Local wine organization growing under the concept of taking away snooty stigmas

Wine enthusiast Mark Hatwig is the founder of the local wine group NWA Uncorked, which meets periodically through the fall and spring. Hatwig is the wine manager for the Springdale Liquor Association and is photographed here at County Line Liquor, one of seven liquor stores under the umbrella of the association.
Wine enthusiast Mark Hatwig is the founder of the local wine group NWA Uncorked, which meets periodically through the fall and spring. Hatwig is the wine manager for the Springdale Liquor Association and is photographed here at County Line Liquor, one of seven liquor stores under the umbrella of the association.

— Mark Hatwig was involved in a wine groupbefore. It was a little bit more pretentious. It had a board of directors. It had more rules.

So when he left the Fort Smith area and the group Patrons of Wine to work in this area, Hatwig knew he wanted something similar. Just a little less elaborate.

Besides, one of Hatwig's goals has always been to make wine more accessible.

"I'm trying to take the stigma away from wine," he said.

That been one of the motivating factors behind NWA Uncorked, a group for the area's oenophiles - wine lovers - that he founded about three years ago.

There often seems to be a haughty attitude, even a bit of an intimidation factor with the rituals of the corks, swirling the beverage and small sips swished about the mouth.

While there are benefits in those methods for a real connoisseur, Hatwig knows there are a lot of steps to get through before learning proper wine etiquette.

Such as learning the names of some of the varietals.

"If they can't pronounce it, they won't order it," said Hatwig, who serves as the wine manager for the Springdale Liquor Association, the organization that operates seven retail outlets in Springdale.

That's why most of the events sponsored by NWA Uncorked have educational elements.

Events produced through Uncorked are either tastings where multiple wines are served or are dinners where food from local restaurants are paired with wines from a certain region or vineyard. Especially in the case of the latter, guests such as the winemaker or a representative of the company are usually on hand to tell about the wines in question and offer suggestions on what to serve it with.

There is a never-ending amount of information available, Hatwig said.

"I've been drinking wine for 25 years, and I learn something every time I'm with a different rep or winemaker," he said.

NWA Uncorked offered its first gathering of the season, which will continue through the spring and take a break during the summer, on Sept. 18 with an event called Wine and Design. The event took place on the eighthfloor observatory of the Underwood Plaza building on Dickson Street in Fayetteville. Patrons were treated to nine tables of wines from as near as Altus and as far away as Australia.

About 120 people reserved a spot for the tasting. An estimated 270 attended the party, which spanned two condos decorated by local designers.

Appetizers were provided, and patrons sipped away an evening as the sun set over Dickson Street below. Donations were accepted for the event to help cover expenses.

Hatwig said NWA Uncorked is a mostly nonprofit affair with any money gathered used to create promotional materials for upcoming events and to replace the glasses the wine is poured into.

Using his contacts in the wine industry, Hatwig secures discounted rates for the products that are offered at each tasting or dinner.

But because the timing of events is dependent on such deals or are booked around winemakers' visits through the area, the schedule of the group is a bit sporadic. One month might feature several events, then have verylittle activity the next, Hatwig said.

The goal is to have seven functions per season with NWA Uncorked members who have paid the $50 yearly dues getting discounts to each of the events. There were 14 events on the group's 2008-2009 calendar.

Already, two events are scheduled for October.

The first will be Friday evening at James at the Mill with wines from Riviera Imports, including those from Zyme winery in Italy. Cost is $99 per person.

Following that event will be a dinner at the 36 Club in Fayetteville on Oct. 13. The featured wines will be from the Dierberg Wineries and retail for about $40-$50 each, Hatwig said. Although he is still working on some of the details, he expects this dinner, tasting and wine talk will cost about $55-$60 per person.

The club is growing, mostly through wordof-mouth advertising.

Hatwig is also enthusiastic that the positive response from the first event of the season will add to group membership. Right now, about 400 people in the area receive the group's newsletters, although not all of them are currently duespaying members.

All in the name of wine appreciation.

"It's amazing how long someone will sit around and talk about a bottle of wine," Hatwig said.

News, Pages 1, 3 on 09/27/2009

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