The Wine Tasting event was created by a social committee formed to create an event(s) for brothers and their spouse or guest. Gary Renner (62-S) originally chaired that social committee and was chairman of the Wine Tasting Committee for the first four events.
From the beginning any profits would go to the Scholarship fund. Originally we weren’t sure we would generate money. T.A. Heckel (82-F) has been furnishing the ties from his private cellar from the beginning, and has been pouring each time. Alumni Chapter president Brad Fischer (78-S) remembers that the first year we netted around $2,500.
Food was never intended as a meal. For the first few years it was a meat and cheese tray from Sam’s Deli, plus fruit. A couple of times we also added wild sausage by Mitch Long (75-F) and mini meatballs by Tom Licouris (70-F). Brad thinks simple finger food is adequate. Cheese is always a hit, but tricky if it is a warm day.
A summary of the event statistics is as follows:
- 1st – 2015 – Smittcamp’s – net $1,558 – 36 paid – Chairman Gary Renner
- 2nd – 2016 – Smittcamp’s – net $4,003 – 59 paid – Chairman Gary Renner
- 3rd – 2018 – Reuland’s – net $10,073 – 71 paid – Chairman Gary Renner
- 4th – 2019 – Reuland’s – net $15,370 – 76 paid – Chairman Gary Renner
- 5th – 2022 – Ballinger’s – net $24,059 – 95 paid – Chairman Tom Kusaka
- 6th – 2023 – Ballinger’s – net $28,485 – 101 paid – Chairman Mike Patton
- 7th – 2024 – Ballinger’s – net $40, 711 – 94 paid – Chairman Mike Patton