The 2007 Maryland Wine Festival

The 2007 Virginia Wine Festival

October 1, 2008

Dear Brother and Sister Winemakers:

Again, the rail company confirmed our shipment schedule today so definitely plan on pick-up Saturday. All but 8 winemakers have indicated they are coming at the first pick-up on Saturday so it is going to be crowded. So far we have only two volunteers to manage distribution, so plan to take a number, bring your patience, play some briscola or bocci, and get caught up about what's going on in our wine making community.

Heads up to anyone who ordered white seedless grapes - they did not ship, however I did over-order on the Muscato pallet so we will cover your short fall with Moscato. The reports from others who have already received Colavita grapes are that they are of exceptional quality this year, so it should be another good year for us too. The Lodi brand juice we ordered this year is supposed to superior too.

WE HAVE EXTRA GRAPES AND JUICE - here's what's left and we will let it go on a first come, first served basis:

Extra Grapes (cost below is with discounted for members only)
9 Muscato - $21
2 Cabernet Franc - $25
34 Cabernet Sauvignon - $25
6 Old Vine Zinfandel North Special - $27

Extra Juice (cost below is discounted for members only)
8 Muscato - $46
7 Cabernet Sauvignon - $50
10 Merlot - $49

DIRECTIONS TO VILLA ROSA - If you have never been, here are some directions from the Beltway:

Directions to Villa Rosa / Grape Pick-Up Staging Area (Pavillion)

Take I-495 CAPITAL BELTWAY toward Annapolis side of the Beltway in MARYLAND .

Exit (19 A) from Beltway onto NEW YORK AVE NE/US-50 E

Take NEW YORK AVE NE/US-50 E (toward Annapolis ) [ 0.7 miles]. Continue to follow US-50 E to first exit.

Take Exit 8, the MD-704/M.L. KING JR. HWY exit, toward GLENARDEN [0.3 miles]. Stay to the right.

Merge onto MD-704 E/MARTIN LUTHER KING JR HWY toward MD-450 [1.2 miles].

Turn RIGHT onto LOTTSFORD VISTA RD. Stay on LOTTSFORD VISTA RD [1.0 miles]

End at 3800 Lottsford Vista Rd Mitchellville , MD 20721-4018

Please email me with any questions at wameaux150@aol.com . Thanks,

Willy
703-385-3634
wameaux150@aol.com

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September 29, 2008

Dear Brother and Sister Winemakers:

I just checked in with the rail company and our container is on schedule and due to arrive in time for delivery to Villa Rosa on Saturday. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU BRING YOUR OFFICIAL CERTIFICATES WITH YOU WHEN YOU COME TO ACCEPT YOUR GRAPES OR JUICE. IT IS THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN RECEIVE THEM.

To give us enough time to unload the container on Saturday with our fork lift, we will plan AT THIS TIME to anticipate distribution to begin at 10am. CONTINUE TO CHECK EMAIL TO SEE IF WE HAVE HAD TO ADJUST THIS ANTICIPATED DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE. I want to have several slots for distribution as follows.

FIRST PERIOD is 10am to 12noon.
SECOND PERIOD is 12noon to 2pm
THIRD PERIOD is 2pm to 4pm
FOURTH PERIOD is 4pm to 6pm
FIFTH PERIOD is 6pm to 8pm

Email me back which slot you wish to arrive for pickup of your grapes. VOLUNTEERS also please let me know if you are available to help us with distribution of grapes in a particular slot. If you do help us, we will load you first, and then we will proceed to everyone else in your slot. AS A VOLUNTEER, we need help with a simple process of helping our fellow/sister winemakers find their grapes and maintaining precise count based on the CERTIFICATES they present.

This year, we have 90 families participating in the group buy of grapes and juice. FIVE SLOTS ALLOWS AN AVERAGE 18 FAMILIES PER PERIOD TO PICK UP.

AGAIN, WE HAVE SOME LIMITED EXTRA GRAPES AND JUICE. ALTHOUGH SOME HAVE ALREADY BEEN SPOKEN FOR, WE HAVE SOME EXTRA THAT ON DISTRIBUTION DAY WILL BE DISCOUNTED TO OUR MEMBERS -- SO THAT NO GRAPES OR JUICE ARE WASTED.

Please continue to check your email. So far so good. You will receive a phone call confirming pickup by the end of the week. Anyone who responds by email will get the slot they wish for pickup. We will use a number system this year for distribution. Make sure to check in at registration, and you will be given a number so you may be served in order of arrival.

We will work very hard to get your grapes/juice in your hands as soon as possible. Thanks to volunteers for your help, and thanks to everyone for their patience and help with an orderly, smooth process.

Thanks,

Willy
703-385-3634
wameaux150@aol.com

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September 24, 2008

Dear Brother and Sister Winemakers:

We're underway for Vintage 2008. Our order has been placed in California and our shipment is on the way.

We are trying a new mode of transportation this year which is rail shipment by refrigerated container. Our shipment will be transferred from rail to a tractor-trailer, and then trucked to Villa Rosa from a local rail terminal. Everything done so far should enable us to pick up our grapes at Villa Rosa on October 4, 2008, Saturday. You will know as soon as possible, and almost immediately after me, if adjustments are to be made to our schedule. Check email and voice mail as we get closer to October 4.

This year we are using the certificate system for both grapes and juice distribution that was so successful with juice last year. Everyone should have received their certificates by the end of this week. These are required for you to receive your grapes or juice. Please treat them like money because they entitle the bearer to receive the product which has been ordered. I have a confirmation for every special envelope that was mailed for tracking purpose, so PLEASE CALL IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE YOUR CERTIFICATES.

Even though our deadline has passed, I did make sure to order some extra juice and grapes. We have limited amounts of extra Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Old Vine Zinfandel special cuttings, plus Moscato. We also have some limited amounts of these varieties in juice as well. I don't want to be stuck with any product, so if you do know someone who is interested or may wish some extra for yourself, please have them call me or call me yourself. The forms for orders are still on our website, www.washingtonwinemakers.org , and downloadable. First come, first reserved. If the grapes and juice are not all consumed by the time of our distribution, it will be offered at a discount so we are not stuck with fruit that will simply spoil if un-used. Why the extra? In the past, it has come in handy to have just a little extra, but it is best for financing our group's future activities if we get all the product we have out to and in the hands of you, our members. Feel free to call me directly if you want to secure some of the extra product at (703) 385-3634 (home) or (703) 786-6830 (mobil).

Vintage 2008 is a great success again thanks to you. YOU WILL RECEIVE A PHONE CALL 24 hours to 48 hours in advance of distribution when we have a precise distribution time scheduled for Saturday, October 4. Volunteers to help us with distribution are welcome. Just contact me. Thanks for everything you do to keep this special group together and "liquid."

Cheers,

Willy
703-385-3634
wameaux150@aol.com

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March 3, 2008

Dear Brother and Sister Winemakers:

Whatever you do, don't forget to hold the date of Sunday, March 30, 2008 to enjoy again the splendid celebration of amateur winemaking we hold every year. Again, at Casa Italiana I have had us booked since November from 2pm to 4pm, on Sunday, March 30, 2008. Casa Italiana is located at 595 Third Street, NW, Washington, DC 20003.

Each family of winemakers is invited to have their own reserved table for the purpose of pouring or presenting wines to share with the entire extended family of guests. Feel free to invite guests, and just pay $5 at the door please for the tasting glass, but make sure to send me your reservation with total numbers. These proceeds will this year go into the special account we have for the Washington Winemakers.

Since this is a very family friendly event, we will again provide complimentary sodas and bottled water to children and young adults under the age of 21.

We have some special things to do this day. We will be presenting Father Tomasi with our gift of bottles to be used for the sacraments, and anyone wishing to add a bottle to this special purpose is welcome to gift wine to the church. Additionally, we will gratefully accept bottles to be reserved for Masses and as gifts to brides and grooms who choose HRC for their weddings.

I have extended an invitation to the Vitro representative for our area to be a guest speaker, and I am also inviting a member of the faculty of a major university College of Viticulture and Enology to participate in our program too.

You'll enjoy the wines and company of your colleagues among the winemakers and you will learn about all we have done to create courses for members to take, such as last year's very successful Winemakiing 101 Course. Feel welcome to invite friends too.

One of our leaders Nick Ferrante will be offering porchetta at nominal cost and some of the complimentary community wine that was made by all of us to be shared by all of the winemakers.

I know you will enjoy the event and hope you will call Lucia at (202) 638-0165 or email me with your party numbers you wish to confirm. I must order enough tasting glasses, so please make sure to respond with numbers if you do intend to attend this excellent annual event. This event is not a competition but instead is designed to strengthen cooperation between winemakers and our extended group of family and friends. Again, winemakers who will pour will received a table reserved for their family and wines. There is always plenty of space for guests, so come and enjoy.

Also, I look forward to seeing anyone attending the Wineries Unlimited Trade Show in Lancaster, PA this week too.

Willy
703-385-3634
wameaux150@aol.com

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January 10, 2008

Dear Brother and Sister Winemakers:

Happy New Year!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR for March 30, 2008, and keep checking back at our website, www.washingtonwinemakers.org . Our annual wine tasting event will be held the last Sunday in March from 2pm to 4pm in the afternoon at Casa Italiana located at 595 Third Street, NW in Washington, DC. Suggestions are welcome for program speakers and reports about our activities.

Also, I have established an online Skype Cast (blog) http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/ to be broadcast at 20:00 or 8pm on January 25 at www.skype.com. This is a chance for our entire community to have a discussion. My Skype id is wmeaux and I hope you will join me for this.

We are discussing new winemaking class offerings, so keep checking the website.

Hopefully your wine is doing well, and we look forward to seeing you and your family and friends at our winetasting on March 30 from 2 to 4pm.

We are organizing for next year's shipments of grapes and juice, so ideas matter. Please join our Skypecast. You can download Skype for free.

A presto,

Willy
703-385-3634
wameaux150@aol.com

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September 17, 2007

Dear Brother and Sister Winemakers:

Yesterday's Villa Rosa Festival was spectacular. The festival was a huge success as thousands enjoyed the day and fantastic weather. Indeed, it was a great day for the Washington Winemakers as well. Our Washington Winemaker's commercial ran on air on Pino Cicala's Italian Radio show, and Pino's show included interviews in Italian from some of our members. Look for the new print ads in the Voce Italiana for this month and next month as well for both Colavita and Aniello brands.

Juice News. Many members delivered their orders to our tent at the festival, and we are well set with the first shipment to include 230 pails of juice. This first order more than doubles the entire amount of juice we ordered last year. We are deliberately over ordering juice just a bit to make absolutely sure we can supply members who wish more or who may have friends who need juice too. The initial juice order was placed today, and is presently scheduled to arrive this Friday, September 21. Juice members will receive a phone call by Thursday when we have a more definite time about the arrival of our juice shipment this Friday at Villa Rosa.

Please watch the email and internet for updates. Our deep gratitude to volunteers like Victor Ferrante who have stepped forward to help Nick with logistics on Friday. I'll be there too. We are presently planning the next juice shipment to arrive about the time of the first grape shipment on October 6. We can continue to add juice shipments on top of this if we have a late surge in the season.

Grape News. We presently have slightly more than half of the first truck purchased. Including phone-in requests to the church as well, assuming the actual order and checks arrive (which they most always do) into the church office, we have 508 purchased and paid up and plus as of today another 43 boxes requested by members who have checks in the mail. This leaves a balance to ride the first truck of 457 boxes with just one week to go on order deadline/guideline for the first truck. So, please get your place on this truck requested to arrive on October 6.

Some have requested to be included on the later truck anyway. Since this order is expected to be much smaller than the first, we will piggy back onto another shipment coming into our area. It always works out, but based on the median requests for arrival of the second grape shipment, it looks like we will try to piggy back on this later truck for arrival closer to the following weekend or about Friday, October 12.

Sabato Marigliano has already stepped up to operate our forklift for grapes when they arrive on October 6. Grazie Sabatino! Thanks also to all the volunteers stepping up to help Vince Ionata with his logistics on shipment arrival days 1 & 2.

Contact us if you have any questions at the church office (202) 638-0165 or call my cell phone which is (703) 786-6830. Juice people can reach Nick at (301) 384-0985. Grape people can best reach Vince at vinceionata@aol.com . Thanks to everyone for helping us build our strength among the united families of the Washington Winemakers.

Finally, but not least of all, I wish to acknowledge the enthusiastic support of Father Dominic and Father Anthony of Villa Rosa and many of the members of their extended Villa Rosa family. They truly support our mission, and they are a big part of understanding why it is such an honor and endearing cause for us to help the residents of Villa Rosa Home. Yesterday's effort by the winemakers added a nice little donation as we provided Villa Rosa with prizes of soccer tickets donated by Holy Rosary's Calcetto Program won in the Villa Rosa raffle by the Corrado family, plus a pail of juice (Cabernet Sauvignon) won by the Ventresca family and a box of grapes (Old Vine ZInfandel) won by the Heckathorn family.

Stay tuned for more news later as the season progress.

For now, very best to all,

Willy

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August 14, 2007

Dear Washington WInemakers:

As we discussed at the March gathering of winemakers, the group now benefits from its formal association with Holy Rosary Church.

A Winemakers 101 course for beginning winemakers will be offered each Tuesday from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in the lower church hall of Casa Italiana/Holy Rosary Church located at 595 Third Street, NW beginning in September. The text is by Daniel Pambianchi. Romeo Sabatini and I will be teaching the course with the help of other advanced winemakers in the group and invited guests from the Maryland and Virginia cooperative extension services who may be able to meet with us as available. For anyone just starting, this will cover everything they need to know, and it will also be a good refresher for winemakers who still consider this a new hobby they wish to learn more about. The course is $150 for all 6 weeks, and we take you through to your own personal crush and start of fermentation. Romeo will include a session where we actually get to be on site at his home vineyard to review picking of the grapes, the crushing and pressing process.

Also, the Villa Rosa Festival is to be held on September 16, 2007. For people with extra winemaking equpiment of any kind, the Washington Winemakers will have a booth or area at the Villa Rosa festival to sell used and some new winemaking equipment, especially to benefit the new and current members of our Washington Winemakers of Holy Rosary Church group. If you have any old winemaking equipment you wish to donate to Holy Rosary Church or you wish us to sell for you at the Festival, please contact me. I will be preparing a list of equipment we will be offering, and it will also be posted on our new internet merchant site which is under construction. Please contact me by email if you have any barrels, crushers, or any winemaking equipment that is still in proper condition for use, and it can either be a direct donation to the church or we can work out a way to sell it for you on a commission basis so the church receives a benefit from our assistance to the buyer and to you as seller. We will need to make a digital picture of any equipment you donate or sell through our merchant site.

Thanks and hope to hear from you. We should have our merchant site (www.washingtonwinemakers.net ) up in short time. It will be linked to our main information site which will remain www.washingtonwinemakers.org .

Thanks,

Willy Meaux
703-385-3634
wameaux150@aol.com

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August 1, 2006

Dear Washington Winemakers:

The grape harvest report from Colavita is up on our website. No prices yet, but check later this month. Send anyone interested to www.washingtonwinemakers.org to click on our film clip to learn what we are about.

Also, I want to let you know about some upcoming activities/possibilities prior to this year's shipment of wine grapes which is scheduled at present to be September 30, 2006 at Villa Rosa in Mitchellville, MD.

(1) Villa Rosa Festival - Mitchellville, MD September 10, 2006. This is a crucial festival for people who want to join our buyer's group, especially late in the process. As you know, the Festa Italiana will be held this year on September 24, 2006, and it is extremely late for anyone to join us then since the shipment needs to be defined and secured and prepaid by September 24 in order for us to receive our grapes on September 30. Having said this, we have been invited back to participate in the Festa Italiana, and I have some thoughts to share later in this message about how we may constructively contribute again to this later Festival. But first is Villa Rosa - September 10, 2006.

Villa Rosa Festival has invited us back to show our winemakers promo/infomercial at the film tent at Villa Rosa on September 10. Like last year, this is a prime opportunity for us to get late orders into our buy from California so we can optimize the shipping costs. The more full the truck, the better it is for everyone. Again, we pay wholesale with shipping included plus inclusive is $1 per box equivalent (or $2 donation per cylinder of juice) to Villa Rosa Nursing Home, the Scalabrinian Mission run by Father Anthony Dal Balcon. They really appreciated our donation last year, and we always appreciate Father Anthony's support for our winemaking and making his warehouse/pavillion facility available to us to receive the shipment from Colavita/California.

Like last year, we will have CD-ROMs and order forms available for people to take away from the Villa Rosa Festival and then send their grape order in with the payment to the Special Wine Grape Fund we have established for this purpose. All details for new participants will be provided, so bring your friends who might like to get their grapes on our truck. Let me know if you wish to help me man this film tent at Villa Rosa. Just a handful of people is all we need over the course of the day of September 10, 2006.

(2) As a registered member of our group, you will already have received by mail, by email and by our website the same information necessary to place your personal grape order with our group for the September 30 shipment from California. Again we will keep you posted about the important details like "How much these grapes gonna cost this year?" and any changes in the shipment date or status based on the harvest in California. Once again, we have asked Colavita to ship us our grapes at QUALITY PEAK so we get the very best and the freshest possible for our money. For quality, as we have in the past, we may shift our date, if necessary, but as you can see from his report now posted on our website, we are on target this year so far.

(3) Festa Italiana at Holy Rosary Church 595 Third Street, NW in Washington, DC - September 24, 2006 - This festival is unfortunately too late this year for us to benefit from, however, many thanks to those of you who contributed the two dollars each toward our purchase of the ad our group bought in their program (attached are details about their festival). This will help us with press and publicity about our activity. We have been invited to show our film and informercial at their event, however, I have not yet accepted. I have accepted the opportunity for us to do another grape stomping demonstration. The kids and folks just loved this last year, and it's worth doing again for the kids. So this grape stomping is a done deal. What I have suggested is that members of the WashingtonWinemakers.Org Group may also wish to do a wine bottling demonstration. We have not yet bottled Father Lidio's wine from the 2006 vintage, and I have asked them to consider if it is a good idea to do a wine bottling demonstration at the Festa? This is not yet confirmed, but with the right number of WWM.ORG members there to supervise, we could possibly get all 26 cases done with volunteers who just want to take a moment to actually bottle some wine for the church. On this concept, we'll have to see how the Festa Board responds. I was originally going to ask Lucia at Holy Rosary CHurch to give us the lower Hall to bottle Father Lidio's wine in late August,but this might work out better as a Festa activity for the church. I even have all the wine and supplies lined up to do this now, but it might be worth holding for the Festa. Let's see what happens.

Willy

Willy Meaux
(202) 498-6590
(703) 786-6830 - cell

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July 15, 2006

Dear Willy:

After looking at some vineyards and talking to growers last week the following is obvious:

The crop is lighter than last year. There is no bumper crop like we had last year. It is generally a fair to good crop on most varieties except for Zinfandels. The Zinfandel crop is light, both for the grapes raised for White Zinfandels and the Old Vine Zinfandels.

The crop is two weeks later than "normal". Timing should be, hopefully, earlier than last year. The crop should mature quicker with the lighter set.

The crop is very clean and has the potential of some very high quality. Last year at this time the crop looked and was enormous. This year we have small bunches and small berries. These are the ingredients for a vintage year. One has just got to be patient. Those of you who were patient last year still received some great grapes and made great wine. The others are still complaining about the garbage they received form other people.

Pricing is still up in the air. There is very limited winery activity at this point. There is currently a very large wine inventory. Prices on almost all varieties except Old Vine Zinfandel should be no higher than last and more than likely lower.

Last year I sold a lot of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon to a lot of wine clubs. They blend them together to make a "Tuscany" Blend. I have never tasted the blend but the thought of that blend excites my taste buds. There is also a "Super Tuscany" blend that includes some Merlot. This year all Sangiovese will be from the Northern districts. The cheaper Sangiovese from the South just does not have the color nor flavor.

Thanks,

Mike Colavita

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June 15, 2006

Dear Washington WInemakers:

Father Anthony Dal Balcon of Villa Rosa has reserved the target date of September 30, 2006 in order for us to receive our shipment of wine grapes for the 2006 vintage. He has reserved also the date of October 1 as a backup in case some circumstance causes a delay. As you know, nature really tells us when we receive our grapes because there are so many variables that bring them from maturity into our hands. We'll continue to send you information about the California grape season and our progress as we approach the date.

In the meantime, I would like to promote the Washington Winemakers activity, and Lucio D'Andrea, a fellow member of WashingtonWinemakers.org has asked us to consider buying a group ad in the Festa Italiana program. Festa Italiana is to be held this year September 24, 2006, just one week before we receive our shipment of grapes. We have also been invited to promote WashingtonWinemakers.org at the Villa Rosa Festival on September 10, 2006 as well.

These days we have approximately 45 families in the WashingtonWinemakers.org. Could I set a deadline for voluntary participation in this ad request of July 1? If you want to help, please make a check out in the amount of $2 dollars payable to Special Wine Grape Account and mail c/o Meaux at 10899 Featherfield Court, Fairfax, VA 22030. Your donation to the Festa Italiana ad will be deducted from your total order of wine grapes for those who participate. As you know, the money we generate to benefit Villa Rosa through our wine grape project is greatly appreciated and needed, so all this effort goes toward that goal in the end.

We have not been approached to do so yet, but I expect there is the possibility the WashingtonWinemakers.Org will be invited back to Festa Italiana to conduct the wine grape stomping again that was so popular at last year's festival. The kids just loved it!

Thanks if you can help. No worries if you can't. Hope you are all enjoying last year's wine and having the start of a great summer. See you in the Fall.

Willy Meaux
(202) 498-6590
(703) 385-3634 - home

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October 9, 2005

Dear Master Vintners:

Just a quick note to say thank you to everyone who made this year's grape and juice group purchase from California another huge success. Our Washington area winemakers' association is really growing, and in fact, by the time our shipment arrived yesterday, we actually had 45 families among the Washington Winemakers who made this group purchase possible.

We are extremely grateful to Father Anthony Dal Balcon, the head (il Capo) of Villa Rosa, the Scalabrinian Mission in Mitchellville, Maryland that allowed us to stage our grape and juice delivery under their pavilion.

Very, Very Special thanks to Nicola Ferrante and his son-in-law Simon, Heidi and Hector, Vince, Vince, and Rob for their coordination and pitching in to make sure the grapes and juice were delivered into our hands, and last but not least to Romeo for what he does for us all year long to maintain our web site which keeps our community together.

I will get back to you with details about the event planned for early next year for us to gather again as a group to celebrate friendships, share each other's wine, and talk about wine. All of the Washington Winemakers will be invited. Good luck with this year's vintage and Happy Wine Making to All.

Willy

Images from the 2005 Grape Delivery

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June 6, 2005

Cari Amici Washington Winemakers.ORG Members:

I know you have received previous reports about the anticipated target date for our wine grape delivery this year that conflict with what I am about to tell you. However, I spoke with Father Anthony this morning and we are approved now to have October 1 as the date to accept our shipment of grapes at Villa Rosa. Father Anthony also gave us October 2 as a backup date in case the truck is held up by bad weather on the way from California. Please make sure to tell everyone in your extended wine family about this crucial date change.

This schedule has been complicated by the scheduled September 18 Villa Rosa Italian American Festival. There are simply too many people at this event to have the giant Freight Liner Truck show up then. Plus too many of us are helping Father Anthony with his fundraising activities that day to stop what we are doing for him and manage the grapes too, so we have confirmed October 1 now as our date for wine grape delivery at Villa Rosa. Please now reserve this date -- October 1 -- for your wine grape delivery at Villa Rosa in Mitchellville, MD.

To take advantage of the huge number of people attending the Italian Festival on September 17, I have asked Father Anthony about getting the space to show our movie about the Washington Winemarkers.Org group at the festival, and I will also try to show our film that has been on the film festival circuit around the country too. Some new members may join us that day, and these new arrangements could give us time to absorb them into our process, and take their orders for wine grapes into our shipment (if there is still room on the truck).

I spoke with Colavita of California today too, and he is happy to do whatever is necessary to ship on Father Anthony's schedule so we are set with the new target delivery of October 1.

Since last year, we have had 8 new family's join us, so we are now up to 33 family's in the wine grape buying group so you will want to get your grape decisions made early to make sure we can get you on the truck. It seems interest in wine making among our friends is growing. So far, we have 200 boxes of grapes requested for the 2005 vintage, and we don't even have prices in place to share. As you know, we can only get 1000 boxes of grapes on the truck. One other suggestion I will try to implement is having two separate delivery lines this year on October 1. One for families with small grape shipments and one for families with large grape shipments, however we will still have just one forklift, but maybe this will streamline things a bit. Anyone who wants to volunteer again is most welcome to help us manage, as we are all eager to get home and start stomping. Please let me know what you'd like to volunteer for. Nick Ferrante is already signed up for the forklift.

All suggestions are welcome, and be on the lookout for the grape order form on the web page. We'll keep you posted. It's too soon to know how much Colavita will charge us, but it will be wholesale plus the $1 per box donation to Father Anthony's Villa Rosa Home like last year, and we will provide this information as soon as we have it.

In the meantime, please think about what you might like to make. Even if it is not on our list, we can ask. Last year for example we were told Sangiovese had all been taken by the wineries in California, but Colavita made some special accommodations to cover our members who wanted Sangiovese and did not want a substitution grape. We'll try our best.

Ciao for now,

Willy

Gugliemo (aka Willy Meaux)

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June 13, 2005

Dear WashingtonWinemaker.org members:

The report that follows my message is copied from a report sent to us by Mike Colavita, our grape distributor from California. I have been asking him for reports, especially from the North Coast, since our grapes have come from this region for the past two seasons. Remember that Father Anthony has now set our delivery date to October 1, 2005 at Villa Rosa with October 2, 2005 as the backup date in case the truck is late. Also, someone suggested that we introduce ourselves somehow into the Festa to be held at Casa Italiana during the Summer. Does anyone have any thoughts about this or inclination for us to do this? Feedback is welcome.

Willy

Colavita Report of June 12, 2005:

California has experienced one of its wettest and coolest springs in history. That trend is continuing into June. We finally are having some warm temperatures this weekend, but, we are already hearing weather forecasts for possible rain and cooling temperatures especially in the North Coast.

This weather pattern has caused a very large crop to set. There is some talk that it could be one of the largest in some areas. It also has caused the vines to be very vigorous with large canopies. Growers who are not managing their canopies are developing mildew and possible boytritis problems if this dampness continues.

It is early for me but I will be visiting a lot of fields the next couple of weeks to assess any possible problems. It is important for you to have an experienced person who has growers who have proved to have quality grapes every year. We have a lot of weather before maturity but with the cool-wet spring and large crop I expect grapes to be three weeks later than last year. Last year we were two weeks early so this put us a week later than normal.

During early spring there was a lot of winery activity. It was almost FRANTIC with long term contracts being given at higher prices. The availability of bulk wine had practically disappeared causing great consternation. A lot of grapes were purchased but with the set of the crop that activity has diminished. Hopefully we are approaching a more normal marketing trend.

This year we will have also available one way wooden bins. They are a standard 4' by 4' by 2 ' bin. It will hold more grapes but naturally weighs more. There will be no additional charge for them and the additional capacity should compensate in the freight charges because less bins will be needed for a full load.

Thanks Mike

END OF REPORT

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June 23, 2005

Dear Vintners:

Everyone should know by now our new target date for delivery of wine grapes from California is now October 1 with October 2 as the backup at Villa Rosa in Mitchell, MD. I hope to have a list of available grapes for you to look at soon although I know we won't know what the costs will be until later in the season.

It is helpful to pass on to Colavita which grapes you might be thinking about as he is presently traveling to growers in the field now and can keep an eye out for the quality we hope he'll deliver again. I think the more information we tell him, the better for us so feel free to share with me your desired varieties. For example, I presently know from those who have shared their preferred grape choices with me that we presently need 25 lugs of Syrah, 85 Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 Ruby Cabernet, 55 Merlot and 25 Cabernet Franc. Although I don't know the amounts, I also know some of you want Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Moscato, Sangiovese, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel or Old Vine Zinfandel. Colavita will likely have all these grapes available this year and more, so it is good for us to tell him we want Northern-source grapes in the varieties we desire so he can be on the lookout for us.

Willy

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August 10, 2005

Cari Amici Vinaii (Dear Winemasters):

Here's an important report you need to read from Colavita about the California grape harvest. It explains why the grapes are later this year. Please read and feel free to share your comments with our network. Ciao,
Willy

Colavita Report of August 9, 2005:

It wasn't necessary but I looked at a lot of grapes the last three days and took sugar tests. Any five year old can tell that the grapes were far from ripe but I needed to project a maturity chart.
Hardly any grapes can be picked before September 1 and most grapes should not be picked any sooner than September 10. The southern grapes, muscat , alicantes grenache etc. are not that much later than normal, but projecting the sugars of the better Lodi Zinfandels, Cabernets & Merlot they may not reach 23 sugar before September 15. To pick before this sugar level would be self defeating. The grapes will not have the proper sugar and flavors, so be prepared for a later season and be patient.
I will be packing some grapes especially the fancy white grapes in a plastic container that will hold 36 lbs of grapes without crushing them. They should cool quicker, hopefully prevent oxidation(browning of the grapes that only affects apperance of the grape but not the wine) and truly present a "natural" product. I have enclosed a picture of the plastic (reuseable-fold down) in an attachment. The one I will be using will be larger: five to a layer 10 high on a 48-40 pallet. We will be putting a cardboard top with a glued label and variety stamped on the top. Also on the plastic we will label the variety.
Also enclosed is my new "Colavita" label. It will be used only for the Northern grapes.
Now for the really good news: Prices may not be that much higher than first thought. The only thing it looks like truck rates are exploring new highs as diesel keeps going up in price.
This year we will also have available some Amador County Grapes; namely Barbera, Syrah and Zinfandel. They will be ready very late and be very expensive.
I'll have another up date in a couple of weeks.
Thanks
Mike

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August 28, 2005

Dear Washington Winemakers:

OK, we are getting closer to a fix on costs from Colavita on this year's wine shipment. As usual, we will post everything by email and internet, and I will send by regular mail as well since we have several among us who don't have internet access.

Here's what's going on. I understand trucks are costing us about $1500 + more this year from California just because of the price of diesel fuel. Last year, we shipped the equivalent of 500 boxes of grapes, so the math is pretty easy to figure. The cost to us (and everyone for that matter will be higher than last year). Colavita will have this all calculated into our final costs, and I should have these in approximately ONE WEEK so please be on the lookout for the order forms so you can process them and get them in as soon as possible. I will cue orders onto the truck (our shipment) based on the date of receipt of your payment.

Also, for the juice people, we have expanded juice options this year. The juice is processed from Colavita grapes, fyi. Here are the varieties available in 6 gallon juice pails:

Red: Alicante, Zinfandel, House Red or Burgundy, Merlot, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ruby Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Barolo, Chianti or Sangiovese, Petit Sirah

Rose': Grenache, White Zinfandel

White: Thompson Seedless, Palomino, Muscato, French Colombard, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio.

Sunday, August 28, at Holy Rosary Church after the 9am Mass, I will bring the sample to Casa Italiana that I was sent from the juicer for anyone so interested. No costs/prices on any grapes or juice, but we should have everything in approximately one week. We are still on schedule for our shipment date of October 1, even though the season is coming in late, according to my last report from Colavita.

One final note, I have secured some very special (300 qty - 375 ml) bottles for 31 gallons of Vinello my family team of winemakers is donating to Holy Rosary Church so Father Charles Zanoni can have some special gift bottles to give away at his discretion. Mario Marinucci and some other winemakers have offered to help me bottle, cork and label the Vinello. Anyone who may be able to help me get this done in September, please indicate if you have a free Saturday for this purpose in September. I have everything necessary for this project, so it is a matter of securing a Saturday morning or afternoon when we can assemble about 5 to 6 people to get the job done. Since September 17 is taken up with prep for the big Villa Rosa Festival, I am appealing for help on other Saturday's in September.

Please call with any questions at cell (703) 786-6830 or home (703) 385-3634.

Ciao,

Willy

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September 10, 2005

Dear Master Vintners:

Click here to see the official order form for our shipment of 2005 vintage wine grapes.
The wine grape harvest in California is 3 weeks late this year, and Colavita informed me today we are forced to move our shipment target arrival date to Saturday, October 8, 2005. To tell your friends about us, please send them to our web site at: www.washingtonwinemakers.org . 6 Gallon Bucket Juice order information is unavailable right now, but forthcoming.

Again, the target date for our shipment arrival must be moved to October 8, 2005, and therefore, I am pushing back the due date for receipt of order forms and payment too. Receipt of order and payment is now on or before September 26, 2005. Your order will be in queue on a first come, first served basis until our truck is full. We now have 43 families in our group, so please make decisions and send in your order as soon as possible.

Costs are relatively stable, but increased cost over last year is mostly due to energy, however there was some market price adjustment too, in some cases downward and others upward compared to last year. Overall, given the circumstances, costs to us are relatively stable. That's good news. We are also retaining the donation of $1 per box you will be making to Father Anthony's Villa Rosa Home as part of the cost/collection structure. Additional expenses (forklift and pallet jack) are also included in this cost structure along with the shipping costs too. The published cost is your final cost.

Call me with any questions at (703) 786-6830 or email me at wameaux150@aol.com

Ciao,

Willy Meaux

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September 19, 2005

Dear WashingtonWinemakers.org Members:



Yesterday was a very successful day at the Villa Rosa Festival in Mitchellville, Maryland. We screened the winemakers documentary and movie clip also available on our WashingtonWinemakers.Org website, and many new people expressed an interest in joining us for this year's grape purchase. While I was there, Mike D'Onofrio got through to our supplier and learned some critical information you need to know, so please read his report below. We still have some time before grape or juice orders are due in, but I intend to execute our group buy to keep the shipment on schedule for delivery at Villa Rosa in Mitchellville, MD for Saturday, October 8, 2005. Please make sure to mail your order on or by September 26, 2005 so we can keep things on schedule for our target shipment arrival date of October 8.

See Mike's report below.

Thanks,

Willy

Message from Mike D'Onofrio follows:

September 18, 2005

Dear WashingtonWinemakers.org Members:,

I decided to call Mike Colavita to ask his advice on this years crop. I have been reading harvest reports and finding some problems with Pinot Noir and Merlot due to the late season rains. I was specifically looking for advice on which varieties were looking good and if he had any idea of sugar levels. You can pass this information on to those on distribution if you choose. He mentioned some varieties that were not on your order form so you may want to double check with him for prices before everyone puts their order in. I spoke to him this evening, he was quite helpful. I'll try to summarize what I extracted from our conversation as brief as possible below.

Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc & Chardonnay all look good, most have been harvested already, has little Sauvignon Blanc & Chardonnay

Chenin Blanc did not appear to be in good shape

Varieties from the valley (south) were not as good,, he specifically mentioned Grenache, Carignane, Muscat, Alicante

Pinot Noir is not available.

When he references varieties from the North, that means from Lodi.

He has Sangiovese and they do look good with good sugar levels

The Malbec appear to be in good shape with excellent sugar and color

Valdepena from Lodi are also looking well

Cabernet Sauvignon - some harvested already with 22.5 - 23.5 sugar. He hopes to pick more at sugar levels a bit higher

Merlot had sugar about 24.5 but little acid

Zinfandel - some picked, they appear to be fairly decent, hopes to get more soon as well

Malvasia Bianca - used as the basis to make Asti, very floral much like Moscato. These are high in demand. They are exhibiting a little rot but they are trying to pick it out. This should be blended, not sure with what. Can be overpowering with musky floral notes when blended.

Mike was very helpful and enjoyed our conversation. Seems like a good guy to work with.

Hope this is helpful to you. As I stated above, I'll leave it up to you to forward to the rest of the club. Hope it is not too late for you to adjust the order form for those varieties not listed or not available.

Mike D'Onofrio

Click here to see the official order form for our shipment of 2005 vintage wine grapes.

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Some have contacted us about barrels. We wanted to provide you with a list of phone numbers for barrel companies. We have the Vineyard and Winery Management Product Directory, so if there is other equipment you may prefer to order direct from manufacturers, it may be possible. Let us know what you want. We are happy to look things up for our members.

Here are the barrel companies:

World Cooperage (CA) 707-255-5900
Artisan Barrels (CA) 510-339--0170
Barrel Associates International (CA) 800-227-5625
Barrel Builders (CA) 800-365-8231
Barrel Chips Etc. (OH) 216-531-0494
Barrels Unlimited (CA) 800-875-1558
Boswell Company (CA) 415-457-3955
Canton Cooperage (KY) 800-692-9888
Canton Wood Products (OH) 740-947-7741
Heinrich Cooperage (CA) 707-829-6200
Custom Cooperage (CA) 707-996-8781
Demptos Napa Cooperage (CA) 707-257-2628
eVine.com (CA) 707-967-9990
G.W. Kent (MI) 800-333-4288
Keystone Cooperage (PA) 724-883-4952
Mel Know (CA) 415-751-6306
Mendocino Cooperage (CA) 888-340-2244
Mistral Barrels (CA) 707-265-7900
Nadalie USA (CA) 707-942-9301
Oak Barrel Winecraft (CA) 510-849-0400
Pickering Winery Supply (CA) 415-474-1588
Presque Isle (PA) 800-488-7492
Toneleria Magrenan (CA) 707-585-7347
Tonnellerie Boutes (CA) 707-542-1158
Tonnellierie Laffitte (France) 0-33 5 45 82 97 27
Tonnellierie Lafitte USA (CA) 707-257-3582
Tonnelliere Mercier (VA) 804-493-9186
Tonnellierie Nadalie (France) 33- 55 710 02 02
Tonnellerie Vicard (CA) 707-257-3582
TW Boswell (CA) 707-255-5900
United Barrels (CA) 707-258-0795
Xiverta USA (CA) 707-795-1800

Good luck and don't hesitate to share. Is anyone interested in us having a seminar sometime in late Summer? If you are, get in touch with us. It would be interesting to have a presentation from a panel using the traditional natural method and a panel using a contemporary enological methodology.

Ciao for now.

Willy

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Wine Competition Invitation

Below is an email exchange between Sergio Fresco VP of Programs for the Abruzzo-Molise Heritage Society, and "Daniel DeMora" of OSIA who has invited our group to enter "The 2005 Annual Carmel S. Morina - OSIA Winemaker Competition" to be held on Saturday November 12, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lodge located at 525 W. Broad Street, Paulsboro New Jersey 08066.

Anyone in our group interested in participating should get in touch with Sergio Fresco sfresco@hotmail.com

Wine competition invitation follows:

From: "Daniel DeMora"
To: "'sergio fresco'"
Subject: RE: Winemakers in Washington,DC
Date: Sun, 15 May 2005 20:57:44 -0400

Dear Sergio:

Thank you so much for returning my email request regarding our winemaker competition. If you get a chance, please review our web site about the event and let me know your opinion or any comments you may have. Each year we run the event and sample some very good wines. We also try to make sure that almost everyone who enters either gets a nice ribbon for a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place or a nice certificate for entering.

You can view our event web site at www.winecompetition.org

BTW, I lived in D.C. for four years back in the late 90's when I went to law school and worked there. If I had known of the A - M Society I would have certainly applied for membership. My family is from Molise and as a matter of fact my wife and I just returned from there last month. It was our first trip to Italy and I was looking for my family.

Also, since I am looking forward to getting back to the D.C. area for a visit later this year, if any of your members or associates enter a cumulative total of 10 or more bottles we will ride down to pick them up. It saves a considerable amount of shipping $ for the people. Besides, I can't wait to get back for a visit.

Thanks for your consideration.

Respectfully,

Dan DeMora

Carmel S. Morina OSIA Lodge
Secretary & Event Chair

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