Philharmonic Uncorks a Balanced Benefit

Ask Roger Smith why he’s partial to the Zaca Mesa ’89 reserve Chardonnay, and he’ll analyze the wine as only a true connoisseur can.

“The balance, the complexity, the straightforwardness,” said Smith, swirling the gold liquid around in his glass.

Smith was one of about 400 wine lovers who attended Winefest ’92 at the Radisson Plaza hotel’s Crystal Ballroom in Irvine Sunday. Presented by the Town & Country Committee of the Orange County Philharmonic Society, the wine-tasting was expected to raise about $12,000 for the society’s education programs.

A Good Year

Winefest has become one of the most respected wine tastings in Southern California, according to Paula Konecky, benefit chairwoman.

This year’s 12th annual fest only added to the event’s growing prestige. More than 42 wineries from around the state showed up to pour 115 premium wines.

“The wineries are exceptional,” said Carol Rush, president of the Town & Country Committee. “They’ve found this is a very successful event where they can reach a lot of people.”

And connoisseurs love the event because they can sample so many different wines under one roof.

“I go to Napa Valley three or four times a year to go wine-tasting. When I’m there I can only hit about eight wineries,” said Smith, a Philharmonic board member. “Here I can taste three different vintages from 40 different wineries.

“Every year I discover one or two wineries I’ve never heard of before.”

Some wine lovers come to the fest to stock up on a year’s worth of wine.

Paul and Stacey Von Berg make an annual pilgrimage to the Winefest to replenish their wine cellar because they’re too busy to shop for fine wines during the year.

“First we try selected Chardonnays,” Paul said. “Then we circle back to try the reds.” When they’re through, they sit down and compare notes before placing a large order.

“We keep our wine inventory on a computer,” Paul said.

Wining and Dining

When guests weren’t drinking, they were eating. Zov’s Bistro in Tustin served a Mediterranean-style buffet with sliced tenderloin beef, walnut caviar, baby egg plant and humus dip with pita bread. More traditional wine-tasting fare such as fruits, fine cheeses and breads were contributed by Trader Joe’s of Santa Ana and C’est Si Bon Bakery of Newport Beach.

Tickets to Winefest ’92 were $40 per person. Proceeds from the event benefit the music education outreach programs of the Orange County Philharmonic Society, which are provided at no charge to more than 300,000 county school children each year.

Other faces in the crowd: Marcia Coy, chairwoman of the Orange County Philharmonic’s women’s committees, Helen Kikkawa, Judy Lurch, Dale and Sharon Paisley, Erich Vollmer, executive director of the Orange County Philharmonic, and his wife, Patricia.