Good people of northwest Europe, Greetings! I will be home again soon, and hopefully home again safe and sound...and thereafter I shall consume ample amounts of the greatest gift of mother Earth, grape juice, and its greatest expression, wine. I can't wait. Better yet, I can't wait to celebrate the end of a nearly five month hiatus from this greatest of pleasures. Even better still, I feel compelled to celebrate this momentous occasion with friends. That being said, I hope to convince you all to find time in your busy schedules to enjoy a weekend of vinous delight as Mandy and I make our way up to Holland to see the sights of A-dam and the rest of Utrecht we haven't been lost in-LOL! Weekends that work best for us are the 14th and 15th, or the 21st/22nd. It can be a three-day weekend for us, a four-day, a one-day--anything works; I'll be on vacation!
A theme need not be in order; we just want to get together and see familiar faces again and hopefully meet new ones. Ronnie, Stevie, if things get packed, is there a possibility to make reservations at an accomodating restaurant, someplace we can all let loose and enjoy some great wine? Well, hope to hear from you all soon. Until then...

jeff

I'm game! Depending on with how many we end up: Restaurant "Chez Cage" is open for business...

fear, the only weekend i could be in utrecht is the 7th mai

Hey, I'm going to be at the Wine Australia event at Bloomendaal an zee on the 23rd May. There is a trade and consumer tasting. I will hopefully catch you guys there!
pete

How's the weekend of the 21st/22nd sounding? Perhaps even a weekday Monday night soiree with Mr. Howland? Let me know...Tsunami, sorry to hear that. But no worries. We WILL meet again soon; this I promise. Hope you are doing well!

The weekend of 21/22 is the best option for me. Looking forward to it!

Peter: I'll check if I can make it and let you know soon.

Works for me as well. I'll try to make it to Bloemendaal as well, Peter!

Well, it sounds like the 21/22nd option is the unanimous winner. Very much looking forward to this. Stevie, should I make the assumption that this will go down in A-dam, at your place or at a restaurant? I need know whether to make hotel reservations there or in Utrecht. If in A-dam, where would you suggest we stay? Someplace close to Chez Cage, if able. Let us know.

Pfalzman, it'll be Amsterdam. I'd be happy to cook dinner for the group, and we'll have proper stemware to boot. I live in the western part of the city, but as Amsterdam really is just a big village that means about 10 minutes from by cab / tram from the Dam Square in the heart of town. Utrecht is just 30 minutes by train, so that's an option for you as well. Email me should you want more detailed info!
Also, if you'd like me to reserve tickets for the Australian tasting where Peter will be pouring: I can take care of that as well. Peter, looking forward to meeting you! Will you be in The Netherlands just for that day?

Stevie,
I will be there from early am on Monday, Monday night, and leaving noon Tues. I will be over there looking for an importer. Hope we can catch up.
pete

Peter, we'll see each other on Monday - just send in my invitation.

Stevie,

I'll be sending you an e-mail shortly. We'll be looking to stay in A-dam in a nice hotel close to where you're at, someplace cozy, comfortable and modestly priced. But a really nice hotel will work too depending on price. I'll only be at the current e-mail you have for me for two more days-today and tomorrow. Send a courtesy copy of whatever info you can gather to my former e-mail address, the one that starts 'ez...'. Thanks in advance. Gotta jet!

Pfalzman94: what a great offline it was - superb wine, but even better company...and you do realise you were the official TN-writer of the evening? You'll have to start the thread in TNs!

Peter, I'm truely sorry but I just couldn't make it today...I hope you had a good time, and should you've found a Dutch importer: let me know - I'd really like to taste your wines.

Gang,

Now that I'm fully recouped from a long, long week of fine dining, fine wining, and perfect company (and perhaps too much walking and not enough sleeping), the time has come to post the TN's from the A-dam OL at Stevie's...check out the TN section under "Amsterdam Slam. 16 Wines. 5 People. 0 Leftovers." (The last part's a stretch, but it demands attention.)

Jeff, I had a great time as well. Next time your place I would say. Theme???? Old rieslings and let's try to beat our record of 16 wines.