On May 8th we held a Zoom call to toast the 50th Anniversary. Our co-presidents, Jim & Bette Felton, hosted the event. We heard about the early history of the Cellar Society from our longest tenured member, Genie Simcox (joined 1971), who started going to events in 1970. David Gibson (joined 1972) also talked about the history and our founder, Larry Elsener. David Gandara (joined 1980) added additional comments. Jim Felton led a toast in honor of the 50th Anniversary followed by comments and stories from all those in attendance.
The call was attended by 29 of our 36 members and 9 preferred guests. Three couples even wore Black Tie! Not pictured are Laura Wilson and Joan Saywell & Bob Collins.
Steve Smith presented the list of wines from the first tasting compared with the wines he has gathered for the 50th Anniversary Tasting (originally scheduled for May 9th) as well as a photo of the 50th Anniversary wines. A description of the first tasting is available in the “Announcements” at the bottom of this page and on the Our History page. The 50th Anniversary Tasting will be held as soon as the COVID-19 virus restrictions are lifted.
Before the call, many of the attendees shared photos of the wines they would be drinking to celebrate the 50th Anniversary. Steve Smith explained how the wines were related to the wines in the first tasting; many of the wines were exactly the same, except for the vintage, as one of the wines from that tasting.
The final photo presented was a depiction of how to share wine and still be in compliance with social distancing:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Subject: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary
Hi Cellar Society Members & Preferred Guests,
I hope all of you are well.
As you know, Friday, May 8th is the 50th Anniversary of the first tasting of the Cellar Society of San Francisco. Because we have postponed the 50th Anniversary Tasting, Susi and I will be celebrating at home with a special bottle of wine and a special dinner. I hope that many of you will do something similar and toast the anniversary.
Our co-presidents, Jim & Bette Felton, are thinking about hosting a Zoom call so we can do a live toast on the 8th; details to follow next week.
I encourage you to read the original 1975 description of the first tasting below. Please see the underlined sentence in the last paragraph, it was left out of later versions. Also, the spelling errors in the list of wines have been fixed and the producers for the Burgundy wines have been restored.
To make the anniversary extra special, you could serve a recent vintage of one of the wines from the first tasting. If you don’t have any in your cellar, I can provide a list of wines available for delivery from California wine stores starting at $18 for a German Riesling and $50 for a red Bordeaux (there are also red Burgundies available). Please e-mail me directly for the list and tell me the type of wine you are interested in.
THE FIRST TASTING OF THE CELLAR SOCIETY
by L.A. Elsener, Jr., February 1975
May 8, 1970 marked the official founding of the Cellar Society as we know it today. On that evening almost five years ago, a handful of individuals met in an effort to establish a loose society where all could share the unique wine experience on a low-keyed and unpretentious level.
The tasting itself billed some of the finest wines gathered for one occasion and heralded our approach for future tasting. A total of 14 people gathered for this infamous occasion of which only six sturdy souls saw the end. The wines tasted were as follows and were contributed equally by David Natcher, Erik Peterson and myself.
Having no cheeses or solid sustenance (a minor oversight), we lost six of our tasters with the last Burgundy. Out of the remaining eight, two dropped by the wayside after the 2nd Bordeaux with the remaining six proclaiming the delights of the evening and founding the Society as an ongoing group dedicated to the regular, although less voluminous, tasty appreciation of fine wines. These individuals who are the remaining Charter Members felt that this was a most fitting beginning for our Society.
We hope that someday again a tasting such as this can be arranged for the existing membership so that all may feel the spirit that kindled within us and led to the aspirations which were fulfilled in our unique Cellar Society of San Francisco.
QUELQUES GRANDS VINS DES CAVES DE ELSENER-PETERSON-NATCHER
8 Mai 1970
German Riesling
1966 Rheingau, Hattenheimer Wisselbrunn, Schloss Reinharthausen
1966 Mosel, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Johann Josef Prüm
1964 Nahe, Kreuznacher Osterhöll, Reichsgraf von Plettenberg
Red Burgundy
1959 Cote de Beaune, Pommard, Les Charmots, Billard-Gonnet
1961 Cote de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny, Les Charmes, Cambola Commune
1962 Cote de Nuits, Morey-Saint-Denis, Clos de Vougeot, Jacques Prieur
1963 Cote de Nuits, Vosne-Ramanée, La Tache, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
1964 Cote de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny, Bonnes Mares, Drouhin-Laroze
1966 Cote de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin, Lavaux-St-Jacques, Drouhin-Laroze
Red Bordeaux
1961 Haut-Medoc, Pauillac, Grand Vin, Ch. Lynch-Bages
1962 Haut-Medoc, Margaux, Grand Vin, Ch. Lascombes
1962 Haut-Medoc, Pauillac, Grand Vin, Ch. Lafite-Rothschild
1964 Graves, Pessac, Grand Vin, Ch. Haut-Brion
1964 Saint-Emilion, Saint-Emilion, Grand Vin, Ch. Ausone
1964 Saint-Emilion, Saint-Emilion, Grand Vin, Ch. Cheval Blanc
Regards,
Steve
Subject: 50th Anniversary Toast and Story event this Friday, May 8 at 6 pm.
Agenda for Friday May 8
6 pm or so Welcome Co-Pres Jim Felton
6:15 The Early Years Ginny Simcox
Reflections from the Gibsons, Gandaras, and Steve Smith
Comments and stories from the Society- open mic
The Anniversary Toast! Jim Felton
Zoom instructions: All will receive a Zoom meeting email invite about 5:40. Follow the link and as you come on, check to be sure your mic-audio, and video are not muted (lower left hand corner).
Be sure to have ready, a memorable wine, possibly of the same varietal of early tastes, and some snacks to fortify you, If you wish, you can share your wine, or a story after the reflections from Ginny, Dave, David and Jim.
It will be so good to see everyone, and enjoy wine together!
-Jim and Bette
Cellar Society of San Francisco 