From Aviation to Vinification –
These Winemakers are Cleared for Take-Off
April 14, 2004 Ticket sales begin 6:30 p.m. Doors open 7:00 p.m.
St. Demetrios Cultural Center, Members $15, Guests $25

Sometimes our monthly programs feature wines which come from the same country or wine-growing region. Other times we highlight wines that reflect a common style or grape. Our April program has a new
twist – the wines we will be tasting have been selected because of what the winemakers have in common. In this case, they have all worked for Boeing but, much more importantly, they have all pursued their love of winemaking as members of the Boeing Employees Wine and Beermakers Club.

The BEWBC started in 1971. Since that time, members have had more than 32 years to perfect their craft and pass on their knowledge. Many have gone into commercial production. Currently there are more than 150 enthusiastic members who, as a group purchase over 100,000 pounds of grapes each year and enjoy the use of the club’s winemaking equipment. Here's a news story on the club that appeared 3/22/2004 in the Everett Herald.

At our April program we are pleased to feature six winemakers whose roots are in the BEWBC. Three of these winemakers have already opened commercial wineries, and two others are in the planning stages to do so. The wines they will be pouring are representative of the wines made in the club as well as the types of wines being produced in Washington today.

For this program feel free to unbuckle your seatbelts and move about the cabin. It will be a walk-around event, so you can chat with each of the winemakers as you sample their wines, taste in whatever order you wish, and try out different food pairings as you follow your own individual flight path.

Our In-flight Fare by Chef du Jour

After we take off on our tour of wines from the BEWBC, we will be treated to delicious food bites created by Lori Gilliam of Chef du Jour. Lori specializes in creating a fresh and delicious twist on traditional favorites. She provides a variety of catering services for local business and private clients.

Lori has been restaurant manager at Wild Strawberry, head chef at Capers in West Seattle and sous chef and head baker at the Alki Cafe. She enjoys designing meals according to her customers’ desires and working within budget constraints. She can be contacted at 206-321-2582 or www.chefdujour.info.

Meet the Winemakers

Our April Program features the following winemakers, all of whom have ties to the Boeing Employees Wine and Beermakers Club.

Neal Cellars Kevin Neal has been honing his winemaking skills as a BEWBC member since 1988. He and his wife are currently in the process of commercially licensing their small family-owned winery.

Nota Bene Cellars Tim Narby, a longtime BEWBC member, began making wine commercially in late 2000 when he remortgaged his home and found winery space in a warehouse park near Kent. Find out more about his winery at www.NotaBeneCellars.com.

Pleasant Hill Estate Larry Lindvig is the vintner for Pleasant Hill Estate located between Fall City and Carnation on a 3.5-acre park with a 1915 farmhouse and space for indoor or outdoor events. See www.PleasantHillEstate.com.

Trillium Estate Steve Foisie has perhaps the longest continuous membership in BEWBC. His winemaking skills are legendary and he teaches winemaking both for the club and at community colleges. His winery is located south of Carnation, surrounded by its namesake flowers.

Willis Hall John Bell has been a BEWBC member since 1999, although he studied wine extensively for over 15 years prior to that. After consistently winning top awards for his amateur wines, John established Willis Hall just in time for last year’s harvest and crush. Find out more about Willis Hall at www.WillisHall.com.

Wishwilling Gary Bunker is the winemaker for Wishwilling, which began in 1996 with the production of 20 gallons of Cabernet Sauvignon. He has since added Merlot, Chardonnay, Semillon and Pinot Noir. He plans to open a commercial winery in the north Snohomish area in time for the 2004 vintage.