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It was best of times on the date of wine tour October 13-14, 2019. We had a great group including Carol and Mario who traveled from Florida to attend. It was great to see them and their enthusiasm for the event even though they drove a Chevy Impala. The route we followed was same as last year. Through Carson to Jack’s Valley Road to HI way 88 for a rest stop at Carson Pass (beautiful drive- fall colors were great).  Above a group picture at Carson Pass with mountains in background.

This year before we left Carson Pass everyone was alerted to watch for and take the Mormon Immigrant trail exit. Last year five cars blew past the exit. This year President Ron Nicasio and his navigator Art Ono charged ahead of the lead car without knowing how to get to first stop at Amador Cellars. The rest of us proceeded in an orderly manner to Amador Cellars where we were greeted by Linda Long one of the owners. Ron and Art did fine us.  Amador Cellars is a family winery.  Linda supervises the tasting room with help from her daughter and son. Mr. Long retired as winemaker but is around to help wine testing. They are welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable.  In October they were still harvesting and crushing. We inspected grapes in fermenting vats in the outdoor tasting area set up just for us.

We next went to MaBeRa Winery for lunch catered by Beth Sogaard Catering from the Amador Vintage Market. Many of us sat outside and MaBeRa staff brought out wine to taste while we enjoyed lunch.  We the only guests at MaBeRa that Saturday—it was closed to the public.  The BMW Flag was displayed in the tasting room area of the warehouse where others had lunch (See group picture on Web Page). Unfortunately that is the last time we will enjoy MaBeRa hospitality. We learned later that It has closed. Wine sold off at discounts (We enjoyed MaBeRa wine at the Holiday Party dinner).  MaBeRa gifted it the BMW flag to the Club and it was displayed at Holiday Party. So next year we will need to find a new lunch venue. Those who attended will tell you that it will be hard to beat MaBeRa.

The last stop was Paul J. Wines.  It is new open in April 2018. Paul J. Sobon is the owner and wine maker. He lives next door to the tasting room. His daughter Camille run the tasting room and there is a red wine named after her that many of us purchased. The Sobon family owns Sobon Winery and Shenandoah Vineyards both in Amador County. The tasting room is new. The grounds include a bocce court and putting green. Mario, Fred, Ron Rachow and I played bocce. Others enjoyed wine and lounging in comfortable chairs outside the tasting room.

After Paul J it was on to Shenandoah Inn for a nap and preparing for the pool party. Everyone brought their favorite wine of the day and we consumed the left over lunch snacks and finished off with Pokerville market pizza. Can’t beat that.

Sunday breakfast was at Marlene and Glenn’s Dead Fly Dinner—as good as ever. After breakfast members headed off to Amador Flower Farm or to visit a winery or head home. We look forward to next year. Who knows what new great winery we will find to visit? For sure it will include some old favorites.

~ De Sharp

To watch the video and trip details click here and here to view the photo gallery.

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2018 ended on a high note with another successful Holiday Party held on December 13^th. This year the party was again held at The Club at ArrowCreek. The cocktail party prior to dinner was hosted by the McGoff’s at their ArrowCreek home. 40 members and significant others attended for our last event of the year. The Sierra Chapter provided the appetizers for the cocktail party and members brought their favorite beverages. We all had fun catching up on the past events of the year!

After cocktails, we went to the Club which was only minutes away.  The McGoff’s are members of the Club so there was no rental charge for the room.  The Sierra Chapter also provided the wine for dinner.  This year we had a sit down dinner with Chicken Supreme, Maple Chipotle Salmon and Dijon Honey & Rosemary Pork Tenderloin for the main entrees. The room was beautifully decorated and had a cozy fireplace that enhanced a lovely venue for the party.

The highlight of the evening was the annual raffle. Again, Bill Pearce BMW contributed several raffle items and De Sharp donated a gift as well as wine from the McGoff’s. Almost everyone won a prize.  The party is booked for 2019 at Brick’s Restaurant again. We look forward to some new members to show up this year to take in all the fun.

Happy New Year!

Pat McGoff
Vice President

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The post 2018 Wine Tour appeared first on BMW CCA Sierrra Chapter.

I grew up on a farm outside a small town in Michigan. I was always interested in cars and worked on the Pontiac Motors assembly line for a couple of years during the time the GTO was first introduced. I graduated from Michigan State in the mid-sixties and joined the Marines.

My first new car was a Chevy Corvair Corsa convertible with 4 single barrel carburetor and all of 140 horsepower that I sold when I left for Vietnam. After serving 12 1/2 months overseas I bought a muscle car, a Dodge Cornet with a 440 magnum engine. Really fast acceleration but not much on stopping or cornering.

I stayed in the Marines, attended law school, and retired after 20

years. Sharon and I then moved to Reno where we have lived since 1986. Sharon is a native Nevadan and her family has lived in Reno for generations. I worked for the Nevada Attorney General for a short time, the Washoe County District Attorney for 5 years, and then spent 22 years as an Assistant United States Attorney. Prior to retirement Most of my career was spent as a criminal prosecutor.

I have owned numerous cars over the years including a Rambler American, a Chevy Chevelle 2 door hardtop, a Mustang and an Olds Cutlass. I bought my first BMW, a 320i in 1981and kept it for about 15 years It was a great fun car to drive and I don’t think that model ever got the respect it deserved. My next Bimmer was a 1988 535i with a manual transmission which I owned for about 12 years. I have also had a 2001 Z3 roadster, a 2011 Z4 roadster, and currently have a 2005 and a 2013 X3. My other cars are a 2005 MB CLK 500 and a 2013 MB SL550.

I joined our club around 10 years ago and Sharon and I have greatly enjoyed the experience and comradeship of fellow members. We particularly enjoy the road trips like the annual wine tour, the Virginia City drive, and the Strom “Cabot Cove” trips. We also look forward to more fun times and fun rallies.

Since retiring I have played a lot of golf, spent a lot of time hiking, and we have been on several cruises and made several trips to Europe. We are looking forward too many more years of travel.

Additionally, I have been a SAVE volunteer for the last 3 years working 1 or 2 days a week with the Reno Police Department.

~ Ron Rachow

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I was raised in a copper mining camp in Kimberly, Nevada. I know you never heard of it and if you happened to go there today (even if you can get close) you will find a big open pit mine.  Kimberly was a mining company town. We had our own hospital, K-12 School, post office, small store and company housing. When WW II ended copper price tanked and mining in Kimberly was cut back and parts of the town including the school were shut down. Kimberly kids were bused to Ruth to finish 12th grade.

High school was in Ely, White Pine County HS. Kids from Kimberly, Ruth, McGill and area ranches all went to WP HS.

My first car was not a BMW. In 1955 I acquired 1940 Ford coupe. Ran ok but no brakes. My Dad and I finally got brakes fixed. I went off to college fall 1956 at the University of Nevada.  Note I did not say UNR, Reno because the only UNR in 1956 was in Reno. There was a two year JC in Las Vegas. My Ford did not go to college with me.  In1958 my parents moved to Las Vegas and my Ford disappeared.

Fast forward. College followed by Law School at Stanford, married to Joyce (we met at UNR) and moved to Reno in 1963.  I had a 1954 Ford Fairlane six with column shift. Joyce had 1955 Chev. Coupe.  Both sold, and we got 1960 or so Ford Galaxy. I was admitted to Bar in Nevada in 1963 (55 years ago). We were both working so we splurged and bought a 1964 Pontiac Tempest convertible. When daughter Stefanie was born in 1966 the Tempest was traded in on another Ford sedan. Son Kyle was born in 1969 and a series of cars followed:  SAAB turbo sedan; BMW Bavaria, BMW 2002, Mercedes Benz 450SEL; BMW E36 M3; BMW E46 M3; current 2015 M4; three X5s latest a 2015 diesel- great car.  Also mixed in was a Mitsubishi SUV, a 1964 or 65 Ford pickup and 2008 Chevrolet Silverado pickup.

In 2000 we attended a charity function that had a silent auction. A GGCBMWCCA two day driving school at Sears Point was one of the auction items. I bought it!  My first track school at Sears was November 2000. I found my application for another GGC school at Sears in November of 2002 that listed schools at Laguna Seca (1) a Thunder Hill (1) and Sears (3). Many other schools and track days at Reno Fernley followed including the BMW M school in Greenville in 2012. I took my M4 purchased in April 2016 to Laguna Seca during Octoberfest 2016.  Probably my last track day. Although on my bucket list is a track day at Mid-Ohio track with my son in the Blue E36 M3 that he bought from me.

The Sierra Chapter was organized October 17, 2006. The Club Charter was issued on January 27, 2007 as the 94^th chapter of BMWCCA. I was a charter member. I was elected as the Treasurer’s when Mart Jaama the original treasurer moved to California and I have not been able to get shed of the position. After 12 years many of the charter members are still active in the Club.  Many new members have joined. Among the great things about the Club is the opportunity to make new friends. Joyce and I look forward to enjoying Club events with old friends and meeting new friends for many years to come.

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First time wine tour members Kathy and Bob Bennett joined the group in Genoa and Bob and Linda Sanfilippo joined at the first rest stop in Carson Pass.  It was warmer at 8000 feet than in the Sierra Summit parking lot (you will see pictures from Carson Pass).  We were on time and on schedule and everything was under control for the 13 cars in the group—but that did not last.

The route leaving Carson Pass continued to SR 88 about 20 miles to the turn off onto Mormon Immigrant Trail road.  The first 7 cars in line followed the leader when he turned on to Mormon Immigrant Trail but the next 6 did not!   Three of the six took Omo Ranch Road and found their way to the first stop Amador Cellars on Shenandoah Road.  Here is where the fun starts.  The other three ended where SR 88 connects with SR 49 and headed toward Plymouth and were looking for Amador Cellars on Steiner Road because that was the address your “all knowing” tour guide put in the Itinerary (Amador Cellars is on Shenandoah Road).  But all is well that end well—all three found Amador Cellars in plenty of time to enjoy its wine before the Lunch stop at Karmere Vineyards.

Linda Long and her husband, the owners Amador Cellars, welcomed the group to a private tasting area outside of the winery public tasting room in the barrel storage warehouse.  The Weather was perfect for outside tasting of Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Barbara and Rhone valley varietals.

Then it was on to Karmere Vineyards for lunch.  Karmere reserved its outside patio for our use. Before and after lunch tasting and shopping were the order of the day in the large Karmere tasting room and gift shop.  Sampling Karmere’s  2016 vintage Zinfandel and Primavera still aging in the barrel was available to entice purchase of a future for delivery in 2018.

From Karmere we traveled up hill and down dusty dale to MaBeRa Wines where Ramona and Mario provided a fantastic setting (outside with tables and umbrellas) for tasting their wonderful wine.  Ramona displayed a BMW Club flag to welcome us (See Joyce and Cheri in front of flag in pictures on web page).  Although we had just come from lunch we all enjoyed the assorted meat, cheeses and other snacks Ramona provided to enhance the enjoyment of the six wines offered for tasting.  Ramona and Mario patiently answered questions and invited us back in 2018.

Last stop of the day was Scott Harvey Wines also a new stop for the group.  Scott Harvey arranged for us to be in a small area adjacent to public tasting area and served its award-winning Zinfandel for tasting.

After enjoying the Scott Harvey wine, the group moved on to the Shenandoah Inn to check in and prepare for the pool side party.  At the appointed hour the group assembled pool side with a bottle of their favorite wine of the day.  Party Platters from the Amador Vintage Market were waiting.  Platters included assorted artisan cheese, fruit, nuts bread & crackers; Grilled chicken, and pork tenderloin with mustard and chutney; hummus with chips and vegetables and Amador Vintage Famous Chips and salsa.  After appetites had been wetted, Pokerville Market Pizza showed up—Combination; Vegetarian; and Chicken Pesto.  Drinking Wine and visiting must make you ravenous because there was no Pizza leftover.   Cheri and Russ provide Halloween pumpkin cookies for dessert.

The adventure ended Sunday morning at what is now the traditional breakfast at Marlene & Glen’s Dead Fly Dinner.  If you have not been there you need to experience the family size single servings available from a menu that has everything. Marlene sets a table big enough for all of us.  After breakfast members found their way home some stopping first at the Amador Flower Farm, Pokerville Market or other wineries.

The tentative plan is to hold the tour on the same weekend next October—so save Saturday and Sunday October 13 &14, 2018 and join the fun.

~ De Sharp

To watch the video and trip details click here and here to view the photo gallery.

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Club member were on the road again on Saturday, October 14, 2017 headed for Plymouth California. The day dawned clear and sunny. However, when the 25 restless drivers and passengers arrived at the Sierra Summit parking lot there was no standing around in groups drinking coffee and waiting for all the expected wine aficionados to arrive. The wind was bitter cold (that is why in the video there are no pictures of the group at the Sierra Summit). We hit the road at the scheduled departure time of 7:45 AM.

First time wine tour members Kathy and Bob Bennett joined the group in Genoa and Bob and Linda Sanfilippo joined at the first rest stop in Carson Pass. It was warmer at 8000 feet than in the Sierra Summit parking lot (you will see pictures from Carson Pass). We were on time and on schedule and everything was under control for the 13 cars in the group—but that did not last.

The route leaving Carson Pass continued to SR 88 about 20 miles to the turn off onto Mormon Immigrant Trail road. The first 7 cars in line followed the leader when he turned on to Mormon Immigrant Trail but the next 6 did not! Three of the six took Omo Ranch Road and found their way to the first stop Amador Cellars on Shenandoah Road. Here is where the fun starts. The other three ended where SR 88 connects with SR 49 and headed toward Plymouth and were looking for Amador Cellars on Steiner Road because that was the address your “all knowing” tour guide put in the Itinerary (Amador Cellars is on Shenandoah Road). But all is well that end well—all three found Amador Cellars in plenty of time to enjoy its wine before the Lunch stop at Karmere Vineyards.

Linda Long and her husband, the owners Amador Cellars, welcomed the group to a private tasting area outside of the winery public tasting room in the barrel storage warehouse. The Weather was perfect for outside tasting of Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Barbara and Rhone valley varietals.

Then it was on to Karmere Vineyards for lunch. Karmere reserved its outside patio for our use. Before and after lunch tasting and shopping were the order of the day in the large Karmere tasting room and gift shop. Sampling Kramere’s 2016 vintage Zinfandel and Primavera still aging in the barrel was available to entice purchase of a future for delivery in 2018.

From Karmere we traveled up hill and down dusty dale to MaBeRa Wines where Ramona and Mario provided a fantastic setting (outside with tables and umbrellas) for tasting their wonderful wine. Ramona displayed a BMW Club flag to welcome us (See Joyce and Cheri in front of flag in pictures on web page). Although we had just come from lunch we all enjoyed the assorted meat, cheeses and other snacks Ramona provided to enhance the enjoyment of the six wines offered for tasting. Ramona and Mario patiently answered questions and invited us back in 2018.

Last stop of the day was Scott Harvey Wines also a new stop for the group. Scott Harvey arranged for us to be in a small area adjacent to public tasting area and served its award-winning Zinfandel for tasting.

After enjoying the Scott Harvey wine, the group moved on to the Shenandoah Inn to check in and prepare for the pool side party. At the appointed hour the group assembled pool side with a bottle of their favorite wine of the day. Party Platters from the Amador Vintage Market were waiting. Platters included assorted artisan cheese, fruit, nuts bread & crackers; Grilled chicken, and pork tenderloin with mustard and chutney; hummus with chips and vegetables and Amador Vintage Famous Chips and salsa. After appetites had been wetted, Pokerville Market Pizza showed up—Combination; Vegetarian; and Chicken Pesto. Drinking Wine and visiting must make you ravenous because there was no Pizza leftover. Cheri and Russ provide Halloween pumpkin cookies for dessert.

The adventure ended Sunday morning at what is now the traditional breakfast at Marlene & Glen’s Dead Fly Dinner. If you have not been there you need to experience the family size single servings available from a menu that has everything. Marlene sets a table big enough for all of us. After breakfast members found their way home some stopping first at the Amador Flower Farm, Pokerville Market or other wineries.

The tentative plan is to hold the tour on the same weekend next October—so save Saturday and Sunday October 13 &14, 2018 and join the fun.

~ De Sharp

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What does that have to do with the BMW Club you ask—nothing directly but I liked the song.  However summer is almost gone (gone already for school kids) and our Club is movin’ on from our August meeting and picnic to a September meeting and maybe President Ron installing rotors and pads on his M3;  to Street Survival October 7^th and Wine tour October 14^th and fun rally October 28^th.

Movin’ on after October excitement winter will be coming in November and December as will the Holiday Party.

But if you want to enjoy the great fall weather in Reno movin’ on to your own drive.  The trip to Murphy via California Route 4 is a great drive.  Taste some wine (not to much) have lunch and drive back.  About 6 hour drive time.

If you missed Sierra Buttes Poker Run tour email Sharon Goodrich and ask her to send the route instructions or click here to go to the event page and enjoy ribs at the Longboard restaurant at Plumas Pines Golf Course.

Drive around Lake Tahoe stop at Sugar Pine Point State Park (Californian Side) and visit the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion. The take Kingsbury Grade from South Shore end up in Gardnerville/Minden and have dinner or lunch at JT’s Restaurant, 1426 US-395, Gardnerville.

Stay in Reno and visit the National Auto Museum rated in top five in the nation. It has a new space exhibit.

Before you know it you have moved on into 2018—Happy New Year!

De Sharp, Treasurer

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DeArmond Sharp Treasurer.

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The evening for the 47 members who signed up began with BYO cocktails and appetizers at the Sharp’s residence. No weather excitement this year—power stayed on and  the party was enjoyed by the convivial group of members who attended.  Those who were not able to attend missed the gala event of the 2016 holiday season.  The members brought a wide choice of tasty treats including Jim John’s special meat balls which are always a great hit.  The group moved on to Brick’s restaurant for the gourmet three course sit down dinner.  The dining began with a Caesar Salad followed by a choice of filet of Sole with Lemon Caper sauce; Pork Tenderloin or Short Ribs.  Fourteen members opted to pay extra for Filet Mignon.  Desert choice, all delicious, were Key Lime pie, Crème Brulee or Bread Pudding with brandy sauce.  The club paid for Smith and Hook Cabernet or Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay  Retiring President McGoff scored several gifts for raffle prizes from Bill Pearce.  The high light was the presentation by Fred Watson to Pat of an album with pictures of events during Pat’s two years in office.  Pat and JoAnn were also present with another gift in appreciation for their two years of service to the Club.

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by DeArmond Sharp

Early Saturday morning (7:20 a.m.), on September 19, 2015, BMWs with enthusiastic drivers and 15 restless passengers met to begin the Sierra Chapter Annual Eldorado/Amador Wine Tour.

The group departed on schedule at 8:15 a.m. and headed for its first stop three hours later at Cooper Vineyard, Plymouth, California.  The route took the drivers through Carson City, from there to Jacks Valley Road for a pleasant drive through the countryside on the west side of the Carson Valley, and from there on Route 88 over Carson Pass including spectacular views of Caples and Silver Lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

We arrived on schedule at Cooper Vineyard where we were privileged to taste nine of the wonderful wines that Cooper produces, including the Barbera for which its renowned in Amador County.  In addition to the wine, Cooper provided cheese and crackers to wet our appetites for lunch.

From Cooper Vineyard the group proceeded a short distance to Terra d‘Oro Montevina Winery for our lunch stop.  By prearrangement, the Amador Vintage Market had delivered box lunches for those who purchased box lunches others brought their own.  Villa d’Oro has a beautiful facility for picnicking which they graciously permitted us to use.  It is currently the site of the Barbera Festival which is held in Amador County in June of each year.

Following lunch we enjoyed tasting the Villa d’Oro/Montevina offerings before proceeding to our next stop at Vino Noceto.  We were treated to a tasting of the Vino Noceto signature Sangiovese (3 distinct styles) in their outside patio.  The weather was sunny and warm and a few participants gave up on wine tasting and checked in at the Shenandoah Inn for a dip in the pool.

After Vino Noceto we made a short drive to Terra Rouge and Easton Winery.  We were fortunate to be there on Terra Rouge’s Syrah festival weekend and were treated to a sampling of nine styles of Syrah made by the Terra Rouge Winemaker who is known as the “Rhône Ranger.”  Who knew there were that many styles of Syrah?

The final stop of the day was Dobra Zemlja’s beautiful grounds with an underground tasting room.  Dobra Zemlja is owned by a Croatian winemaker who specializes in big Amador reds, no light weights.  At the conclusion of the last wine tasting, we all checked in at the Shenandoah Inn for a short rest prior to the evening events at the Shenandoah Inn pool patio.  While checking in we encountered friends from the Reno Porsche Club who were also staying at the Shenandoah.

We all (except two couples who went to a concert at Helwig Winery) gathered at the pool side patio for heavy hors’ devours, pizza purchased by the Club and other appetizers.  Everyone brought a bottle of wine to share.  The balance of the evening was spent with good friends enjoying  the  favorite bottles of wine the Hors d’oeuvre platters that were delivered by the Amador Vintage Market and pizza from the Pokerville Market

As is traditional, the next morning the hearty wine tasters had the option of enjoying a robust breakfast at the Dead Fly Diner and then proceeding for additional tastings at other wineries , enjoying the Amador Flower Farm or returning home.

The tour was enjoyed by all and included four wineries that we had not previously visited.  We are all looking forward to the 2016 version of the tour.

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Here was our route

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Here was our route

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Itinerary

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