Heart’s Delight 2013 – A Bordeaux and American Wine Feast in Washington DC for a Good Cause, USA

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and  Alfred Tesseron, Owner of  Château Pontet-Canet, at Heart's Delight 2013. For more see: Tasting with Alfred Tesseron the last 10 Vintages of Château Pontet-Canet in Washington DC, USA/France. The Bordeaux Tour in September 2013 organized by Annette Schiller (see below) will include an event at Pontet-Canet

Heart’s Delight is an annual four-day celebration in Washington DC, USA, bringing together winemakers, celebrity chefs, gourmands, and wine enthusiasts to raise money for the American Heart Association. The events are not cheap, but high-class and tax deductible (partly). Over the past 12 years, the events have raised over $10 million for the American Heart Association, helping to support research into the number one cause of death in the United States.

Here is an overview of what happened this year, including the main winemakers that were present in 2013. Aaron Nix-Gomez (Hogshead) has also blogged on Heart's Delight 2013. See: The 14th Annual Heart’s Delight Press and Sommelier Luncheon

Heart’s Delight 2013

Tuesday, April 23 was the inaugural United States of Wine tasting reception, showcasing a range of American Wines. The reception included a live auction. Price: US$ 200

Picture: Annette Schiller, ombiasy wine tours, and Anne Cuvelier, Château Léoville Poyferré at Eola in Washington DC. Anne Cuvelier, from the Cuvelier family (that owns, inter alia, Château Léoville-Poyferré in St. Julien, Bordeaux), was in town (Washington DC) for the Heart’s Delight Events. On the side, Anne Cuvelier organized, assisted by Annette Schiller, wine tours by ombiasy, a winemaker dinner at Eola. See: Announcement: Château Léoville-Poyferré Winemaker Dinner with Anne Cuvelier at Eola on May 1, 2013 in Washington DC. The dinner was $130 plus tax and tip and was sold out within a few days. In 2013, two wine tours by ombiasy are coming up:  to Germany (in August) and to Bordeaux (in September): (1) Germany Wine and Culture Tour August 2013 and (2) Bordeaux Wine Tour September 2013

Picture: Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy, Director at Château Clerc Milon, which belongs to the Philippe de Rothschildgroup, at Heart's Delight 2013

Wednesday, May 1 was the United States of Wine celebration showcasing American wine, including a silent and a live auction, followed by a BYO-style collectors dinner celebration at Charlie Palmer Steak. Price: US$ 200 for the United States of Wine celebration and US$ 500 for the BYO-style collectors dinner (plus a bottle of wine)

Picture: Véronique Bonnie-Laplane and Bruno Laplane from Château Malartic-Lagravière at Heart's Delight 2013. The estate has belonged to the Bonnie family since 1997, when Alfred-Alexandre and Michèle Bonnie bought the somewhat underperforming Classified Growth of Graves. Véronique is one of their daughters. Michel Rolland consultants.

Picture: Jean-Louis Carbonnier of Château Palmer at Bistro Cacao in Washington DC in 2012. See more: Château Palmer Vertical with Jean-Louis Carbonnier at Bistro Cacao in Washington DC, USA

Thursday, May 2 offered a series of intimate wine dinners with an international flair in private homes, restaurants, Embassies and Ambassador’s Residences with a host, chef and winemaker at each. Several ambassadors hosted a dinner, including the Ambassador of France. Other dinners took place at restaurants and private homes. Price: Ranging from US$ 2000 to US$ 400

Picture: Julianna Martinelli, Martinelli Winery, Owner and President, at Heart's Delight 2013. Julianna Martinelli is the fourth generation in her family to be involved in the wine business: her great-grandparents began growing grapes in Sonoma County in the late 1800's. The small winery is family owned and operated, and the entire family has been involved in creating its success over the years.

Picture: Christian G.E.Schiller with Claude Thibaut, Thibaut-Janisson Sparklers from Virginia. For more see: As Close as You Can Get to Champagne – Claude Thibaut and His Virginia Thibaut Janisson Sparklers at screwtop Wine Bar, USA

The Vintner’s Dinner of Friday, May 3 was featured a retrospective of  eleven years of Vintners Dinner history, including the wines of Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Haut-Brion, Château Latour and Château Margaux. The evening  also included a live auction. The dinner was prepared by Chef Michel Rostang, Restaurant Michel Rostang, Paris. Auctioneer was Jamie Ritchie from Sotheby’s Wine. Price: US$ 15,000 for a table of 8

Picture: Dominique Baly, Owner of Château Coutet, at Heart's Delight 2013. Thomas Jefferson celebrated Château Coutet as the best Sauternes from Barsac during his ambassadorship to France. In 1855, recognized for its continued excellence, the estate was classified as a First Growth.

Saturday, May 4 began with a formal, seated Bordeaux tasting in the afternoon, followed by 2 seminars. During the Grand Tasting Reception in the evening, guests had the opportunity to bid on exclusive travel packages, dining experiences and rare and exceptional wines during the silent and live auctions. It all concluded with a VIP after party. Price: US$ 500 plus US$ 100 for the VIP after party.

Picture: Daina Paulin, Château Haut-Bailly, a Cru Classe de Graves at Heart's Delight 2013.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller with Rachel Martin, Boxwood Winery. For more see: Boxwood Winery in Virginia: Lunch with Wine Makers Rachel Martin and Adam McTaggert in the Chai between the Tanks – TasteCamp 2012 East Kick-Off, USA

Event Wines

A to Z and Rex Hill Winery
Barboursville Vineyards
Boxwood Winery
Château Climens
Château Coutet
Château Guiraud
Château Haut-Bailly 
Château Léoville Poyferré
Château Malartic-Lagravière
Château Palmer
Château Pontet-Canet
Château Troplong Mondot
Chimney Rock Winery
Coeur de Terre Vineyard
Colby Red Wine
Delectus Winery
Domaine Drouhin Oregon
Early Mountain Vineyards
Fisher Vineyards
George Wine Company
Harlan Estate
Martinelli Winery
Meteor Vineyard
Peju Province Winery
Ramey Wine Cellars
Retour Wines
Ridge Vineyards
Tablas Creek Vineyard
Thibaut-Janisson Winery
Vino 50 Selections

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Announcement: Château Léoville-Poyferré Winemaker Dinner with Anne Cuvelier at Eola on May 1, 2013 in Washington DC

Germany Wine and Culture Tour August 2013

Bordeaux Wine Tour September 2013

Bordeaux Trip September 2012, France

Bordeaux Wines and their Classifications: The Basics

Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux (City), France

Plateau des Fruits de Mer and a Pessac-Leognan Wine in Bordeaux City, France

An Afternoon with Owner Michel Tesseron at Château Lafon-Rochet, 4ème Cru Classé en 1855, in Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux

The Wine Empire of the von Neipperg Family in France, Bulgaria and Germany

Château Léoville-Poyferré, Chateau Le Crock, Didier Cuvelier in Bordeaux and the Cuvelier Los Andes Wines in Argentina

Château Pape Clément in Pessac-Léognan and the World Wide Wine Empire of Bernard Magrez, France

Tasting with Alfred Tesseron the last 10 Vintages of Château Pontet-Canet in Washington DC, USA/France

Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB) on North America Tour in Washington DC - Schiller’s Favorites

Owner Jean-Bernard Grenié and Wine Journalist Panos Kakaviatos Presented the Wines of Chateau Angélus and Chateau Daugay at Black Salt Restaurant in Washington DC, USA

As Close as You Can Get to Champagne – Claude Thibaut and His Virginia Thibaut Janisson Sparklers at screwtop Wine Bar, USA

Boxwood Winery in Virginia: Lunch with Wine Makers Rachel Martin and Adam McTaggert in the Chai between the Tanks – TasteCamp 2012 East Kick-Off, USA