Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/3815
G reg Norman Estates celebrated its Greg Norman Classic at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami on August 28, an event that gave a select group of distributors the chance to golf with Norman on a course he designed "The Greg Norman Classic happens once a year only and usually in August," said Morgan Lee Norman, Associate Brand Manager and daughter of golf leg- end Greg Norman. "It's special because it's not easy to get here. This is an exclu- sive event with high standards, and only the best performing distributors [from around the U.S.] of the past 12 months make it." The full brand experience includes playing the Great White course, which Norman de- signed, sporting the Greg Norman Collection clothing and drinking the line of wines paired with Greg Nor- man Prime during the dinner festivities. "There are so many rules out there on what wine to drink with particular foods; I think it's important to drink whatever you feel like," said Norman. "I'm not out there stomping grapes or rolling barrels, but I am heavily involved in the stylistic direction of the portfo- lio and brand image," said the golf legend of his wines. "I make sure the quality is up to the standards we defi ned. It is important to me that the wines display the best varietal representation of their region—whether it be Australia or California—and that they're approach- able and delicious." —Aurora Rodríguez S eattle-based cuisine and cocktail author- ity Kathy Casey showed up in Los Angeles in August, where THE TASTING PANEL caught up with her at the SLS Hotel, Beverly Hills. The well-traveled consultant showed us some of the attractively-priced releases from the Ascentia Wine Estates portfolio, including the aromatic Columbia Winery Cellarmaster's Riesling and the quaffable Covey Run Chardonnay, both of which offer major bang for the buck. Casey was on tour in the Pacifi c Northwest during the summer to promote Ascentia's Washington wines, develop- ing consumer-friendly recipes to match with them. "I try to bring a non-intimidating approach to food and wine," she remarked. Casey's new book, Sips & Apps: Classic and Contemporary Recipes for Cocktails and Appetizers, was just published by Chronicle Books. —David Gadd The Message Northern Exposure Golf and Wine, By Design 1 / the tasting panel / october 2009 Kathy Casey with some Washington off erings from the Ascentia Wine Estates portfolio. PHOTO: DAVID GADD Greg Norman in Miami. PHOTO: MICHAEL O'BRYON