Tuesday, September 6, 2005

Memories of Aachen 2005

Thursday Dinner Party Honors US Dressage Team

Thursday night’s dinner party featured a four course dinner with a different wine with each course. Special guests included two members of the Aachen USA Bronze Medal Dressage Team, George and Roberta Williams who joined their owners and castle guests Chuck and Joanne Smith. Also joining us were Steffan and Sharon Peters and the owners of Steffen’s highest scoring US horse Laurie and Steve Browning. It was all on camera, filmed by the Horse TV Film Crew Melvin Cox and Shabbir Husain, who included our visit in their Aachen coverage for the soon to be launched Horse TV Channel. The dinner for the team members was generously underwritten by Carol Cohen, of Two Swans Farm in Wellington. Thank you Carol, Dressage in America is truly blessed to have you in our corner.

Marvin and Deborah Hausman, brought their Pinot Noir wine from their Quailhurst Vineyards in Sherwood Oregon, enough cases to provide at least a bottle for each table, serving 55 guests. Their jumper stallion European Championships Bronze Medal winner, Nassau, performed brilliantly all week for the Netherlands with Jerome Dubbledam. John Zopatti commented there should be a disclaimer on each bottle, as the brilliantly smooth delicious wine does have a way of sneaking up on you, but with no hangover in the morning! Since no one had to drive home, just stumble to their suites, it was an ideal opportunity to indulge.

The greatest compliment to the tour, and our time together was announced by Linda Stallings. Linda and her husband Fred are longtime employees of Delta Airlines and travel the world on a weekly basis.

“Fred and I have traveled all over the world, and this has truly been the most wonderful time and visit we have had. The Castle is fantastic, and we are so grateful to Mary and JJ for putting this all together!”