While Bruce Jenner was explaining his life-changing decision on Friday, April 26, and thunderstorms were messing up North Texas, finally confirming weather guessers’ predictions, about 400 wine lovers gathered in the Anatole’s Stemmons Ballroom for the American Heart Association’s Côtes du Coeur Grand Tasting, on the eve of the Côtes du Coeur Gala. This was the hottest of the numerous pre-gala events, since the featured wineries poured a select reserve of their wine for top-level patrons and sponsors.
As Côtes du Coeur Gala Chair Kristen Johnston Sanger and her husband Ladd Sanger and guests walked the hallway leading to the ballroom, they were handed fishbowl-sized wine glasses with a “Dell” tag. The glasses would be put to work sampling the top-line wines along with delicious samplings provided by the area’s yummiest chefs.
But first they had to get past Marybeth Conlon, who was at the front door selling raffle tickets for the red hot Escalade.
At one point there was a sudden explosion of thunder, but no one seemed to notice. There were just too many wines, tasties and guests.
Côtes du Coeur Chair Kate Rose Marquez took the mic and tried to quiet the guests for announcements. But who could come between the guests and their chattering? Finally, after a few shushes, a large part of the crowd quieted down and Curtis Schuler of Dell thanked the group and presented Underwriting Chair Rick Allen with a Tiffany blue box.
Unfortunately, the shushing was forgotten as wine advisor Steve Ellis reeled off a list of participating wineries.
Just as Steve finished the winery lineup, he introduced his son Andrew Ellis, who fell to the on-knee stance and presented a diamond ring to Catherine Mitchell. She accepted his proposal with tears and smiles.
It was another reason for a clinking of the wine glasses and preparing for the next night of wining and dining.
Only downer of the night was the Anatole’s valet team. One after another, the guests were hit with a $20 parking fee. One chap griped to the valet wrangler that he thought it was complimentary. No, siree. It was $20 flat to get the car fetched. Perhaps the guest had misread the invitation. But the complaints continued, until one man marched back to the ballroom and inquired with an event organizer about the $20 “complimentary valet.” She immediately compared notes with the valet team. The fee was lifted and the problem was resolved.