Every year since 1998, I have been to The Great Wine Seminar.

Why? Simply put, it is the BEST wine event of nearly two dozen that I participate in each year. Many of the greatest wines I have tasted in my life have been from the past decade of attending this specific event. They are billed as “once-in-a-lifetime tastings” and they deliver on that promise.

The wines are of impeccable provenance typically directly from the source, the winemakers and owners show up to present their wines and provide great insights, the moderators are famous wine personalities and are open to questions and stress learning.

This event is for those looking to expand their knowledge and tasting experience with some of the finest wines in the world -- served year in and year out. I don’t miss this one! The Saturday night dinner is always incredible with a guest chef flown in for the evening.

I am a very satisfied guest and post this, because I enjoy meeting folks from various online wine Forums. If you only travel to do one extraordinary wine event this year, it should be this one! Read through the 2008 lineup and at the end there is an email address for the organizer.

This is always sold out by the end of February, so if you are even considering it, get in touch with Arlette and get on the list NOW. I’ll see you there!

Roy Hersh



Presenting

THE 23nd ANNUAL GREAT WINE SEMINAR


Clive Coates M.W.
Moderator

Sponsored by L’ecole du Vin
Arlette G. Cataldo, CFP, President


April 12-13, 2008

Marriott West Palm Beach
1001 Okeechobee Boulevard
West Palm Beach, Fl. 33401


Clive Coates, M.W.,

CLIVE COATES MW (Master of Wine) is one of the world's leading wine authorities. Coates' lifetime of distinguished activity in the field has been recognised by the French government, which awarded him the Chevalier de l'Ordre du Mérite Agricole, and he's also been honoured with a "Rame d'Honneur" by Le Verre et L'Assiette, the Ruffino/Cyril Ray Memorial Prize for his writings on Italian wine, and the title of "Wine Writer of the Year" for 1998/1999 in the Champagne Lanson awards. His numerous books are considered some of the best ever written on the subject of wines and in particular the history of the vineyards. For more than twenty years his independent fine wine magazine “THE VINE” has been read by oenophiles world wide.


Saturday, March 17th, 2007

Registration and Breakfast

8:30 – 9:15 AM



Le Pavillon Ermitage

Maison M. Chapoutier

Rhone. -Syrah

9:30-11:30 AM

Presented by Michel Chapoutier Proprietor & Winemaker

From vines averaging 65 years in age this hermitage sets a standard for the wines. Michel took over the winemaking in 1990 with a burst of astonishing wines year after year. This monumental wine boasts extraordinary richness and clarity that at first taste will absolutely stun you with its brilliance. Michel himself will walk us through a history of Chapoutier’s presence in the Rhone from 1808 to the present day while we delight over these wines all coming from the Maison.


Lunch on your own
11:30 – 1:00 PM


1:00-3:00 PM

Chateau Angelus SA

Saint-Emilion

Presented by: Mme Coralie de Boüard

A scant kilometre from the famous bell-tower at Saint Emilion, on its renowned south facing "pied de côte" (foot of the hill) site, Château Angélus is the story of a passionate involvement of the last four generations of the Boüard de Laforest family. Coralie will talk about the vines averaging 30 years in age we will taste the wines going back to 1988.All of the wines originating from the Chateau cellars plus an added bonus of three vintages of La Fleur de Bouard.



Corton Clos-Rognet

Grand Crus

Domaine Meo-Camuzet

Burgundy
3:30 – 5:00 PM

Presented by

Jean-Nicolas Meo

It does not get more blue-chip than this Domaine! “At Vosne-Romanée, in the heart of the most prestigious vineyards in Burgundy, we have the good fortune to work 'terroirs' which have been known throughout the world for centuries. To be worthy of them and to remain loyal to them, our estate has developed a know-how inspired by tradition: we transcend ancestral methods so as to express the quintessence of each appellation.” The Domaine boasts four Grand Crus and nine premier Crus we will have the privilege of Jean Nicolas himself presiding over the tasting. Here, again all of the wines will come directly from the Domaine cellars.


Gourmet Dinner

7:30 – 11:00 PM

Brad Kelly, Chef de Cuisine

Chef Brad needs no introduction as our returning Chef. It is simply not fair that we get to have him and his team prepare for us once more. From Lautrec, Le Bec Fin and La Cote Basque are just a small past of his resume.. We are honored and lucky to have them prepare this year’s gourmet dinner once again. Sous Chef Jeremy Voytish and Micah Robinson sommelier will again be assisting with preparations, decanting and guiding us throughout the dinner.


Sunday March, 18th 2006

Le Domaine des Baumard

Loire Valley

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Presented by:

Florent Baumard

Winemaker & Proprietor

Quarts de Chaume and Savennieres I can not chose which one I like better- so we will be having both! With a criss-cross tasting Florent will take us through the Domaines wines horizontally followed by two outstanding verticals back to 1945. Florent is unquestionably one of the worlds greatest winemakers and with the help of Frederick Ek ProprietorEx Cellars Wine Agencies we will be dazzled by this spectacular “once in a lifetime” tasting of these wines.


FOR REGISTRATION DETAILS, PLEASE CONTACT ARLETTE CATALDO:

abcataldo@comcast.net

Wow, Roy, that sounds awesome. I'm really making it a point to attend this event at some point in the not-too-distant future. This year isn't going to work out, but I'll find a way soon!

That would be hard to top, thanks for posting this.

Wow.

PH

If any of you are going to come along, please let me know and we'll have a mini offline within the confines of the weekend!

I've already got a wine trip booked for April, so will miss this one with regrets. It sounds incredible. Roy, fwiw......what's the cost to attend?

PH

For the 4 events mentioned it is $1395. There is an optional dinner on Saturday night with a great if not hedonisitic meal and wines to die for. This is one crazy weekend and very much worth every penny and yes, I know it is not cheap (to say the least) but definitely worthwhile and good value for money.

This might be a good example of the maxim, "You get what you pay for." Look forward to hearing your report.

PH

Roy, I can't help noticing that there is no mention of port in this thread.

Bman,

Pretty amazing eh?

Last year I had just shy of 620 TNs on Port, another 200+ for Madeira and Douro wines. That remains a fraction of my overall year's tasting experience and I am NOT including my professional judging at competitions, where we taste 140-150 wines per day.

I think that puts you into the running for the Iron Liver Award!

quote:

Originally posted by Roy Hersh:
For the 4 events mentioned it is $1395. There is an optional dinner on Saturday night with a great if not hedonisitic meal and wines to die for. This is one crazy weekend and very much worth every penny and yes, I know it is not cheap (to say the least) but definitely worthwhile and good value for money.

Roy, from what I see on the registration, the dinner is included in the $1395 but you can buy extra tickets for $250.
What is optional is the Friday DRC tasting of 20 wines (4 vintages, all the reds but not RC) for $1195

Orlando,

You are correct. Optional it is ... but already 100% full.

OTOH, LAST CHANCE: Less than a handful of available seats left for the main event.

Looks interesting. I hadn't even heard of this before I saw the thread today, and it is right in my own backyard.

The list has me drooling. Maybe I can save some money so I could plan to go next year.

quote:

Originally posted by mpls wine guy:

The list has me drooling.

That is exactly how I have always had you pictured.

Fish in a barrel. Dagnabbit.

PH