Creating the first Toast of Taos

We had three months to put Toast of Taos--its dinners, its gallery tour, its golf tournament, its auction--together. The first task was recruiting.

First we focused on Art D'Vine, our art gallery tour. We planned to recruit a dozen or so galleries, restaurants, and wineries to participate. In each gallery we would place a winemaker and a restaurant to offer food and wine tastings. Most of the galleries were eager to participate, and the restaurants were also supportive. Then came the wineries, and the beginning of a voyage of discovery.

Like most people who liked wine but knew very little about it, I had a low opinion of any wine produced outside California, France, Italy, or Spain. I had tasted southwest wine a decade before and been unimpressed. I did not look forward to tasting more southwest wine. Boy, was I in for a shock.

I first visited New Mexico wineries. I started close to home, visiting Black Mesa, Vivac, Gruet, Santa Fe, Corrales, Milagro, and other wineries in central and northern New Mexico. I met fascinating people who had become winemakers, usually leaving behind another profession. And I tasted some extraordinary wine. My eyes started to open. The winemakers were hesitant, but they began to share the excitement I was beginning to feel about Toast of Taos, and many signed on.

To find out about our event, go to www.toastoftaos.com.

Next time... the voyage of discovery continues in Colorado and Texas.

The beginning of Toast of Taos

Toast of Taos began as a vision in the mind of Holy Cross Hospital Foundation Board members. In March, 2006, we were asked to take over the Southwest Wine Competition. The Competition had moved from one town to the next for many years. It needed a permanent home and a sponsoring organization that would treat it with tender loving care.

We were skeptical at first. Our mission is to support Taos's Holy Cross Hospital and the health of Taos County residents. We do this by raising money to buy cutting-edge equipment and to purchase medical care and equipment for needy children. How could we raise money with a wine competition? As we thought and thought, we came up with ideas. How about an art gallery tour? How about some wine dinners? How about a golf tournament? And what would we name this new event? TOAST OF TAOS!!!

We set the time (mid-August 2006) and the venues for the event, and we went to work.

Next...more on the creation of the First Toast of Taos.