Toast of Taos

Southwest Wine Competition results "Excellent"

2009-06-30T17:42:00.001-07:00

2009 Southwest Wine Competition is now complete!!! Six judges from 4 states met on June 24 and 25 to judge 146 wines from Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. Here is a summary of the results from Competition Leader (and International Wine Master) Jay Bileti:

We judged 146 wines. There were an astonishing 104 medals awarded; 71% of the wines entered were recognized. There were 57 Bronze medals (39%), 39 Silver medals (27%) and 5 Gold medals (3%). These are amazing results. The judging panel was comprised of six very experienced wine judges, all of which with extensive international wine competition credentials. The panel was instructed to judge the wines in this competition on a world class scale. That is to say that we did not establish some arbitrary lesser scale to reflect a lesser growing region; the panel judged the wines on the same scale and using the same criteria they would for any world class wine. The number of medals awarded indicate that very high quality and consistent wines are being produced in the southwest.

Considering the large percentage of awards it is tempting to conclude that the judging panel was “loose” in its evaluations, or overly generous. I can assure you that is not the case. These experienced professionals studied each wine with a critical eye – the wines were simply, as a group, excellent.

The final results will be posted at the Toast of Taos website on July 1. Come to Toast of Taos to taste some award-winning wines!! The events run July 2-July 11, and tickets range from $25-$300.

Charity Auctions Stuffed with Goodies

2009-06-29T18:29:00.000-07:00

The Toast of Taos auctions are going to be GREAT!!!

This year we have four auctions for Toast of Taos, and the featured goodies are incredible. There are complete catalogs online at http://www.toastoftaos.com/auction.html. Here are a few samples of the goodies:

Original oil painting by Ken Daggett: Ice on the Shore

Original sculpture by Steven Gootgeld: Love’s Perspective

Sterling and Rhodochrocite Bracelet by Mercedes Montoya

Case of Loring Wine Company 2007 Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard

The auctions will be held July 2 at the Sabroso Dinner, July 3 at the Lambert's Dinner, July 9 at the Stakeout Dinner, and July 11 at the El Monte Celebration. Review the auction catalogs, check out the menus, and buy your tickets at http://www.toastoftaos.com/.

Toast of Taos menus are mouthwatering

2009-06-29T18:24:00.000-07:00

Greetings, food and wine lovers.

Several Toast of Taos restaurants have put together the menus for their dinners, including the wine pairings, and they are now posted online at http://www.toastoftaos.com/events.html. The posted menus are for:

Sabroso Restaurant, July 2
Graham's Grille Restaurant, July 2
Old Blinking Light Restaurant, July 2
Lambert's Restaurant, July 3
Stakeout Restaurant, July 9
Old Blinking Light Restaurant, July 9

Take a look, and may the drooling begin!!! Be sure to get your tickets before they sell out!

Toast of Taos Poster Artwork SELLS!!!

2009-05-28T14:31:00.000-07:00

News flash!!!

The original painting for 2009 Toast of Taos--Kit Lynch's Happy Harvest--sold today. At a reception unveiling the new digital mammogram machine for Holy Cross Hospital, two hospital pharmacy directors--John Hutchinson and Tamara Brown--fell in love with the painting and bought it!

Kit Lynch, the incredible artist, is donating 40% of the purchase price to Holy Cross Hospital. Thank you , Kit, and thank you John and Tamara!!! Take a look at the Toast of Taos poster created from this image at http://www.toastoftaos.com/. Kit shows at Wilder Nightingale Fine Art in Taos, NM.

By the way, Toast of Taos proceeds this year will help to pay for this new mammogram machine. It is the most sophisticated in the state. The radiation dose resulting from a mammogram is the lowest of any mammogram machine, and it is fully upgradable as the technology for breast imaging progresses.

Help us pay for this incredible piece of equipment by coming to 2009 Toast of Taos!!! Check it out at http://www.toastoftaos.com/.

Argentina Wines Come to Taos

2009-05-07T18:15:00.001-07:00

A great wine and food pairing: The Sabroso Dinner!!!

Gaucho Imports in bringing two exciting Argentina wineries to Toast of Taos. This year we are having a wine dinner at Sabroso Restaurant for the first time. This restaurant is near Arroyo Seco, a few miles northeast of Taos. The setting is beautiful and features a large outdoor patio. Chef Tim Woolridge is know for his fantastic meats. The wine dinner starts at 6 pm on July 2 and also includes an auction.

What better kind of wine to pair with Sabroso food than bold, vivid Argentina wines? This year, the Sabroso dinner will feature the wines of Luigi Bosca.

In addition, Gaucho Imports is bringing Baguala wines to the Art D'Vine Gallery Tour on July 10. This year 19 galleries will be open that night from 5-9 pm. Each gallery will feature sumptuous food from the best restaurants in Taos and great wine. Tickets are $35 each and can be ordered at http://www.toastoftaos.com/.

Poster Competition is Spectacular

2009-05-07T17:54:00.001-07:00

2009 Toast of Taos is almost here!!

Our festivities kicked off in March, when we unveiled the newest Toast of Taos Commemorative Poster at a big reception at San Geronimo Lodge. Over 100 art lovers showed up to sip Guadalupe Vineyards Riesling and Gewurstaminer and the glorious red wines of Vivac Winery. Almost all the artists who entered the competition greeted fans and showed their work.

This year 27 artists entered all kinds of art work, including photos, jewelry, sculpture, and paintings. Some of the names include Peggy McGivern, Ann Cole, Stephen Kilborn, Shelbee Mares, Laurie Phelps, Pat Woodall, and Kit Lynch, just to name a few. The only requirements for entry were that the piece have something to do with wine and that the artist come from the Taos area.

Judges evaluated the entries for artistic merit, visual appeal, regional representation, and wine
focus. The top two images--Happy Harvest by Kit Lynch and Ready and Waiting by Ann Cole were both so terrific and different that we decided to make posters of each. They are available for sale at http://www.toastoftaos.com/.

Come meet all the artists and see their works at this year's Toast of Taos Summer of Love Wine Tasting on July 4 at KTAO Solar Center in Taos. You can get tickets at http://www.toastoftaos.com/.

Another Great Wine Dinner Menu

2008-06-26T14:29:00.001-07:00

Greetings, Wine, Food, and Art Fans!!

News Flash!! We have just received the menu for the wine dinner at Joseph's Table, one of the most famous restaurants in Taos. This dinner is July 9 at 7 pm, and promises to be phenomenonal!!

First Course:
Drunken Shrimp, Crab Cake, or Tuna Tartar (served with Casa Rondena Winery Viognier)

Second Course:
Kale Salad, Manchego, or Carpaccio (served with Casa Rondena Winery Calvin Clarion)

Third Course
Vegetarian (Chef’s Choice), Duck Leg Confit, Dijon Crusted Salmon, or Petite Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish Crème and Sweet Potato Mash (served with D. H. Lescombes Limited Edition Petite Sirah)

Dessert Course
Chocolate Quenelles (served with Casa Rondena Winery Calvin Animante Port Style wine).

Tickets are $100. Go to http://www.toastoftaos.com/ to buy tickets to this sumptuous feast!!

Stakeout Wine Dinner Menu--11 Wines from 3 states!!

2008-06-22T18:11:00.000-07:00

More mouth-watering information is here: the menu for Stakeout Grill and Bar Wine Dinner at 7 pm on Thursday, July 10. The Stakeout location is exquisite with glorious views and terrific sunsets. Host Mauro Bettini takes very good care of his guests, and his food is superb, as are his wine and food pairings. Anyway, onto the menu:

CROSTINI AL SALMONE
House Smoked Wild Sockeye Salmon on Rustic Bread with Crème Fresh and Caviar

D.H. Lescombes, Brut (New Mexico)
D.H. Lescombes, Imperial Kir (New Mexico)

ANTIPASTO DI MARE
Cold Seafood marinated in extra virgin Olive Oil Mediterranean Style

The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2007 (Colorado)
Oak Hills, Seyval Blanc 2007 (Oklahoma)

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STAKEOUT SALAD
Mixed Selected Organic Greens tossed with Our Vinaigrette dressing

Reeder Mesa, Riesling 2007 (Colorado)
Granite Creek, Dry Rose (Arizona)

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WILD MUSROOM RISOTTO
Served with Pancetta, Porcini Mushrooms, Fresh Herbs and Parmesan Cheese

Luna Rossa, Nini 2005 (New Mexico)
Sonoita, Pinot Noir 2005 (Arizona)

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SORBET BELLISSIMO

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LE CARNI
Filet & Veal Involtini
A combination of a most tender Filet of Beef served with a Green Peppercorn Sauce, and a Free Range Veal Roll served with a light wine reduction Sauce

D.H. Lescombes, Cabernet Sauvignon Limited Release 2005 (New Mexico)
Tierra Encantada, Merlot 2004 (New Mexico)

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CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE
Served warm with molten center and Raspberry Sauce

The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, Divinity 2003 (Colorado)

The winemakers will present their wines, and the pairings will be extraordinary. Tickets for this amazing sensory experience are $100 per person. To order tickets, go to http://www.toastoftaos.com/ or call (575) 751-5811.

Bravo Dinner Menu

2008-06-22T13:09:00.000-07:00

Are you ready to drool? Take a peak at the menu for the wine dinner at Bravo! Fine Wine Food & Spirits on July 5. The winemakers will be at the dinner to present their wines. The chef is a master, and this dinner will be extraordinary!!

Cocktails and Canapes Passed
Canyon Wind Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Grand Valley, Colorado

Petit Jambonneau au Poulet
Ancho chili mushroom duxelle stuffed chicken with black peppercorn jus
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006, Canon City, CO

Broiled Baby Sea scallops with lobster butter Hollandaise
served with jicama cilantro salad
Canyon Wind Chardonnay 2005 Grand Valley, Colorado

Grilled Sweetbreads on breaded eggplant, Yellow Tomato Lime Salsa
Two Rivers Winery, Chateau Deux Fleuves Vineyards Syrah 2006, Grand Junction, CO
Concetta Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Castlerock, CO

Seared Salmon Medallions with apple pear mint compote
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2007, Canon City, CO
Concetta Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon, Castlerock, CO

Creamy Mezcal Flan with Sugared Plantain Flambee
Nuyaka Creek Winery Oklahoma Petite Berry

Tickets are $100 per person, and the dinner starts at 7 pm. This is going to be great!!! To buy your tickets, go to http://www.toastoftaos.com/ or call (575) 751-5811.

Music Lineup for Toast of Taos Kickoff

2008-06-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Toast of Taos Headquarters.

Here's the latest!! We have a great musician lineup for our Toast of Taos Kickoff at KTAO Solar Center, 1-5 pm, July 4. Here are the acts that will perform:

Rick De Stefano, singer and keyboardist.

Billy Archuleta & Doctor Lorenzo Trujillo--traditional New Mexican music

Lewis, DonCon and Turnmire--Latin-Blues-Jazz-Dance Groove-Jam

Mariachi Leon featuring John Archuleta

Paul Jones, flutist. Paul plays hand-carved Native American style flutes he makes himself.

Winemakers from Colorado, Oklahoma, and New Mexico will provide tastes of their wines.

Wrappers, Pizanos, and Don Fernando's will provide wonderful food. Come taste wine (maybe buy a bottle or two to take home), enjoy great munchies, and treat yourself to some terrific music by some of our best!!

Tickets are $25. Go to http://www.toastoftaos.com/ to buy yours today.

Great art and wine at Toast of Taos Auction

2008-06-11T14:49:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest on the Toast of Taos auction.

Many wonderful artists have stepped forward to donate art to our 2008 auction. A big thanks to these terrific, talented folks for supporting their hospital and their community.

Keep an eye on our web site for a new auction page with images of art and wine donations. Here are a few of this year's donors and some images.

Jerry Mann--painter

Pat Woodall--painter

Jim Wagner--painter

Brad Malone--Photographer

Jd Challenger--painter

Steven Gootgeld--sculptor

Geraint Smith--photographer

Jerry Rea--photographer

Peter Schwartz--photographer

Robert MacGregor--painter

Judy Cockburn--jewelry maker

Sigrid Long--jewelry maker

Shelbee Mares--painter

Michael Carter--painter

Rory Wagner--painter

The auction will also include many sets of award-winning wine.

The auction will be live and will be part of the wine dinner at El Monte Sagrado Resort and Spa from 7-10 pm on July 12. Click this link to buy your tickets today.

Keep your eye on our website for the newest additions to our auction.

Colorado Comes on Board in a Big Way

2008-06-11T13:48:00.000-07:00

Greetings, wine fans!!!

This year many wonderful wineries from Colorado will be joining us for Toast of Taos. I have tasted the wine of every one of these wineries, and I can say without hesitation that you will enjoy being introduced to their wines.

Here are the Colorado wineries that will be at this year's events:

Canyon Wind Cellars from Palisade. This lovely winery in the heart of Colorado wine country boasts a whole range of wonderful wines. I recommend the Petit Verdot.

Concetta Cellars from Castlerock. This small winery has a great Syrah and Cab. Winemaker Jay Spence also hosts a wine radio show on Wednesday at 6 pm on the Castlerock radio station.

Reeder Mesa from Whitewater. This small winery is hard to find but worth the trip!!! They boast a great Riesling and Cab

Turquoise Mesa from Broomfield. Winemakers Tom and Mary Joan Bueb are wonderful hosts and make some terrific Syrah.

Two Rivers Winery from Grand Junction. This winery is one of the biggest of Colorado. Their tasting room and party facilities are lovely, and their staff is welcoming and helpful. Plus their wines are wonderful.

Winery at Holy Cross Abbey from Canon City. Matt and Sally Cookson and Larry Oddo have supported Toast of Taos since we started. Winemaker Matt came from California wineries in 2001, and Holy Cross wine has gotten better each year. My special favorite is their Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, but the Cab Franc, Merlot Reserve, and Divinity Port are also to die for!!!

All of these winemakers will participate in either the July 4 kickoff or the July 11 gallery tour. Several will also be featured in the wine dinners. I will post the dinner menus in the next week or two on http://www.toastoftaos.com/.

Join us in welcoming these winemakers to Taos and in experiencing their great wines!!

Wine Class will be FANTASTIC!!!

2008-06-11T13:37:00.000-07:00

The Toast of Taos Wine Class promises to be a fascinating experience this year.

On Tuesday, July 8, from 6-8 pm, Matt Cookson, winemaker for Winery of Holy Cross Abbey in Canon City, Colorado, will join Howard Fox, winemaker for Casa Rondena Winery in Albuquerque, NM, to discuss the differences between New Mexico and Colorado wine. The event will be at Bravo! Restaurant in Taos.

I know and admire both of these winemakers, and I love their wines. Neither gentleman is a shrinking violet. This class should be a blast!! In last year's class, Bravo! provided a plate of delectable munchies, we tasted some terrific wines, and we learned a great deal. This year, the class should be even better!!!

The tickets for this class are $25, a STEAL!!! Hit this link to buy your ticket today!!

I will definitely be there, and I am encouraging everyone I know to attend. Don't miss it!!!

Arizona Wineries are coming to 2008 Toast of Taos.

2008-06-11T13:30:00.001-07:00

I have a terrific announcement!!!

For the first time, two Arizona wineries are coming to Toast of Taos!!

I had the great pleasure of visiting Arizona wineries in April, and two wineries agreed to make the LONG trip to Taos to give us a taste of their terrific wines and to see what Toast of Taos is all about!!!

Fran Lightly, winemaker of Sonoita Winery near Elgin, Arizona, will be in a gallery during the Art D'Vine Gallery Tour on July 11. His wine will also be featured in the dinner at the Stakeout Restaurant on July 11. Fran will be at the dinner and will be happy to tell you more about Sonoita Vineyards, its wines, and its rich history.

Julie and Kelsey Hoult of Granite Creek Vineyards will also be in a gallery during the Art D'Vine Gallery Tour on July 11. Several restaurants are also considering their wines for a wine dinner. Be sure to try their wines. They are all organic and quite good!

Join us at this year's Toast of Taos!! Click on this link to buy tickets.

Toast of Taos Poster Competition

2008-02-12T15:05:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest from 2008 Toast of Taos.

A call has gone out to Taos artists to submit original artwork for the 2008 Poster Competition. Last year we got over a dozen entries from such art luminaries as Rich Nichols and Ed Sandoval. The picture to the right features Lee Heartwell and her beautiful 2007 entry.

The 2007 prize winners last year included Leigh Gusterson, Stephen Kilborn, and Mark Kemper. See below for the winning images (they are available at http://www.toastoftaos.com/. Click on the merchandise link).

This year the entry deadline is February 29, and we have already received several entries from terrific Taos artists, including Bob Cooley, Michelle Chrisman, Inger Jirby, and Peggy McGivern. Many more should be coming in during the next two weeks.

Judging will occur during the first week of March, and the winner--as well as the other entries--will be unveiled at an artist reception on March 29 from 2-4 pm at San Geronimo Lodge in Taos. Come join us, meet the artists, and see the gorgeous art.

Be sure to keep an eye on http://www.toastoftaos.com/, where the winning images will be posted soon after the reception. Posters and other merchandise featuring the winning images will also be available for sale on the site, at Toast of Taos events, and at the office of Holy Cross Hospital Foundation in Taos.

Toast of Taos is coming! Mark your calendar today for our big wine festival July 4-July 12.

2008 Toast of Taos is coming!

2008-01-31T16:29:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the 2008 Toast of Taos blog!!

Planning for 2008 is well underway. Here are the 2008 event highlights:

1. Southwest Wine Competition on June 25 and 26, featuring wines from Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Arizona. Last year 197 wines were entered, and we expect even more this year.

I toured some great Arizona wineries in late 2007: Callaghan, Canelo Hills, Dos Cabeza, Granite Creek, Keeling-Schaefer, Kokopelli, Rancho Rossa, Sonoita, and Village of Elgin, to name a few. What a wonderful group of people and a diverse, fascinating group of wines. Everything from the immense reds of Callaghan to the delicate lovely organic wines of Granite Creek, to the multitudinus wines of Sonoita. I hope to see several of these wines in the competition, and several of the winemakers at Toast of Taos.

2. Wonderful wine dinners:

July 5: Bravo! Restaurant

July 9: Joseph's Table Restaurant

July 10: Stakeout Grill and Bar

July 12: El Monte Sagrado Resort and Spa

Joseph's Table is the new addition this year. Owner and chef Joseph Wrede is renowned for his fascinating, exquisite food, and for his excellent wine pairings. Also, the restaurant is located in the La Fonda de Taos Hotel, a beautiful old historical hotel in the heart of Taos.

3. Art D'Vine Gallery Tour on July 11. This tour will feature over 20 galleries, restaurants, and wineries. Several galleries are new to the tour, and restaurants and wineries sign up every day. Keep an eye on http://www.toastoftaos.com/ to see who comes on board each day.

4. Kick off Wine Tasting of the Southwest on July 4. This is our biggest wine tasting. We anticipate over 20 wineries will offer tastings of their wines and will show off their medals. In addition, we will provide some terrific munchies (included in the ticket price) and lots of great music. Last year we heard everything from traditional New Mexican folk songs to powerful rock music to harp pieces to soft rock ballads. There's something for everyone at this great event.

2008 Toast of Taos will be loads of fun. Plus, all profits raised will go to help purchase new digital fluoroscopic and x-ray equipment for Holy Cross Hospital in Taos.

Come join us and enjoy the best the Southwest has to offer!!! Tickets will soon be available on our web site, and if you want to purchase some early, send me an email at strigg@taoshospital.org or call 575 751-5811.

Keep an eye on this blog as I pass on the latest developments as we get ready for 2008 Toast of Taos!!!!

It's Time for 2007 Toast of Taos!

2007-06-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

Now that you know how the first Toast of Taos was created, it's time to tell you about 2007 Toast of Taos, which is now only a few weeks away!

The last several months have been filled with our dance: the Mad Preparation Scramble.

We have put together the Bubbles and Balls Golf Tournament, including ordering all kinds of giveaways for the goodie bags, as well as beautiful trophies, champagne, and golf balls. The tournament includes a blind draw scramble on June 30 and a skins game on June 29. Deadline to enter is June 23.

We have created an exciting Kick-Off Wine Tasting of the Southwest. We have recruited over a dozen southwestern wineries, who will offer tastings of their terrific wines. We've arranged food, a display of the art entered in the poster competition and the wine bottle labels entered in the Southwest Wine Competition, and entertainment from New Mexico musicians ranging from rock to folk to classical. The event will be capped by the announcement of the winners of the Southwest Wine Competition. Come ogle the medals, dance in the sun, taste the juice of life, and join the fun on July 4 at the Taos Solar Center.

We have recruited galleries, wineries, and restaurants for our two big Art D'Vine Gallery tours. Each tour features at least 16 galleries, and in each gallery a winemaker and restaurant will offer delectable tastings. To put together these tours, we arrange liquor licenses and lodging for the winemakers, design and purchase beautiful Toast of Taos wine glasses, create maps and partner lists, and help all the partners coordinate.

We have arranged 4 exciting wine dinners on July 6, 7, 11, and 13. For each dinner, we have requested wines from dozens of southwestern winemakers. The restaurant chefs and sommoliers sample the wines and make their selections. Then the restaurants design the dinner menus while we coordinate delivery of the requested wines. Keep an eye on our website for menus from Stakeout Grill and Bar, Bravo! Fine Wine Food Spirits, De La Tierra at El Monte Sagrado, and Doc Martins at Taos Inn, which are being developed as I write this.

We have put together a concluding art and wine auction featuring tastings of great southwestern wine, delectable hors d'oeuvres, the incredible beauty of El Monte Sagrado, and a terrific selection of Taos art and southwest wine. Come mingle, sip, munch and celebrate.

Check out www.toastoftaos.com to learn more about our terrific event.

The First Toast of Taos

2007-05-16T19:39:00.000-07:00

Toast of Taos is HERE!

Finally the day arrived--August 6, 2006. We had researched and acquired event licenses for the winemakers. We had ordered glasses, windsocks, wristbands, posters, brochures, ornaments, tshirts, golf balls, umbrellas, and countless other items. We had scheduled and trained over 100 volunteers. Hundreds of bottles of wine had arrived for the competition. The judges were here and setting up the competition. The golf tournament goodie bags were stuffed. We were ready.

The next few days were a magical blur of events. The judges awarded an incredible 133 medals to entered wines. Being a natural skeptic, I questioned the high number, and the response was "These wines deserved these medals. We were all surprised at the great quality of the wines we tasted."

The Art D'Vine gallery tour was a smash hit. Hundreds wandered the streets with their wine glasses, stopping at this gallery to admire art and munch delicacies, stopping at that gallery to try some wine and buy a bottle, stopping at the other gallery to talk to an artist giving a demonstration there. Everyone was giggling and wore a big smile as the windsocks marking participating galleries fluttered in the cool evening breeze.

The wine dinners were magical. Each restaurant shaped the menu around the wines--5 different wines from 5 vineyards. The pairings were mouth-watering and fascinating. As my mother commented at the end of the superb multi-course dinner at Stakeout Restaurant, "Now, that's the way to eat!"

Our golf tournament--although sparsely attended--was a big hit with players. Maybe the response has something to do with the champagne, golf balls, and trophies that went to the winning players! The auction was great fun. We bid on gorgeous jewelry, delicious wine, exciting paintings and sculpture.

In the end, we were exhausted but happy. I had learned so much about wine, about Taos, about winemakers, about art galleries, about sponsorship, about organization, about marketing. All lessons I hoped to remember in 2007.

And now here we are again, about to embark on the next adventure--2007 Toast of Taos. Take a look at our website www.toastoftaos.com to learn more about our next incredible event.

The Voyage Continues in Texas and Colorado

2007-05-03T17:50:00.000-07:00

June and July 2006:

We had scheduled our Toast of Taos events (art gallery tour, wine tasting, Southwest Wine Competition, wine dinners, auction, etc.), acquired our venues, and recruited galleries and restaurants. I had visited some New Mexico wineries and been surprised and pleased by what I found: terrific people, delicious wines, fascinating stories. I could have stopped there, but my vision of this event was beginning to take shape. I wanted this to be a truly regional event--including Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Colorado in addition to New Mexico--so I traveled on: to Colorado and then to Texas.

In Colorado I focused on the the Grand Junction area and visited over a dozen wineries. I met so many great people: Parker Carlson at Carlson winery, Doug Phillips at Plum Creek, Barbara Maurer at Graystone, Jeff and Carol Carr at Garfield Estates, and Julie Balistreri at Balistreri Winery in Denver. The pride and joy of these people shone in their eyes, and their wines were wonderful. Even the names and labels were terrific: Carlson's Fat Cat Muscat, the beautiful watercolor paintings on the Plum Creek labels, the elegant tall bottles of Balistreri hand sealed in wax.

In Texas I put thousands of miles on my car as I traveled to Lubbock, where I visited Caprock, Pheasant Ridge, and Llano Estacado; to the Fredericksburg area, where I was captivated by Sistercreek and Fall Creek; and to Messina Hof and Pleasant Creek in the College Station area. What a wonderland of wine!

By the time I returned from my last trip a little over a month before Toast of Taos, I had begun to form a greater vision of Toast of Taos. I realized that, like me, few people knew what exciting things were happening in southwestern wineries. And maybe Toast of Taos could help fans of wine discover this unknown world. I began to see a day when wine lovers from all over America--and maybe the world--would see Toast of Taos as THE event to attend to find out what was going on in southwest wine. And I began to get excited.

Next.... putting on the first Toast of Taos. Go to www.toastoftaos.com to find out about the upcoming SECOND Toast of Taos.

Artists and Southwestern Wine

2007-05-01T17:14:00.000-07:00

I interrupt the story of the creation of Toast of Taos to tell you about a great event last weekend. We had a reception at the historic Taos Inn for the artists who entered our Toast of Taos poster competition. This was our first poster competition, and we were delighted with the results.

The poster competition accepted art of any media; the only limitations were that it had to feature the Southwest and wine. Over a dozen fantastic pieces were submitted: wonderful oil and watercolor paintings, pen and ink drawings, decorated bottles, photos, all kinds of great works. The artists who submitted entries included Lee Heartwell, Leigh Gusterson, Ed Sandoval, Rich Nichols, Stephen Kilborn, Valerie Graves, Mark Kemper, Patty Sheehan, Mike Gravel, Adam Schallau, Shirley Belz, Martin Goldman, Ouray Meyers, Michael Regnier, Lloyd Rivera, and David Sullins.

Our judges had a very difficut time selecting a winner, so instead they picked three. In first place was the oil painting Two for Taos Time by Leigh Gusterson. Second place went to Stephen Kilborn for his vivid cubistic piece. Mark Kemper took third place for his pen and ink drawing En Vino Veritas, a hilarious Dia de los Muertos piece. The artists at the reception met their public, signed their work, and helped drink several bottles of wonderful southwestern wine.

If you like the winning images, visit www.toastoftaos.com. The images are posted there, and you can purchase the evocative winning poster featuring Leigh's painting, a tote bag with Stephen's wonderful image, and a print of Mark's terrific pen and ink.

Next.... back to the adventure of creating Toast of Taos.

Creating the first Toast of Taos

2007-04-24T18:49:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-23T16:29:00.000-07:00

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.