Blast from the past: The Wine Brats
Anybody know what happened to the Wine Brats?
I found this photo in our archives of a Wine Brats event from 1999. Here's the caption, which explains things a bit:
The President of "Wine Brats," Tim Schriver, pours wine for Kenna Quereau (foreground) and Brannan Armstrong, while Harry Adams looks on. This informal club met at Corks in South Baltimore and is trying to introduce wine to a younger generation who seem to prefer beer. A meeting and mixing of the opposite sex seems to be high on the list of activities as well.
Corks is still there. But I Googled around a bit and couldn't find any results for "Baltimore" and "Wine Brats." I'll bet one of you knows something about them -- or one of the people in this picture.
Fill me in.
(Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr.)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
I asked this same question a while back in my newsletter The Juice, and had several responses.
Mainly, it seems the head office began dictating to the chapters the organization of the events while simultaneously requiring ALL money collected go back to the head office. If that is the case, paying local vendors in planning events would become very burdensome.
The restrictions and encroachment on what were essentially fiefdoms caused too much contention all around and they imploded.
Joel Quigley and his wife, who had created what appeared to be a force in the wine world (after AIWF faded away), bailed out just before the collapse and now works for PR maven Paige Poulus.
There were several thriving chapters in many big cities. Some of those carried on in the name of [[city]] Uncorked, but it seems they were only connected by name.
It’s a wonder that hasn’t been something/someone come along and fill the gap.
EVO
www.LocalWineEvents.com
Posted by: Eric Orange | January 23, 2009 10:22 AM
I'm digging the late 90's shirt-tucked-into-jeans-like-Jerry-Seinfeld look.
Posted by: Pat O | January 23, 2009 1:44 PM
Eric, thanks for the scoop on these guys. Interesting stuff.
Pat, Heh, I was hoping someone would comment on the 90s attire. Nice.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | January 23, 2009 1:46 PM
Haha... I saw the picture and thought, "That looks like Brannan!" I read the caption, and, sure enough!
Posted by: FHT | January 23, 2009 3:01 PM
I remember Tim from my restaurant days! Loved his wine! Where are you Tim???
Posted by: strawberry | January 24, 2009 12:52 PM
I was the Scranton Wine Brats chapter leader. The organization's home office in Santa Rosa, CA closed it's doors a number of years ago due to financial issues and all the nationwide chapters had to come to a very sad end. Loved that group and miss everyone!
Posted by: Francene Pisano Dudziec | January 30, 2009 3:04 PM
I attended Corks very first Wine Brats event! I think they even had a book signing too.
Posted by: Francene Pisano Dudziec | January 30, 2009 3:07 PM