NEWSLETTER

Volume 7, Issue 9
March 2011
www.kreweofcork.com

ANNOUNCING THE 2011 GRAND MARSHAL

John Conover General Manager of Plumpjack Winery and a partner in Cade Winery

John Conover's winery background encompasses sales, marketing and management positions with well-respected, super-premium and ultra-premium California wine producers, including Grgich Hills Cellar (Rutherford), Monticello Cellars (Napa), Lockwood Vineyard (Monterey County) and currently PlumpJack winery (Oakville) and the new Cade winery (Howell Mountain).

Conover joined PlumpJack as general manager in January 1999 to oversee the daily operations of the estate winery and vineyard, provide strategic direction for the newly-established property, steadily increase production from 1,000 cases to 10,000 cases annually and create the image, awareness and distribution channels that would ultimately support that level of production.

Conover is also a partner in Cade, a new estate winery built on Howell Mountain in Napa Valley by the PlumpJack group which opened April 1, 2009. Under Conover's direction, Cade released its first white wine, the Cade Sauvignon Blanc 2005, in 2006, and its first red wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Cuvee 2005, in 2007. Cade will shortly release the 2007 Cade Estate Cabernet Sauvignon grown on 21 organically farmed acres planted on steep slopes in front of the new LEED-certified winery and extensive barrel-aging caves.

In 2004 PlumpJack Winery's 2001 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was named "Number One Wine in the World" by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
 

Costume Winners

Each year the costumes get better and better. We applaud all the members who created themes and made clever costumes. The contest winners were announced by the Royal Coordinator, Gillian Pierce at the King and Queen's Party.

Best Use of Corks: Senior Corky - Ernest Duffy

Best Group: Merlot Rouge - Doug Vaughn, Mary Jane Lane, Kimberly Vaughn,
Kelly Vaughn, Gail Cavett, Sherry Sanborn, Charmaine Russo and Jean Scanlon

Best of Show: Wizard of Wine - John Andrulot's group

Each group will receive a prize of one case of mixed wine. Please e-mail Gillian@kreweofcork.com after Mardi Gras to arrange to collect your prize.

Why 406 members?

Membership tops 400 in this Fifth Anniversary year. Many are amazed with the rapid growth the Krewe of Cork has enjoyed. King Patrick gets the credit for marketing and membership growth in this short period. We also owe much to the Royal Sponsors who contribute generously. The Royal Committee joins the Captain in thanking each of you, our Sparkling, and Still members for your membership and interest over the years. Without you, we would not be a Krewe of 406 in 2005.

 Many have asked, “Why 406?” 

Well it is an interesting story. A year ago, King Patrick was relaxing in his courtyard sipping a glass of wine, nibbling on cheese and reading a wine book. He had an inspiration. Parade Day 2004 was a big success and had surpassed all his goals. He was already dreaming of 2005 and how he would keep the Krewe at a size that could stay in the French Quarter. He also wanted to maintain the unique style and high quality that defines the Krewe of Cork. The Royal Committee researched restaurants and ballrooms in the Quarter to determine the maximum capacity. After several proposals, the King knew he could only allow the Krewe to grow to about 400.

Remembering that limitation, he read a quote that settled in his mind with the last sip of wine. “Where there is no wine, there is no love” written by Euripides in 406 BC. Throughout the ages, Greek playwrights and artists around the world were inspired by the themes of wine and love. It was natural that our King too was inspired to cap the membership of his Krewe at 406. Therefore, it is. For this year and all years to come, the membership of the Krewe of Cork will be 406.

Euripides could have been a member of the Krewe of Cork. His plays captured the importance of wine in the life of the Greeks and he used the juice of the grapes to bring together the humans and gods. His writings are wise words to us even today. From his numerous plays:

“Mankind…possesses two supreme blessings. First of these is the goddess Demeter, or Earth, whichever name you choose to call her by. It was she who gave to man his nourishment of grain. But after her there came the son of Semele, who matched her present by inventing liquid wine as his gift to man. For filled with that good gift, suffering mankind forgets its grief; from it comes sleep; with it oblivion of the troubles of the day. There is no other medicine for misery.” Euripides c. 485 – 406 BC

The Bacchae (c 407 BC)

“It’s the wise man who stays home when he’s drunk.” Euripides, The Cyclops 425 B.C.

“Both to the rich and poor, wine is the happy antidote for sorrow.” Euripides

“Quickly bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may whet my mind and say something clever.” Euripides

“Real friendship is shown in times of trouble” prosperity is full of friends.” Euripides

“If your life at night is good, you think you have everything.” Euripides

“Question everything, Learn Something, Answer nothing.” Euripides