Winemaker Dana Keeler, during OIB's Holiday Party last month. Our heartfelt sympathies to his wife Judy and the entire family. See some life accomplishments & family details in OIB's Remembrance section of this website, as major contributors over the years to the success of the Chapter.

Jim Kraut Page

New Members
01/06/20 - For our first couple of the new year to join, the OIB Chapter welcomes new members Mona Johnson-Gibson & Tony Gibson residing in Ocean Isle Beach. Please extend a warm introduction to Mona & Tony at upcoming events!!

December 2019

Holiday Party Thank You

Dec 16, 2019

Dear OIB Chapter members:

Thanks to all of you for your very generous Christmas gift and well wishes. Our Chapter members are the best! We’ve made so many friends through sharing our appreciation of wine. Wine is and has been a beverage that has inspired and entertained people around the world. Just as not all wines are created equal, neither are AWS Chapters, and ours is the very best. Thanks again for your generosity, and especially for your friendship. May you all have a very merry and safe Christmas and a happy Hanukkah.
Cheers!
Stan and Tess

OIB Chapter Member Holiday Party

12/15/19 - The Ocean Isle Beach Chapter held its holiday party at the Silver Coast Winery. 88 members and guests enjoyed a festive evening with dinner followed by dancing. The chapter provided a welcoming glass of Prosecco and each table had a complimentary bottle of red and a bottle of white. Attendees brought their favorite wines to share as well. Santa's helpers provided several door prizes that went to lucky winners. Several members of the chapter were recognized for their outstanding work in the past year and our co-chairs, Stan and Tess Barwikowski were presented with a huge gift basket of wines and certificates to local restaurants. Everyone got to keep a commemorative flute plus an AWS logoed glass to remember the fun night. It was an outstanding effort by the party committee!

Submitted by : Heidi DeMuro

New Members
12/15/19 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Karen Dombrowski & Kevin Munn residing in Sunset Beach. Please welcome Karen & Kevin at upcoming events!!

November 2019

OIB Chapter Members Attend AWS National Conference

10/31 - 11/02/19 - A number of OIB Chapter members attended the AWS National Conference in St. Pete's Beach, FL. The annual conferences just keep getting better every year. In addition to pre-event dinner cruises, fun-time at the beach, educational sessions, fantastic wine tastings & exquisite food, the event is always a great opportunity to intro or re-connect with the AWS management team and other chapters throughout the country. Also announced was the 2020 Conference to be held in Bellevue, WA on Oct 29-31, 2020.

See 2019 Conf Agenda & additional pictures under OIB Events Pages.

October 2019

New Member
10/23/19 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Joy Fairtile. Please welcome Joy at upcoming events!!

OIB Chapter Event - Terrific Tannins

10/20/19 The Ocean Isle Beach chapter held its October meeting at Silver Coast Winery in Ocean Isle Beach, NC.
37 members attended the tasting event entitled “Terrific Tannins”.

After opening comments and updates from Chapter Chair Stan Barwikowski, we viewed a video presented by Delores Peralta of WTSO called “Terrific Tannins”. The video introduced the group to tannins, a critical wine component. Following the explanation of tannins and their roles, Dolores walked the group through each wine and discussed tannins in each wine.

All the wines were well received by everyone in attendance. WTSO did an excellent job in the wines that they selected and their educational video.
This was another enjoyable and informative evening with our AWS OIB chapter.

Submitted by: Jan Stocklinski and Stan Barwikowski

Below is the list of wines discussed and the food pairing we sampled.

2018 Haut-Rian Bordeaux Blanc paired with shrimp salad. Price: $10.99
2015 Winter’s Hill paired with lacy parmesan crisps. Price: $25.00
2014 Reininger Cab Sav paired with meatballs. Price: $50.00
2014 Laura Michael Cab Sav paired with caramelized onions and goat cheese pizza. Price: $52.00
2014 San Biago Barola paired with mushroom risotto. Price: $80.00
2015 Diez Caballero Rioja paired with manchego cheese. Price: $18.03
2005 Vidau Rioja Red wine paired with chocolates from Finland. Price: $27.00

New Members
10/17/19 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Lynn & Rich Dye. They live in Calabash and already have plans to participate in their first OIB Chapter event on 10/20. Please welcome Lynn & Rich at upcoming events!!

September 2019

OIB Chapter Event - AWS Wine Judge Certification Wines

09/22/19 The Ocean Isle Beach NC chapter met on September 22, 2019 at the Silver Coast Winery. Using the AWS Wine Evaluation Chart, we evaluated eight (8) wines. Members had a chance to compare their judging skills and palates against two wine judges in attendance. This gave us all a new appreciation for the difficult job certified wine judges face.

Pairings included: chicken salad, shrimp risotto; artichoke dip; smoked salmon dip; roast beef roll-up; bratwurst and Gouda cheese.

2018 Raats Chenin Blanc ($14)
2017 Burgans Rias Baixas Albariño ($13)
2017 Loimer Gruner Veltliner ($17)
2017 Kendall Jackson Vintners Reserve Chardonnay ($12)
2016 Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico ($23)
2017 Bully Hill Baco Noir ($8)
2018 Johnson Estate Marechal Foch ($15)
2017 Fram Shiraz ($13)

New Members
9/19/19 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Veronica & Michael Miller. They live in Calabash and look forward to participating in the OIB Chapter. Please welcome Veronica & Michael at upcoming events!!

August 2019

OIB Chapter Event - National Tasting Project / Napa Valley Wines

8/25/19 - This month's OIB Chapter event involved participating in the AWS National Tasting Project. An opportunity for over 40 chapter members to be
"wine judges" for an afternoon. Utilizing the AWS Wine Evaluation Chart, members tasted & scored 7 selected wines from the Napa Valley region. Chapter Chair Stan presented a refresher on judging guidelines as well as detail of each winery & environmental influences AFTER the blind tasting of each. Various plated pairings were also available as part of the overall experience. As the event wrapped up, all individual evaluation sheets were collected, to be submitted to AWS HQ as part of the National results. Who knows, this might just be the event that motivates a 2nd chapter member to embark on the AWS Wine Judge Certification course. Everyone enjoyed another great event with anticipation of where OIB's results compared within NTP published results.

New Members
8/7/19 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Dorothy & Bill Rees from Brunswick Plantation, Calabash. Not only are they excited to join the Chapter, they have been wine enthusiasts for quite some time. During a previous residence in CA, they initiated & coordinated a fairly large group of fellow wine enthusiasts, not really tied to AWS. Upon an intro and exploration of AWS benefits, joining was an easy decision. They both understand the behind-the-scenes work that drives chapter success and look forward to assisting in events were feasible. Please extend a welcome to Dorothy & Bill at one of the next few events.

July 2019

New Members
7/19/19 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Dianne & Rich Nevans. They live in Ocean Isle Beach and look forward to participating in the OIB Chapter. Please welcome Dianne & Rich to the Chapter at upcoming events!!

June 2019

OIB Chapter Event - Intro to Alsace Wines

6/23/19 - The most recent OIB Chapter event at Silver Coast Winery, NC, welcomed 7 fantastic white wines from the Alsace region, France's northeastern corner following the Rhine River. After a brief social, members reviewed a very informative intro video covering this region uniqueness, history and offerings. The short video was produced by the The Wine & Spirits Educational Trust (WSET), an organization that provides globally recognized education and qualifications in wines, spirits and sake, for professionals and enthusiasts. Alsace video link;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVNVVgiwZTs

OIB chapter President Stan presented characteristics of each wine during the tastings along with fantastic pairings that are right in line with some refreshing wine options for the upcoming summer months.

Riesling and Pinot Gris represent the majority of the Alsace region’s plantings, Muscat and Gewurztraminer round out the region’s so-called “noble varietals.” Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, Auxerrois, and even Chardonnay are also grown here, as well as Pinot Noir.

Review the Alsace WInes event presentation for specifics, so you can add these to your list of affordable white wines that are highly rated.

New Member
6/21/19 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Bernadette Zitelli. Bernadette is exploring upcoming events at OIB, MB and Shallotte chapters. Please welcome Bernadette to the Chapter at upcoming events!!

May 2019

On May 19, 2019, the Ocean Isle Beach (NC) chapter hosted a "Wines of Our Youth " tasting for 48 members. After a social hour where we sipped Arbor Mist, we sampled seven retro wines paired with throwback appetizers. Fun touches included vintage television commercials and a 70's trivia contest. The prize? A lava lamp! Several members got into the spirit by wearing hippie garb. We ended the evening with a beautiful Amarone to remind us how far our palates have come.

Andre Cold Duck $5
Mateus $7
Blue Nun $8
Boone' Farm Strawberry Hill $4
Reunite Lambrusco $7
Carlo Rossi Burgundy $5
Bellini Chianti $15
Masi Costasera Amarone $52

Submitted by : Heidi DeMuro

New Members
5/8/19 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Phyllis & Jim Baker. They live in Ocean Isle Beach and that makes it very convenient for them attending Chapter events at Silver Coast Winery. Please welcome Phyllis & Jim to the Chapter at upcoming events!!

New Members
5/6/19 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Kathy & Dave Comeau. They live in Brunswick Plantation in Calabash and had attended chapter events as guests, as well as Silver Coast Winery events. Please welcome Kathy & Dave to the Chapter at upcoming events!!

OIB Chapter Offsite Event 4/28 - Antonio's Restaurant

05/01/19 Article submission to AWS National -

The Ocean Isle Beach, NC AWS chapter held its April 28th meeting at Antonio’s Restaurant in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 57 members sipped wine on a beautiful Carolina afternoon catching gentle ocean breezes and viewing picturesque marsh views. (Less than a ¼ mile from the Atlantic Ocean)
Normally our chapter meets at the Silver Coast Winery in OIB, but the OIB AWS Board of Directors sought the feedback of the chapter and after visiting Antonio’s for a tableside wine tasting, determined a Field Trip there would be ideal.

After opening comments and updates from Stan, Antonio personally did the presentation of five mutually agreed upon favorites from his restaurant wine list. Antonio’s personality and many years as a tour guide in Italy, certainly showed through during the tastings, intertwined with some history and great humor.

Da Luca Prosecco –Veneto, Italy – Alc. 10.5% - paired with cheese and crackers - $12 at most stores
2016 Beringer Bourbon Barrel Chardonnay – St. Helena, California - Alc. 14.5% paired with Italian sausage spring rolls - $19 at Total Wine
2017 Pinot Noir Elouan –Oregon – Alc. 13.8% - paired with eggplant rollatini - $20 at Total Wine
2013 Chianti Rufina Riserva DOCG Frescobaldi Nipozzano – Tuscany, Italy - Alc. 13.0 % - paired with cheese filled ravioli – price ranges from $30 to $58- depending on where purchased
2014 Barolo Mebbiolo DOCG Renato Ratti Marcenasco – Tuscany, Italy – Alc. 13.5% - paired with cheese filled meatballs – price ranges from $49 to $90 – depending on where purchased

The evening was very enjoyable as were the wines. We did not rate the wines but on a personal note at several tables, there was consensus about how good the Chardonnay was – even from non-white wine drinkers!

Submitted by: Marie Hill, Dave LaClair and Jan Stocklinski

April 2019

Myrtle Beach Chapter - Update

Excerpt from April 29, 2019 Email

The American Wine Society
Myrtle Beach Chapter
JUNE 2019

The Hall at St. John’s 7:00 pm

3301 33rd Ave. Ext. North
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(Near Broadway at the Beach—same block as the PGA Superstore)

June 6TH     D-Day Wines: Allies vs. Axis
Since it’s the 75th anniversary of D-Day…A French Pinot Gris vs. an Italian Pinot Grigio, an American zinfandel vs. Italian primativo--you get the idea..same grape, different name. Will the Allies win again, or will we be re-writing history? Join us to find out…                                                         .

AWS Members $10 Guests $15
For this inaugural meeting only we will collect payment at the door!!

ACCEPT OUR INVITATION BY:

Replying to this email; MYRBAWS@gmail.com (Please provide name of member(s) and guest(s)
                                                      or
Join via a forthcoming Evite invitation

On Facebook--American Wine Society Myrtle Beach Chapter (Please provide name of member(s) and guest(s)

Please bring at least 2 wine glasses per person!

2019 Events & Tastings

Our tastings are usually the first Thursday evening of the month unless a holiday (such as July when we meet on July 11th).
This is our tentative schedule for 2019—please note some dates may change pending commitments made by St. John’s.
If anyone is interested in presenting please contact Rich or Mary.

July 11th
Aug. 1st
Sept. 5th
Oct. 3rd
Nov. 7th
Dec. 12th (might move to Dec. 5th)

OPEN THAT BOTTLE NIGHT (OTBN)
We are considering having an Open That Bottle Night. Concept is that we all bring in a “good” bottle of wine ($20-$25) and share it at a catered dinner.

Myrtle Beach Contacts:
Chairperson:             Richard Berezinsky   rberezinsky312@gmail.com
Vice Chairperson:   Mary Berezinsky                   MYRBAWS@gmail.com
Treasurer:                   Michael Rogan mmhrogan@hotmail.com
Secretary:                        ?? ??
Special Events:             ?? ??

Myrtle Beach Chapter Revival

4/12/19 - Email Announcement

Hi OIB Members & Chapter Chairs,

Just to pass along some great news.
You will soon have more options to participate in local AWS tasting events.

Mary & Rich Berezinsky have made commitments to start-up the Myrtle Beach Chapter again.

WHAT: AWS Myrtle Beach Chapter Revival
WHEN: Thursday evening June 6th, 7:00 PM
WHERE: The Hall at St John's (near Broadway at the Beach)
3301 33rd Ave Ext. North
Myrtle Beach, SC
http://www.stjohn-mb.org/the-hall-at-st-johns

The MB Chapter tastings will continue on the First Thursday of each month.
With an exception for the July event to be held July 11th because of July 4th holiday.

Although Mary & Rich will continue to participate in other Chapter events, they have extended you & members an ongoing open invitation to participate in any of the MB Chapter meetings. They are currently spreading the word, involving friends & neighbors, along with some local and social media advertising to grow membership. If you are wondering...why a first Thursday night....it was the gracious preference of St John's staff and willingness to accommodate the Chapter events. Maybe a great monthly opportunity for you to have dinner somewhere in Broadway at the Beach and then head over to the MB tasting event.....

During this revival stage, please feel free to contact Mary directly with any plans to attend the June 6th event at her email address mberezinsky@yahoo.com for further details, confirmation & payments.

Given the local area Chapters expansion, there will be some further discussion on possibly creating a combined calendar of events for OIB, Shallotte, Southport & MB as an easy reference for your planning. At a minimum, a link to each website.

From all the local AWS sister Chapters, we wish best success to Mary & Rich and the Myrtle Beach Chapter!

The OIB Board of Directors

March 2019

Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards & Clone Evaluation

3/24/19 - Stephen and Gloria Reustle of Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards made their second visit to the Ocean Isle Beach AWS Chapter. Several members of the chapter are wine club members and the Reustle's have become special friends. In addition to the tasting, the Reustles challenged our palates with fun exercises. We had to discern the six varietals that make up their Matrix blend from a list of twenty white grape varietals. Another exercise involved blending three Pinot Noir clones to find a combination to suit your own tastes. Add in a few raffles, and some delicious pairings, and it all adds up to a fun and educational afternoon.
Wines tasted:
2016 Gruner Veltliner $24
2016 Matrix $24
2016 Pinot Noir $34
2016 Malbec $31
2016 Syrah $32
2014 Rojo Dolce $24

Reustle Vineyard Aerial Drone YouTube

February 2019

Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2018
2/17/19 - The Ocean Isle Beach AWS chapter held a tasting of selected Wine Spectator Top 100 wines at the Silver Coast Winery. Following the business meeting, President Stan Barwikowski showed a video explaining how Wine Spectator magazine selects the Top 100 wines each year. Exhausting but tasty!! The white wines were paired with a selection of olives, fruit salad and English cheddar cheese. Reds were paired with tortellini in red sauce, marinated mushrooms and Italian sausage.

Wines sampled, along with placement on the Top 100 list & price;

#67 2017 Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio ($14.99)
#56 2017 Yalumba Y Series Viognier ($13.99)
#78 2016 Landmark Overlook Chardonnay ($19.99)
#68 2015 Louis Jadot Pinot Noir ($18.99)
#40 2016 Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel ($15.99)
#17 2013 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino ($39.99)
#11 2013 Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva ($31.99)

Link to The Top 100 of 2018

How WS Picks The Top 100

New Member
2/4/19 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new member Joann LaMarca. Joann lives in Ocean Isle Beach and has participated in a previous OIB event. Please welcome Joann to the Chapter at upcoming events!!

January 2019

New Members
1/22/19 - The OIB Chapter welcomes new members Velika & Dimiter Gancheva. They live in the Brunswick Plantation community in Calabash and may also be participating in the Southport and Shallotte Chapters as they become more aware of event dates & themes. Please welcome them to the Chapter at upcoming events!!

Italian / Barolo Vertical Tasting Event
1/20/19 - The Ocean Isle Beach Chapter hosted 60+ members and guests in the barrel room of the Silver Coast Winery. The theme was a Vertical tasting of (6) Gigi Rosso Barolo "Arione" vintages ranging from 2007 to 2012. Pairings were a variety of meats, nuts and chocolate to explore individual preferences. The event explored the Gigi Rosso vineyard history and rich family heritage as well as Stan & Tess Barwikowski personal visit and stay at the winery during a recent trip.
A major thank you to our wine providers & co-hosts Howard (Rusty) & Carol Petrea of Petrea Imports Inc, a small women owned business located in Ocean Isle Beach, NC for 17 years. Petrea Imports specializes in fine Italian wines as importers & wholesalers doing business locally and with the United States Military. The Petrea's are frequent travelers to Italy and used to live there, that brought great personal & educational perspectives for the Barolo Vertical Tasting event.
See recent Chapter events section for presentation specifics and also link to Petrea Imports in Local Area - Wine Stores.

Mary Lou Salter
1/8/19 - With heavy hearts the OIB Chapter recognizes the passing of Mary Lou Salter of Calabash on January 8, 2019. Mary Lou was a GREAT supporter of the OIB Chapter and a long time member since Oct 2012. Please see her Remembrance Page on our website under the more tab in recognition of her contributions to the OIB Chapter family.

December 2018

New Members
12/14/18 - The OIB Chapter welcomes Mary & Ken Decker. The Deckers were members several years ago and now plan to split their time between MA & NC. Please re-welcome them to the Chapter at upcoming events when they are in town!!

AWS Chapter(s) Dinner
12/3/18 - AWS Holiday Wine Dinner Combined Chapter event at Angelo's in Shallotte, NC. Over 65 members & guests from Ocean Isle Beach, Shallotte and Southport Chapters enjoyed each others company during a five-course dinner featuring the main course of Braised Wild Boar. Each course was paired with a unique wine selection and presented by Angelo's Wine Consultant. The staff, food, wine & evening were fantastic and everyone enjoyed.
Angelo’s Pizzeria and Enoteca is an Italian fine dining establishment located in the heart of Shallotte, NC. They offer a wide variety of pizzas, pastas and gourmet Italian dishes that give the authentic Italian feel, especially when paired with one of their famous wines. Angelo's has achieved various awards & accolades within Brunswick County.
Thank you Angelo's & Staff!

November 2018

11/23/18 - Event being held by one of OIB Chapter supporters.

October 2018

New Members
10/25/18 - David (Danny) & Margaret White just joined AWS and the OIB Chapter. They attended as guests at a couple events and just knew they had to join AWS/OIB to continue the fun. They reside in Calabash / Brunswick Plantation and we look forward to their participation in upcoming events. Please welcome them to the Chapter at upcoming events!!

August 2018

New Members
8/20/18 - Wayne & Deborah Neff just joined AWS and the OIB Chapter. They reside in Calabash / Carolina Shores and we look forward to their participation in upcoming events. Please welcome them to the Chapter at the next event!!

National Tasting Project - Portugal

8/19/18 - The Ocean Isle Beach (NC) Chapter hosted 44 members and guests in the barrel room of the Silver Coast Winery. The theme was "National Tasting Project - Portugal". Our evening began time to mingle with a glass of wine. At every seat, the setup committee had placed a copy of the Wine Evaluation Chart along with a plate of assorted meats, cheeses and nuts. The tasting was blind and the group evaluated 8 wines. The meeting opened with a mini lecture by Chapter Chair Stan Barwikowski on how to judge wine - what to look for in appearance, aroma/bouquet, taste/texture, aftertaste and overall impression. Stan gave us ample time to swish, smell, taste and score our wine and then try the wine with different food groups to note the impact of that food (if any). All members had an educational and fun evening! We are looking forward to learning how we as a group "measure up" when the results are released in late October.

Targeted Home Event - Hosted by Jan Stocklinski
for Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards

8/9/18 - A small group of OIB and Southport Chapter members participated in a drill-down educational opportunity presented by Steve & Gloria Reustle. After a welcome & Reustle update from Steve & Gloria, a wine tasting technical data review commenced featuring (3) Reustle Gruner Veltliner's from vintage years 2011, 2012 & 2016 and (3) Reustle Syrah's from vintage years 2010, 2012, & 2014. All wines have achieved top awards in various classifications. A "blind" bottle tasting exercise followed to determine the impact of climate changes on the vintages during a Hot, Warm, Cool growing season. In addition to a fun time filled with great wine, great pairings & fun discussions, the evening wrapped up with a wonderful Reustle RoJo Dulce Red Port. Click here for pictures
Steve & Gloria went on to present their winery business, success & complete wine offerings the next evening to over 75 members/guests at the regularly scheduled Southport Chapter meeting.

July 2018

Chapter Organizational Meeting

7/22/18 - The OIB Chapter Board convened to discuss various topics; Chapter size going forward, Member roles, Revitalized website, Website content & suggestions, Social media accounts, Financials, Future chapter events & potential trips. Overall a great planning discussion, multiple ideas, roadmap for continued success.

June / July 2018

Ocean Isle Beach 2018 - Amateur Wine Competition

The Ocean Isle Beach Chapter recently held its 6th annual amateur wine competition. The competition is held in support of the Museum and Planetarium of Coastal Carolina and receives entries from across the US. This charitable endeavor by the chapter has raised over $5,000 in support of the educational activities of the Museum and Planetarium. This year’s competition attracted wine submissions from 11 states and included varietal, fruit and fortified wines. Judging was held at the Silver Coast Winery. Our panel of judges included AWS-certified wine judges Linda King, Jane Duralia and Rege Duralia, along with Dana Keeler, winemaker at Silver Coast and a wine judge. Tom King helped with back room activities to ensure a smooth flow of wines to the judges. The chapter, as part of its normal monthly tasting, held an award ceremony for all amateur winemakers who could attend the event. Prior to the award ceremony, the chapter used the medal wines as part of a judging exercise, where all members and guests were able to be judges for the day. The exercise required each table to evaluate the 3 wines on their table and properly identify the gold, silver and bronze wine. The table that correctly identified each wine won lottery tickets for each table member. Six local winemakers were able to attend the event and received their award packages. Each winemaker award package included all medals won, certificates for each wine submitted (whether the wine won a medal or not) and a summary of judging comments for each wine. Following the award ceremony, all in attendance were treated to a light meal. Winemakers will also be recognized at Wine Fest 2018, the museum’s major fundraiser. Gold medals were received by Stephen Barwikowski, Brunswick Community College, Luke Capotosto/Barbara Medeiros, Darrell Dail, Chris Hoppe and Jeff Puryear.
Stan Barwikowski
Chapter Chair
RVP-Coastal North & South Carolina

February 2018

Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards

2/25/18 - The Ocean Isle Beach (NC) Chapter held a tasting of wine from Reustle–Prayer Rock Vineyards, held at the Silver Coast Winery. There were 60 members and guests in attendance, making it the largest attended chapter event to date! Prayer Rock Vineyards is located in the Umpqua Valley of Oregon. The vineyards were carefully mapped by Steve Reustle, owner and winemaker, to ensure that each variety, clone and rootstock matched the diverse hillside soils and unique micro-climates. Using only fruit from the estate, winemaking is kept to small lots preserving the distinctiveness of each varietal and clone. In 2010, Reustle– Prayer Rock Vineyards was named the 2010 Small Winery of the Year. Since then they have continued to garner critical praise culminating with Wine Press Northwest magazine naming them the 2017 Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year. Our tasting consisted of seven award winning wines. Many of these wines have won double gold and Best in Class awards. Guests were greeted upon arrival with a glass of Matrix, a yet to be released white blend. Our members raved about all the wine presented.
2016 Sauvignon Blanc $23
2014 Gruner Veltliner “Smaragd” 32
2015 Pinot Noir Reserve 42
2016 Malbec 31
2016 Syrah Reserve 42
2014 Tempranillo Reserve 42
2014 Rojo Dulce 24