Yeah, sorry, I needed a bit of time to finalize my travel plans. I’m registered for Biondi Santi now.
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Sorry to hear it, Rodrigo
For those joining at lunch - I have a table for 6 now, a table for 8 is reserved, so if anyone else wants to join please let me know ASAP as I can change the table from 8 to 6.
As for the Afterparty, Laura has all our names on a guest list for the event, based on the confirmed registrations as outlined in the OP
I just heard from Laura, there are a few Berserkers who had incomplete registrations - if you plan to come, finish the registration and notify me so I can add you to the list, and be sure I’m on the lookout for you
@jhanserd @RNegrete @Jonathan_Jaggers
(there were two more but I couldn’t find them in the membership list so they must be lurkers)
Was trying to make it, but won’t be able to swing it 
Sadly, won’t be able to attend but it looks like a great event!
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Ok, any last minute shoppers, let me know if you sign up. I have a table for 8 with 7 committed to the lunch part, so I’ll adjust accordingly. To those doing the lunch, I have to pay for it in advance so I’ll just send Venmo requests or whatever to finalize it all
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I’d like to join the lunch, just bought my ticket for the Grand Tasting
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Thanks, Ray, meet you soon!
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Ok! Finalizing everyone in the list - any last minute reservations reach out!
For the lunch, I have the following: (PLEASE confirm as I have to prepay for the table, and collect from you thereafter)
@Jorge_Henriquez
@J0hnEhrl1ng
@Keith_Y
@I.S_a_n_c_h_e_z
@RayChung
Just confirm you plan to attend with me and Jen so I can finalize the table of 8
See you all soon! Looks like the weather is not going to be cooperating, though!
Confirmed!
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I’ll be there
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Confirmed!
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Confirmed
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Ok, I reached out to Laura and apparently they can collect at the table which is MUCH easier! It will be $85 plus tax but gratuity is included, FYI. See you are 1:30pm in the dining room (if I don’t run into you ahead of time) - ask for the Wine Berserkers table. All confirmed names listed above are also on the after party list.
Here’s the full menu:
Luncheon Buffet Menu
Salad
Panzanella Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes and Burrata
Entrées
Vegetable Moussaka (Vegetarian)
Dry Aged Rib Eye with Steak Sauce
Roasted Chicken with Chimichurri and Wild Mushrooms
Side Dishes
Coffee-Roasted Carrots
Crispy Quinoa with Chickpeas, Dried Cherry, Pumpkin Seeds, and Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
Duck Fat Fingerling Potatoes
Anson Mills Farro with Goat Cheese, Badger Flame Beets, Arugula, and Cider Vinaigrette
Desserts
Double Chocolate Brownie
Coconut Panna Cotta (Vegan) with Mango and Lime
Honey Cake (Gluten-Free) with Maple Whipped Cream and Blueberry Compote
Complimentary wine selection
White
Bodegas Manzanos Blanco Fermentado en Barrica 2020
*
Rosé
Hacienda López de Haro, Clásica Gran Reserva Rosado, Rioja, Spain 2013
*
Red
Vina Muriel, Solariego Tinto Vino de Elciego, Alavesa 2019
Muga, Prado Enea Gran Reserva, Rioja Alta, Spain 2016
Bodegas Riojanas, Viña Albina Gran Reserva, Rioja Alta 2004
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Hi all - I just joined Berserkers so please bear with me! I have a ticket already to the Grand Tasting but my other half is out of town so I was planning on attending solo. I found this thread and figured it would be nice to join a group to make the day more enjoyable. Hope that’s alright with you all, would love to make some new friends!
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Great, Jess, typical NYC last-minute add, so it’s perfectly normal!
I’ll be sure Laura puts your name on the afterparty list just in case as well. Come find me/us!
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FYI, slight chance I might join Jen at the Veuve master class (check out the list below, you’ll see why), taking Danielle’s seat there, so if I’m not around to say hello early on, I’ll see most of you at lunch and certainly after that…before my NEXT Master Class (Rioja) - hope I learn something, finally…
For those doing the tasting, happy to meet up before lunch!
Feel free to reach me at my cell to coordinate - 2055410060
Quick writeup now that we’re on the next leg of our trip:
Firstly, great to see a couple of the New York crew that I had met previously, and to meet several new Berserkers. I was rather blown away by the event itself, as Decanter went big on the facility, for sure - what a spectacular space. I found two new (to me) producers I will definitely be seeking out, and my wife, as always managed to find the most expensive wines when tasting a producer’s array being poured. I was impressed with Poderi Luigi Einaudi’s entire lineup, positioned right next to rather disappointing Pio Cesare and a few other Italian producers that were decent but not terribly memorable, and Ramirez de Ganuza simply blew my mind. @I.S_a_n_c_h_e_z forced us to try them and I’m very happy he did. The producer was familiar to @Jorge_Henriquez but not to me, and I definitely asked about distribution in California, but, alas, not yet. Incredible stuff.
My expectations were exceeded in the Veuve Cliquot Master Class, which featured Le Grande Dame. I can post notes later if anybody wants my useless blather, but most memorable was the 1990 from magnum and Jeroboam - what a remarkable difference. The wine from the Jero was fresh, bright, and completely different in nearly all qualities to the magnum, as if it was an entirely different wine. The Jero had 4gm/l and the magnum 5g/l but it wasn’t just a difference in disgorgement, all flavor and aroma profiles were entirely different. Well executed Master Class, very educational. The Rioja Master Class was a bit of a disjointed mess to me.
The VIP afterparty was just fantastic - incredible foods, open bar, and a chance to schmooze with several of the industry folks I met during the brief times I was able to work my way through the Grand Tasting. Having the opportunity to speak to them with some focus (and less noise) was valuable, indeed.
A few photos below, including our Berserker lunch, and a shot of me with @LauraT24 when we finally had a short chance to hang out (at the afterparty).
I highly recommend this event for all Berserkers next time - while the Grand Tasting was a bit busy, and loud, the wines being poured were interesting, varied, and definitely worthwhile. Many discoveries for me, and a tasting such as this is far different from what we typically see in California
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Was an absolute blast!
Agreed, I was great variety both in the range of wines and in the vintages offered. Standouts for me included tasting Chateau Sociando-Mallet and seeing what all the rage is about, tasting 4 vintages across ~20 years for Chateaux Lascombes and Saint-Pierre, and of course meeting all the folks pictured!
Was my first Berserker offline and looking forward to the next!