Heart’s Delight 2013 – A Bordeaux and American Wine Feast in Washington DC for a Good Cause, USA

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and  Alfred Tesseron, Owner of  Château Pontet-Canet at Heart's Delight 2013. For more see: Tasting with Alfred Tesseron the last 10 Vintages of Château Pontet-Canet in Washington DC, USA/France. The Bordeaux Tour in September 2013 organized by Annette Schiller (see below) will include an event at Pontet-Canet

Heart’s Delight is an annual four-day celebration in Washington DC, USA, bringing together winemakers, celebrity chefs, gourmands, and wine enthusiasts to raise money for the American Heart Association. The events are not cheap, but high-class and tax deductible (partly). Over the past 12 years, the events have raised over $10 million for the American Heart Association, helping to support research into the number one cause of death in the United States.

Here is an overview of what happened this year, including the main winemakers that were present in 2013.

Heart’s Delight 2013

Tuesday, April 23 was the inaugural United States of Wine tasting reception, showcasing a range of American Wines. The reception included a live auction. Price: US$ 200

Picture: Annette Schiller, ombiasy wine tours, and Anne Cuvelier, Château Léoville Poyferré at Eola in Washington DC. Anne Cuvelier, from the Cuvelier family (that owns, inter alia, Château Léoville-Poyferré in St. Julien, Bordeaux), was in town (Washington DC) for the Heart’s Delight Events. On the side, Anne Cuvelier organized, assisted by Annette Schiller, wine tours by ombiasy, a winemaker dinner at Eola. See: Announcement: Château Léoville-Poyferré Winemaker Dinner with Anne Cuvelier at Eola on May 1, 2013 in Washington DC. The dinner was $130 plus tax and tip and was sold out within a few days. In 2013, two wine tours by ombiasy are coming up:  to Germany (in August) and to Bordeaux (in September): (1) Germany Wine and Culture Tour August 2013 and (2) Bordeaux Wine Tour September 2013

Picture: Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy, Director at Château Clerc Milon, which belongs to the Philippe de Rothschildgroup, at Heart's Delight 2013

Wednesday, May 1 was the United States of Wine celebration showcasing American wine, including a silent and a live auction, followed by a BYO-style collectors dinner celebration at Charlie Palmer Steak. Price: US$ 200 for the United States of Wine celebration and US$ 500 for the BYO-style collectors dinner (plus a bottle of wine)

Picture: Véronique and Bruno Laplane from Château Malartic-Lagravière at Heart's Delight 2013. The estate has belonged to the Bonnie family since 1997, when Alfred-Alexandre and Michèle Bonnie bought the somewhat underperforming Classified Growth of Graves. Véronique is one of their daughters. Michel Rolland consultants.

Picture: Jean-Louis Carbonnier of Château Palmer at Bistro Cacao in Washington DC in 2012. See more: Château Palmer Vertical with Jean-Louis Carbonnier at Bistro Cacao in Washington DC, USA

Thursday, May 2 offered a series of intimate wine dinners with an international flair in private homes, restaurants, Embassies and Ambassador’s Residences with a host, chef and winemaker at each. Several ambassadors hosted a dinner, including the Ambassador of France. Other dinners took place at restaurants and private homes. Price: Ranging from US$ 2000 to US$ 400

Picture: Julianna Martinelli, Martinelli Winery, Owner and President, at Heart's Delight 2013. Julianna Martinelli is the fourth generation in her family to be involved in the wine business: her great-grandparents began growing grapes in Sonoma County in the late 1800's. The small winery is family owned and operated, and the entire family has been involved in creating its success over the years.