History of the Santa Rosa Wine Club By Norm Blackburn
The Club was formed in 1976 at the conclusion of a wine appreciation class at Santa Rosa Junior College. Our Club's fourth president, Chuck Chapman, owner of the Wine Cave, taught the class. Several attendees thought their interest in wine should be shared by forming a club made of likeminded individuals in the city of Santa Rosa.
The original name of the Club, according to Bob Scott, the Club's fifth president, was "Wine Club of Santa Rosa". A limit of 40 members was established, later the number was left to the discretion of the Board of Directors.
From the beginning, the Club attracted wine grape growers, wine makers and wine consumers interested in education and appreciation of wine. Club members agreed that membership and meeting topics would be free from commercial, political, religious or ethnic preferences or issues.
Early meetings were potluck lunches at a member's home. Wines were brought from member's cellars, tasted and judged for their excellence. Often guest speakers were invited to enhance the appreciation of wine.
The Club's second year saw the beginning of yearly weekend trips to visit wineries outside of Sonoma County. The first trip to the Monterey Peninsula was followed by trips to Mendocino, the Gold country, Napa, Lake County, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Paso Robles and points in between. In 2010 the economy forced a suspension of weekend trips for a couple of years. According to most members, the overnight trips were the highlight of the year. It was on these bus adventures that the next president and board of directors were elected. 2012 saw the resumption of overnight trips with a visit to Lake County.
The club established a wine cellar on the property of Newton Dal Poggetto in the mid-1980's. Here wines purchased on winery visits are stored and then used at club events.
In 1998, President Bill Ronchelli asked that the club write formal Articles of Association that would supersede the bylaws established in 1976. Club members adopted the Articles on the weekend trip that year. A major change was the official recognition that the Club was to be known as The Santa Rosa Wine Club.
The Articles of Association were revised and adopted on August 20, 2010. This version mostly tightened up the wording and brought the club into the electronic age by establishing the position of Webmaster and allowed club communication by e-mail. Fortunately, the quality of wine has remained consistently excellent throughout our history.
The Articles were revised again in 2014 adding a second vice president and including the immediate past president as a non-voting member of the board.
Norm Blackburn, Club Historian, compiled this history in January 2013 from Club historical documents, notes and from the memory of several past presidents. If any member has corrections, additions or suggestions, you are encouraged to send them to the club Historioan.
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