BWE '15

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JimHow
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BWE '15

Post by JimHow »

We don't really even start thinking about the next convention until the fall, but a few suggestions that were bandied about this past weekend were Chicago, Florida, California, and France. I like the routine we've been getting into where we do DC every two or three years, the Mid-Atlantic sub chapter has the process down and Charlie Palmer has treated us very well every time. And I think all of us really fell in love with our Friday night venue, Bistro Francais!

Usually we schedule the event around April 1st. So start planning ahead now! If you've never attended one before, or if it's been awhile, you are in for a treat!
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stefan
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Re: BWE '15

Post by stefan »

I can probably do France only after April, but will make it any time otherwise.
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Tom In DC
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Re: BWE '15

Post by Tom In DC »

If we go to France, I think we could adjust the schedule and go in May - it worked out very well last time (2005) and seemed to fit our many hosts' schedules well. Since I think we'd be counting on tim and AlexR for a lot of our appointments, perhaps we can get thier input on potential scheduling?

But we ab-so-friggin'-lute-ly will pony up to get a bus with AC, even if we go in January!!!! :!: :roll: :!: :roll: :!:
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tim
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Re: BWE '15

Post by tim »

I am happy to do a lot of the work to organize a France visit (and it is a lot more convenient this time given that I live here), assuming also that Alex is willing to help out, being on the ground in Bordeaux.

However, I think the group really needs to be committed to doing France if we do it. And the earlier the start the better. BWE has fewer active participants than it did in 2005, although ironically most of the people that went to France then are the active members now.

In other words, I am willing to do much of the logistics and work, but I really need someone in the U.S. to rally everyone and get people excited to come over. And I think we will need to make a go/no-go decision quickly to build momentum, create the organizing committee, etc. Otherwise we'll talk about it as an idea until its too late.

And May is a great time of year to go.

Thoughts?
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tim
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Re: BWE '15

Post by tim »

One other note: May is a big holiday month in France, with 2015 public holidays on May 1st (Fri), 8th (Fri), 14th (Thu), and 25th (Mon). Which means that a lot of French people will be going on vacation with their families. I would avoid the first two weeks of May as a result, as you can assume that a lot of people with families will go on vacation from the 1st through the 17th. (Alex, please confirm if this is true in Bordeaux as well...)
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DavidG
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Re: BWE '15

Post by DavidG »

As unbelievably fantastic as our last BWE trip to Bordeaux was, and as much as I would absolutely love to do it again, I am a bit torn. Peggy is not nearly the wine geek that I am, and would not enjoy traveling to multiple Chateaux for tastings and dinners. There's no way I'm going to Europe (again) without her. If we could arrange to join the group for part of the tour and peel off to do our own thing for other portions, I would be in.
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robert goulet
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Re: BWE '15

Post by robert goulet »

Florida :)




I'll even hijack orlbobby out of retirement....he is hoarding alot of fine hermitage these days.
And I may even bring the 'panty dropper'...no not orlandobobby...I already said he's coming...lol
None other than '10 clos de l'oraltoire :)
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Claret
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Re: BWE '15

Post by Claret »

California or Florida are my preferred venues.
Glenn
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robert goulet
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Re: BWE '15

Post by robert goulet »

I'll set up the back garden venue at 'K ' restaurant in my hood as a potential dining spot or Scratch in winter park
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robert goulet
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Re: BWE '15

Post by robert goulet »

Orlandobobby has the skybox at the Amway stadium for any events in town!
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Tom In DC
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Re: BWE '15

Post by Tom In DC »

Florida? FLORIDA???!!! And Amway stadium? AMWAY???? That sweetens the deal??? Are you excited? YES, I'M EXCITED!!!

You boys couldn't even see your way to carpool to DC for a weekend :roll: :roll: :roll: -- DEDICATED TO THESE VERY "YOU BOYS" :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: -- and you blithely expect 30+ dedicated BWE'ers to fly to the end of the earth, well, the pointy end of the US on the off chance that we might meet Godot, or was it Gatsby, or, oh yes, that's right, the mythical Bob's?

Ah, just kidding! Tell us when and where!
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Tom In DC
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Re: BWE '15

Post by Tom In DC »

Gail and I would be most interested in BWE FRANCE '15 - "Ten Years After", with a theme song of either "I'm Going Home" to Bordeaux or "I'd Love to Change the World" of Bordeaux pricing.

tim and AlexR, just let us know what we can do to support your efforts.
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dstgolf
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Re: BWE '15

Post by dstgolf »

I've said it before. With enough lead time my preference would be to have the 15 year BWE anniversary....10 years after event in Bordeaux with wife in tow this time. It might not be as magical as the last but with an air conditioned bus and most people knowing one another to a greater degree I think it could be better! My vote is still FRANCE MAY 2015!!

Danny

PS I'd still try and make it where ever to try and keep the biennial attendance going.
Danny
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robert goulet
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Re: BWE '15

Post by robert goulet »

Tom In DC wrote:Florida? FLORIDA???!!! And Amway stadium? AMWAY???? That sweetens the deal??? Are you excited? YES, I'M EXCITED!!!

You boys couldn't even see your way to carpool to DC for a weekend :roll: :roll: :roll: -- DEDICATED TO THESE VERY "YOU BOYS" :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: -- and you blithely expect 30+ dedicated BWE'ers to fly to the end of the earth, well, the pointy end of the US on the off chance that we might meet Godot, or was it Gatsby, or, oh yes, that's right, the mythical Bob's?

Ah, just kidding! Tell us when and where!
Lmao...yes come visit the absolute worst BWEr's ever known...france just sounds like alot of work plus visiting and wasting your liver on potentially poor vintages of late!!!! Lol...plus u probably alienate alot more members by going to France....though I wholeheartedly support whatever decision the executive counsel makes.................................florida :)
Last edited by robert goulet on Wed Apr 02, 2014 9:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Jay Winton
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Re: BWE '15

Post by Jay Winton »

Anywhere in Florida but Orlando. South Beach was lots of fun. California is good. France is good.
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DavidG
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Re: BWE '15

Post by DavidG »

Miami's nice. Tampa has Bern's. Anything else to recommend it? Other cities on the Gulf Coast? California's nice. France is great but we'd likely join for a couple of days.
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pomilion
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Re: BWE '15

Post by pomilion »

California!
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tim
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Re: BWE '15

Post by tim »

robert goulet wrote:
Lmao...yes come visit the absolute worst BWEr's ever known...france just sounds like alot of work plus visiting and wasting your liver on potentially poor vintages of late!!!! Lol...plus u probably alienate alot more members by going to France....though I wholeheartedly support whatever decision the execute counsel makes.................................florida :)
Although there are no guarantees, I can state emphatically that visiting Bordeaux is not wasting your liver. And I'm not sure how it alienates people (especially given that some people fly very far to get to the U.S.).

We'll make Bordeaux an amazing experience, even if it isn't as exceptional as last time (need to set proper expectations). And I'm thinking that we can make a couple days in Paris part of the event, which will satisfy some of the non-winos as well.
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tim
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Re: BWE '15

Post by tim »

Tom In DC wrote:Gail and I would be most interested in BWE FRANCE '15 - "Ten Years After", with a theme song of either "I'm Going Home" to Bordeaux or "I'd Love to Change the World" of Bordeaux pricing.

tim and AlexR, just let us know what we can do to support your efforts.
I think we need at least one or two people from the U.S. to take ownership of driving the event, and to lead the organizing committee. We need the BD to approve. Then, if AlexR is on board, we can coordinate most of the work on this end, including getting an air-conditioned bus.

Finally, we should identify any volunteers who have personal contacts with some interesting Chateaux to join the organizing committee. The biggest reason why Bordeaux 05 was a success was the personal connections. Without those, it would have been just another convention.
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robert goulet
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Re: BWE '15

Post by robert goulet »

U need Leve
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tim
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Re: BWE '15

Post by tim »

If Jeff wants to volunteer to help out, that would be great.
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Re: BWE '15

Post by tim »

If we do make it France, forget '00 vs '02, I think this will be the real debate:

http://bakinwhoopie.org/2011/08/15/whoo ... s-macaron/
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jal
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Re: BWE '15

Post by jal »

DavidG wrote:Miami's nice. Tampa has Bern's. Anything else to recommend it? Other cities on the Gulf Coast? California's nice. France is great but we'd likely join for a couple of days.
Sarasota! If we do Bern's in Tampa with ordering from their list one night, I can organize a "Saturday let's bring our own wines" dinner in Sarasota (of course, I can also do two different restaurants on two different nights in Sarasota if that's what we prefer). Also Sarasota has dozens of great restaurants that are very wine/corkage friendly. Beaches are great and there are a lot of good hotels plus a Ritz Carlton and a Hyatt.

BTW, Tampa - Sarasota is an hour, Orlando - Sarasota is 2 hours, and Tampa has direct flights to London, Frankfurt and Zurich.

The only issue I have is that if do agree on Sarasota, the only weekend that could work for me is March 27-29, after that we run into Passover/Easter

Thinkaboutit!
Best

Jacques
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Michael-P
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Re: BWE '15

Post by Michael-P »

France.

Michael-P
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DavidG
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Re: BWE '15

Post by DavidG »

Sarasota or France. France or Sarasota. Hmm...

Either way, I see a trip to Sarasota to visit Jacques and Jill in my future. With a side trip to Stuart's.
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Re: BWE '15

Post by sdr »

Sarasota? Now that's interesting. I need my map just to find it. I had no idea there were so many options there.

Of course a side trip to South Florida is an option where I could help.

Stuart
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tim
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Re: BWE '15

Post by tim »

Haven't heard any more about BWE '15. Based on the responses thus far, I'm not sure there is enough enthusiasm for a France trip this time. Am I wrong?
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brodway
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Re: BWE '15

Post by brodway »

both France and Florida sound like awesome venues. Paris in the Spring has got to be a romantic time of the year where the weather is mild, but Florida can offer great weather and other activities such as golf, tennis, swimming, etc.

as long as there's great wine and great company it doesn't matter where we get together, but we are not going to Maine in the middle of the winter even if there was a promise of a dozen whoopie pies per person upon arrival.
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Jay Winton
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Re: BWE '15

Post by Jay Winton »

Sarasota sounds interesting and so does France but that will take quite a bit more planning. i thought the South Beach convention was lots of fun but I know sdr worked long and hard to pull it off.
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Re: BWE '15

Post by Nicklasss »

At the last convention, I was screaming hard for Florida, as I could go with the who le family, but thinking twice, Simone will start school this fall and next spring will be hard to go any where with the family...

So I let you guys décide the location, and I'll fuguer out after.

But something is sure, I'll work hard to prépare a trip to Spain in 2015, saying there with the family for 3-4 weeks... And have a little excursion to Bordeaux with my father, for 2-3 days...

Nic
Last edited by Nicklasss on Wed May 28, 2014 12:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Michael-P
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Re: BWE '15

Post by Michael-P »

It seems to me that there is support for France and even more importantly the willingness of Tim, Alex and others there to help set it up. We should take advantage of that timing.

Plus I've heard from the negociants that 2014 will be the vintage of the century in Bordeaux, so we can barrel taste those 2014s to confirm it before we place our en premier orders.....

Michael-P
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dstgolf
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Re: BWE '15

Post by dstgolf »

Michael P,

I agree entirely about going ahead with plans to return to Bordeaux for our 15th Anniversary. Build it and they will come. I don`t think you will have trouble filling a trip once plans have been made and dates secured. Having willing people on the ground to co-ordinate is a huge advantage(and a lot of work). We might not be as successful as the first time around but it sure is worth the try to out do 2005! I`d be in full support and happy to help out any way that I could to make it happen. Time is moving on and this sort of planning takes a lot of time as well dates need to be fixed since travel/accomodation plans need lots of leed time. Don`t let this hang around too much longer because it may seem a long ways off but to plan an event like this it will require as much time as possible to make it a success.
Danny
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RPCV
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Re: BWE '15

Post by RPCV »

As a newbie to the forum I'd like to attend an event as they sound wonderful. I travel to France quite a bit and would agree with one of the posters that May is one of the more Holiday-filled months so scheduling may prove somewhat of an issue. Other cool wine venues I'd recommend at that time of year are Portland, Oregon (late May) and Las Vegas. As crazy as it sounds, Vegas is quite the food destination these days and accommodations cheap. I believe we cold get a private tasting room for free if we booked our party at the same Casino/Hotel. Lots of non-gambling things to do as well.

$.02
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Michael-P
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Re: BWE '15

Post by Michael-P »

BD: Nalan says she votes for France. Second choices are Vegas and Miami. MP
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AlexR
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Re: BWE '15

Post by AlexR »

Hi,

I'll be glad to help, as I did last time, if a group comes to Bordeaux.
It all takes *a lot* of planning, and I'll do my bit.

Alex R.
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