Uncork your Passion for Food, Wine and Kids

By Jennifer Larmie • Photos by Jennifer Kettler

Do you know the difference between Boys and Girls Town, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the Boys & Girls Club? I didn’t until last night when I attended MFA Oil’s “Uncorked: A Wine Experience” at Reynolds Alumni Center.

Glazer’s Distributors, The University Club, Event Solutions and countless volunteers collaborated on this first annual fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club. Event organizers expected more than 200 eager people ready to taste terrific food and wine from around the world as well as spend the evening with MU men’s basketball coach Mike Anderson, who has signed on as the club’s official spokesperson. Guests could bid on countless silent auction items as well as some fantastic live auction lots.

Valorie Livingston, formerly of Calloway Bank, is the club’s new executive director, and I spoke with her prior to making my way around the “World of Wine and Food” — the theme for the night. Valorie resided on the club’s board of directors for more than three years prior to accepting her current position. Her energy and passion were apparent as she explained some of her goals for the club, one of her main being to raise the funds necessary to build a larger facility and gym for the children they serve. Currently, 120 kids is the maximum number the club can manage, but with more space, the number could easily increase to 500. Valorie is also on a personal mission to educate Columbians about the differences between the club and the other youth-focused organizations.

Valorie made her way back to the crowd, and I started my journey ’round the world at wine Table 1. All wines are sold by Glazer’s Distributing and can be found at the usual suspects, including Patricia’s, HyVee, Schnucks and Top Ten Wines.

Each table was grouped by wine region, so it started with the logical California and Missouri. There were six or seven wines at every station, so I decided to narrow my choices. I picked the 2008 Sterling “Mendocino county – Organic” Sauvignon Blanc ($13.99). The wine had melon notes in the beginning and an overall citrus taste. It was refreshing and crisp, and it paired well with Chef Pliska’s tuna tartar and crisp wontons.

Table 2 hosted wines from Washington and Oregon. As most of you know, Pinot Noir from this area is top notch, so I went for the 2006 Erath “Estate Selection-Dundee Hills” ($34). I smelled cherry and a bit of burnt sugar, and the flavors were cinnamon, anise and plum. The wine was earthy and full-bodied. You can never go wrong pairing Pinot Noir and mushrooms, so I went for the wild mushroom risotto and was a happy camper.

Table 3 was Australia and New Zealand, and Tays Taylor, who’s from New Zealand, was my pour man. Tays poured me the 2007 Angove “Nine Vines – South Australia Viognier ($12). I love Viognier because it tastes like apricots and is such a versatile food wine. It also had peach and melon on the finish. I thought the crab and avocado parfait would work well here, and I was right. Crab and Viognier are usually a great pairing.

Table 4 was Chile and Argentina. I chose two to taste because wines from these countries are my personal favorites. Ron Newman, GM of Glazer’s, was pouring at this station. He’s a wealth of wine knowledge and a lot of fun. My first choice, which he predicted, was the 2007 Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Casablanca Valley Chardonnay ($24). There were lots of ripe pear and apple aromas with not too much oak. I also tried the goat cheese en croute with grilled peaches, and it was delicious.

The second wine I tasted was the tongue-twisting 2007 Finca Sopencia Tupungato Mendoza Reserve Malbec. Whew! Here came the plums and cherry again with medium body, but it had some good tannins. For kicks I tried it with the grilled chicken brochettes with chimichurri sauce. Not bad, but I probably should have gone for some beef.

Table 5 was Viva la Francais! I went straight for the 2007 Chateau de Sancerre ($26). I think I’ve said this before, but I love Sancerre! With a bright nose of grapefruit and a hint of earthiness and lemon, Sancerres are elegant wines and go perfectly with elegant appetizers such as Chef Pliska’s salmon gravlox and salmon rillettes.

Table 6 was Spain and Italy. I had never heard of this wine called Principessa “DOCG-Gavi Gavia ($14), so I had to try it. It’s made from the Cortese grape, which is grown in Piedmont, and turned into everyday dry white wine. In typical Italian romantic style, the story behind the name dates back to the sixth century when an Italian princess fell in love with a soldier, and they eloped to a town in Piedmont. Her father, the king of some place in Italy, named the town and the local grape after her. The wine wasn’t too complex — just a nice, crisp wine that paired well with the smoked trout and apple salad.

For some lucky attendees, there was a roped-off VIP section where you could taste extra special wines and extra special appetizers for a little more money than the general ticket price. Lucky me, Chuck Johnson was pouring one of my favorite wines of all time, Gary Farrell Pinot. This was the 2005 Gary Farrell Starr Ridge Pinot Noir. It earned 93 points in the Spectator, and I see why with all of its black cherry, cola, raspberry and mouth-coating lusciousness. I could not have been happier, and when I paired it with the utterly delicious duck confit and cherry samosas … Well, this is a family magazine, so nevermind.

Announcements were eventually made for everyone to move to the ballroom where Coach Anderson and others would be speaking to the crowd. As you walked through the doors, you were greeted by handsome young men offering sparkling wine and Chambord. Trays of beautiful petite fours and other dreamy desserts were passed around before you took your seat.

One of the first announcements named the winner of the blind tasting competition where guests had to guess the grape and its origin. Out of the 40 people who attempted, four actually figured it out. But the first one to nail it was Top Ten Wines Internet guru and wine aficionado, Eapan Thampy. His prize was a bottle of Artemis Cabernet worth $140. Not bad!

Sponsors of the evening, which included Theresa Maledy of Commerce Bank and Jerry Taylor of MFA, addressed the crowd, and Coach Anderson took the stage. Coach got the crowd going with his enthusiasm and obvious commitment — he made the surprise announcement that the October “Black and Gold” football game would be a fundraiser for the club.

I noticed throughout the evening that men in white cowboy hats were roaming around the room. They turned out to be The Nigro Brothers, an auctioneer company from Kansas City, who raised the house with their antics. The live auction raised more than $16,000 with favorite items being a Silver Oak Dinner with Coach Anderson donated by Hemingway’s and a Mad Dog 20/20 bottle draped with a three-strand pearl necklace from Gary B. Robinson Jewelers. The auction proceeds along with the admission fees put the total take for the night at about $50,000.

Not only did I enjoy the great food and wine that evening, but I was also touched by the stories told by the club families and kids. The story of a mom, who survived cancer, and her two kids was especially touching. She spoke passionately about her experience with the club and how much support they had given her and her children. I think the following quote from her is pretty accurate: “Like the fine wine you tasted this evening, the Boys & Girls Club helps kids grow and be cultivated into good citizens.” Well said. Cheers to the club, and good luck!