TASTING STATION: OCH Wine Event participants are: (L/R) Mark Trahan, Maria Trahan and Doug Saylor. At right are: Kim Shillair of Old City Hall and John Massey of Henry Fox Wine Sales.
Old City Hall Winter Wine Event is Huge Success
Sold Out Wednesday Night Wine & Cheese Event Impresses Everyone
February 11, 2007
By: O. J. Cunningham
Tony Jeske, Old City Hall Operations Manager was all smiles with the crowd at Old City Hall. "It's a perfect way to fight off the Winter blahs," Jeske said. "It's a great crowd." Jeske said he expected the sell-out. "Bay City knows wine," Jeske said.
Peter Woods of Henry Fox Sales Company (Grand Rapids Wine Distributor) and Managing Partner of the Midwest Wine Exchange was equally impressed with the sophisticated wine clientèle in Bay City. Woods, who is from Novi, said that he and Old City Hall Owner David Dittenber had met recently through friends and developed the idea of the Winter Wine Event during the last 6 months.
"This is just an amazing turn-out," Woods said motioning to the crowd at Old City Hall.
"I am totally impressed with Bay City."
Below:(Left) Peter Woods - Midwest Wine Exchange (center) and Tony Jeske - Old City Hall (right) point out the ambiance of a sophisticated vintage decanter-dispenser at the wine-tasting station of Marco (left)
(Right) Tom Schomaker of Bay City, enjoys a taste of a Waugh Cabernet Savignon poured by Marco.
Sara Scarmeas, of Detroit, said that both the wine selection and cheese offerings made the night an "awesome" experience. "The wine was great and the cheese selection was unbelievable," Scarmeas added.
Below:(Left) "Men-in-Black" Old City Hall Bartender Andy Schihl takes an order from (L/R) Sara Scarmeas and Stefenie Schwab. (Right) The traffic at the wine-tasting stations was non-stop as Bay City wine aficionados sampled thirty-five (35) different wine offerings from the Midwest Wine Exchange and Henry A. Fox Distributing Company.
Jeske said the public is always looking for wine events like the Old City Hall Winter Wine Event. Jeske said that the popularity of the 10 year-old East Side Wine Walk & the recent West Side Wine Walk are indications that there is a growing need for wine-related events in the community. "Bay City people know wine."
"Each year we see more wine drinkers in the restaurant," Jeske said. "It's not unusual anymore for young diners or older couples to order wine with dinner."
Jeske went on to say that he hopes to work next with Studio 23 and organize a Spring wine event in conjunction with a Studio 23 art exhibit.
Spring! Wine! Art! "It's a natural fit," Jeske said.
Below (LEFT) ENJOYING THE BAY CITY WINE EVENT - (L/R) MyBayCity Entertainment Editor Julie Munger, Sheri Oczepek, Barbie King and Magali Wooley. (RIGHT) Sarah Pedley-Schingeck provided the musical entertainment during the Old City Hall Winter Wine Event. Sarah is a music teacher in the Essexville-Hampton School District. This was her first Bay City "gig."