Good food and good wine are best when shared.
That's the reason Don Tondreau started the Tucson chapter of Tasters Guild International. The idea is to give foodies and wine lovers opportunities to broaden their culinary experiences - with other like-minded folks.
"The only way to learn about wine and food is to actually taste it," said Tondreau, who'd been hosting his own events until launching the local chapter.
The fledgling nonprofit group held its first event in November at CataVinos Wine Shop & Tasting Room, 3063 N. Alvernon Way. Guests ate six dishes paired with different wines. The pairing that Tondreau still dreamily remembers - braciole, Italian braised beef roulade, paired with a 2005 Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.
"It was like a match made in heaven," said Tondreau, director of program mangement at Sunquest Information Systems.
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Tondreau, who moved with his wife to Tucson two years ago from Grand Rapids, Mich., began developing an appreciation for wine and food 30 years ago. He regularly held wine-tasting parties. While living in Grand Rapids, the Tondreaus joined Tasters Guild International, which is based there.
"It was a lot of fun," he said. "It's sort of like a social club in a way. You're meeting once a month with people who have the same passion for food and wine. You see them every month and you start to get to know them; you sit with them and talk about other things besides food and wine."
Tasters Guild International, which was started in 1987, has more than 30 chapters across the United States but had none in Arizona. When Tondreau realized that Tucson didn't have one, he decided to kick things into gear this past summer.
The Tucson group has 10 members so far, but word is spreading. For now, Tondreau plans to hold events every few months, with the expectation that as membership grows, the guild will have monthly tastings.
Tondreau said the guild focuses on local restaurants and products and plans to organize a summer tour of an Arizona winery.
"Tucson is an awesome place for foodies and wine," he said.
For more info
Tucson Tasters Guild, 885-2016, www.tucsontastersguild.org
Membership is $45, which includes invitations to exclusive events, discounts on everything from restaurants to tasting events to tours, as well as the Tasters Guild Journal and a subscription to Quarterly Review of Wine.
The group's next meeting will be Jan. 25 at Armitage Wine Lounge & Cafe, 2905 E. Skyline Drive.
The event will run from 6 to 8 p.m., and will cost about $25 per person for members and their guests and $30 per person for non-members.
The menu was still being planned as of Tuesday. Reservations are requested by next Thursday.
