Summer is just around the corner and the wine of choice this time of year is Chardonnay. Join your fellow AIWF members for this unique opportunity to sample eight of the finest Chardonnays from the very best West Coast growing regions. This event will take place in the Hilton multi-media room and will include a brief "Winemaker’s" discussion about each wine, the growing region, viticulture and winemaker’s style. Each attendee will receive an informative tasting guide for note-taking and future reference. Included in the cost is an individual plate of bread, cheese and fruit to accompany the wines. Following the tasting, you are invited to Legends dining room for an optional dinner featuring a special Chardonnay-friendly entrée for only $13.95. All menu items at the Hilton are 10 percent off for AIWF members this evening. (WS = Wine Spectator.)

As with all AIWF events, you need not be a member to attend!

Mail your check and this portion to: AIWF, P.O. Box 781101, Wichita, KS 67228-1101

Call 682-5502 for information or credit card reservations

Number reservations: ____Members ($25___Non-members ($35) Total attending: _________
Print names of all Members: _______________________________________________________

Non-Members: _______________________________________________________

Phone number_______________________ [] Check enclosed (payable to "AIWF Wichita")

Charge my [] VISA [] M/C Card number__________________________ Exp. date _________

Signature: __________________________ Printed name on card: ________________________

051001 - Chard

Check/credit card orders must be received by May 7th, No cancellations, substitutions accepted.

For the latest event information visit our Web site - www.aiwfwichita.com

1) 1999 Columbia Crest - Columbia Valley Estate Series WS 91 $12
Harvey Steiman says: "Rich and vibrant, beautifully focused to show off its plush honey, spice and smoke-accented pear and apricot flavors. Finish is seductively polished and as smooth as a Jean Arp sculpture."

2) 1999 Benziger - Carneros WS NR $16
Tropical fruit, browned butter and nutmeg aromas marry with flavors of pineapple, sweet red apple, coconut and hazelnut. The mouthfeel is full-bodied and silken. The finish is well integrated with good fruit intensity.

3) 1999 Landmark Sonoma - Overlook WS 92 $25
"Landmark's Overlook 1999 continues this winery's string of outstanding Chardonnays..." Wine Spectators James Laube says: ``Smooth, rich and creamy on the palate, this young Chardonnay offers a charming array of spice, pear, apple, tangerine, pineapple, fig and guava flavors, staying tightly focused, turning elegant and sophisticated

4) 1998 St. Supery - Napa WS 90 $16
Aromas of tropical and melon fruits, accompanied by toasted oak and marmalade overtures. The palate is round and supple, following suit with the same melon qualities and a width contributed by the oak and malolactic fermentation. Orange rind and citrus zing complements the finish.

5) 1998 Meridian Coastal Reserve - Edna Valley WS 88 $16
The Wine News says: "This is a Chardonnay that brims with complexity – oak nuances, a satiny-smooth texture, the creamy-custardy flavors that come from disintegrating yeast cells, and the lovely ripe peach and sunny stone fruit flavors that extend from the entrance through the middle and down the long, long finish."

6) 1998 Beringer - Private Reserve WS 93 $38
Winemaker Ed Sbragia scores another winner. Wine News named this wine
CALIFORNIA’S BEST WINES OF THE YEAR. Attractive, intense scents of toasty, smoky oak, tropical fruit, caramel and a shy, green olive note. Creamy and smooth with luscious, tropical citrus and apple-pear fruit flavors; full-blown, spicy and moderately buttery with excellent balance and a lingering, caramel-tinged finish.

7) 1997 Gallo of Sonoma - Laguna Ranch WS 91 $23
A Wine Spectator Selection, James Laube says: "Restrained on the nose, this tightly wound Chardonnay turns more complex and sophisticated on the palate, with a core of
pear and nectarine flavors and a rich, buttery aftertaste that’s long and focused. Gina Gallo thinks the current bottle age will open this wine up and enhance the nose!

8) 1997 Talbott Monterey - Sleepy Hollow WS 92 $35
Wine Spectators James Laube says: Deep, ripe, rich and concentrated, this outstanding Caliafornia Chardonnay delivers layers of fig, pear, apple and melon and gains nice oak touches of hazelnut and cedar before finishing with a burst of fruit. Spectator Selection.