RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERSHIP

It is a Member’s responsibility to understand and abide by these guidelines. In addition, Members must ensure that their guests receive a copy of and understand these guidelines prior to attending a Cencibel event.

HISTORY

Cencibel started with five women in 1999 and has grown by leaps and bounds through word-of-mouth over the years; there are a lot of us out there with a shared interest in the educational pursuit of enological and culinary delights.

MISSION

To bring together women who

(1) have a passion for fine wine & food pairing. Expert status is not required -- it's the passion that counts;

(2) are dedicated to supporting our group functions; and

(3) enjoy the educational pursuit.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT AN EVENT

Cencibel is a women's group dedicated to study of enological and culinary arts.

Our pursuit begins with local chefs, whom we often ask to provide a multi-course, wine-friendly menu showcasing some of their favorite creations. The members of Cencibel "take the challenge" by matching wines to the food served. One bottle per person per event; we usually have two to three wines per course to taste with the dish.

We are a group interested in learning. So, each member does some homework on her chosen wine and educates the group while the wine is poured and enjoyed: why was this bottle chosen? Tell us about the grape, winemaker, region, etc.

The best way to learn is, of course, to enjoy your study. So we taste, compare, discuss, and enjoy! We certainly do our best to make every Cencibel event informative and educational, delicious, and fun!

FORMAT

Most events are limited to members and women-guests of members only (it is a women’s club, after all), but we try to include our gentlemen friends once a year. We try to "get away" with a field trip when we can, and arrange events featuring professional educators and winemakers when possible. All members are encouraged to organize events which are a lot of work but always rewarding; a Chairperson Checklist provides some general guidelines to use if you want to volunteer.

DUES

Dues are $30 per year, based on the calendar year from January through December and are collected in the Fall. Currently used to pay for little things like certificates for the chefs, nametags, and place cards, as well as bigger things like our website, dues are important to our ability to sustain a financial cushion.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

Benefits of a Supporting Membership include preferred pricing for all events and premiums (such as our wine bag), entrance to members-only events, posting of your "business card" in our membership directory and the option to bring guests to our events. All communications are done through email to keep costs down and having your name on our email list is free.

Most of all, membership means being part of a dynamic group of women who share a passion for learning about the enological and culinary arts. We support each other through shared experiences at events, as well as personally and professionally; fast and lasting friendships are almost guaranteed.

ENOLOGY ETIQUETTE

Scents-ability: Wine/Food tasting is about the senses, predominantly smell and taste. Cencibel members request that in consideration of other tasters each attendee remember and tell their guests to avoid wearing perfume, scented lotions or similar and for smokers: please wash up before returning to the table.

RESERVATIONS

We work by the rule that your check is your reservation. Payment can be mailed to our Treasurer or paid via PayPal online (check or credit cards accepted). Often we have a minimum number of seats to fill in order to get the special menu and/or to reserve the entire place for the night. This is one reason why we ask for payment in advance. Other reasons are to ensure chairpersons are not put in an expensive position and because payment AT the event means the Treasurer and event chairperson(s) have to work, not enjoy. We believe strongly that payment in advance makes our events more enjoyable for everyone.

CANCELLATIONS

There is a cutoff date for each event, usually one week prior. Once the final number is given to the chef, it is our responsibility to pay for each seat. Cancellations after the cancel-by date--always one week before the event unless otherwise specified—are not refunded unless you are able to fill the seat by contacting another member or friend.

Wine Coverage:
It is preferred that you make sure your wine gets to the event, even if you don’t. For traditional events where the wines are matched to the courses, as every chairperson knows, a great deal of careful planning goes into the match-ups; the wines are coordinated with the courses and we count on them. If you are unable to make an event, make sure that your seat and your wine are covered.

IMPORTANT

All Cencibel members and guests are reminded that alcohol consumption can lead to intoxication and therefore Cencibel members and their guests are expected to drink in moderation at Cencibel events. We suggest those attending utilize designated drivers or other modes of transit where available, or mostly taste rather than consume alcohol when such drivers or alternative means of transportation are not available. Consider driving services such as Restaurant Valet.

These and other policies exist to ensure the safety and fair treatment of all members and their guests.