In This Issue:

Thanks, Paul
This is my first issue as the AWOnews editor and I’d like to start off by acknowledging the large debt of gratitude we all should have for the dedication of the previous editor, Paul Dunseath, over the last 10 years and 40 issues.

This issue is coming out a few weeks later than I had hoped as I learn what a challenge it is to get content in quickly from a volunteer organization. I’m sure that Paul learned that lesson very quickly and that it was reinforced many times over the ensuing ten years.

As I mentioned in my introduction in the last newsletter, I’d like to focus on being your newsletter editor, as opposed to your newsletter writer. I need your help providing ideas for articles, subjects you’d like to read about in the newsletter or comments on content, format or style. To that end, I’ve set up a separate e-mail account at awonews@sympatico.ca for any contributions or comments.

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In This Issue:

Hail and Farewell; an introduction to the next editor of AWOnews; an update on this year’s Eastern Ontario Amateur Wine Competition, final information on the upcoming Festival MMVI (our annual Festival and General meeting) in Ottawa in June, with your last chance to get your registration in, and comments from our President on current issues.

Please note as well that there are some changes, primarily those of scheduling, to the seminar program. This was necessitated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission which made a series of last-minute demands on the times at which wine could be served.

Editorially speaking, this is a bit reminiscent of the early days of the hobby when it was illegal to even offer a glass of home-made wine to a guest in your own house, and absolutely verboten to take any out of the home. In addition a permit – although it was free, it was still administrivia – was required for every home winemaker, with a limit to the quantity one could make.

A number of us organized a province-wide petition to Queen’s Park to have these silly restrictions removed, and were successful. The time may have come to “go political” again: after all, Premier Dalton McGuinty is the MPP for Ottawa
South….

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In This Issue:

Our President gives an interesting update on current events and issues; news about the Eastern Ontario Amateur Wine Competition, and lots of information on the upcoming Festival MMVI (our annual Festival and General meeting) in Ottawa in June. Now, don’t hesitate, get your registration in before the price goes up on 1 May!

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In This Issue:

What is happening in the class structure of our competition? Several members of the Executive have been hard at work attempting to define a new structure, which is not that easy when you also need to take into account the requirement for broad conformity with other provinces through the Amateur Winemakers of Canada.

News from the AWC competition (great news, in fact); lots of info on the upcoming Festival 2006 in Ottawa next June; a report from the Eastern Ontario Amateur Wine Competition; and the usual welcome words from our President. In other news, as Lloyd Robertson would put it:

The Wine Judges’ Commission of Ontario is now “Wine Judges of Canada”. Steve Gunning continues as Chairman/head honcho. Our e-mail address has changed; it is now (as indicated in the box on the left side of this page) “dunseath@magma.ca”

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In This Issue:

A wrap-up on AWO 2005, along with stats on the truly astounding number of medals awarded; more information on AWO 2006; our President’s column, the loss of a member, information on the upcoming Eastern Ontario competition, news from AWO 2006, and general potpourri. Now go clean those barrels and carboys; the new season is about to begin.

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