2006 Memories

Dr. Nachazel-Toal has been an ardent supporter of ANFS since it was founded. As a practicing ophthalmologist, she recognizes and applauds the significant contributions made by ANFS to ophthalmic causes and research. She is pleased to participate in this year's event as co-chair.

Robert E. Toal is the president of Diversified Portfolios, Inc., an investment advisory firm in Bloomfield Hills. He along with his wife Dr. Anne Nachazel Toal, past president of the Michigan Ophthalmologist Society, have been involved with ANFS since it's inception. They're looking forward to co-chairing this years event.

A Night for Sight is pleased to have John O'Hara Jr. JD, LLM as one of its chairpersons this year. Mr. O'Hara is General Counsel to Edward Rose & Sons Building Enterprise, a Midwest multifamily developer with a long and successful history in the state of Michigan. The majority of Mr. O'Hara's practice focuses on taxation, litigation and real estate development.

In addition to his duties at the company, Mr. O'Hara is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, where he acts as the Committee Chair for the Business Entity Section. He also serves as the State Counsels (NMHC) Board of Directors in Washington D.C.

Amy Bishop O'Hara is corporate counsel to Quicken Loans and Rock Financial. She earned a law degree from the University of Detroit and her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University. She is a member of the Michigan State Bar.

2006 Honorary Vintners

Wine is a product of nature. But nature is rarely under its very best conditions. Most of the time very good wine is the product of nature being gently guided by the hand and wisdom of man. Guiding the land through its cycles from dormant vines in winter sleep, through the growing season, the wine making, aging, and finally bringing the finished wine to the table. The balance between the product of nature and the guiding of the hand of man, is the essence of the finest of wines and the philosophy here at Rombauer Vineyards.

Rombauer Vineyards was founded in 1982 by Koerner and Joan Rombauer and sits on a tree covered knoll overlooking the Napa Valley. The winery features caves that extend for over a mile into the hillside. The caves provide a constant temperature and humidity which result in optimum conditions for aging our wines.

Rombauer wines are consistently ranked high in the wine trade journals. Many of the finest restaurants throughout the country include Rombauer wines on their list and feature them by the glass. The joy of wine is something that's important to Rombauer. Whether you are a collector of fine wines or like to have wine with food, wine is something that truly should be enjoyed. Rombauer Vineyards puts a lot of hard work and tender care into making drinkable wines. And because wine is a simple product to enjoy, emphasis is given to taking the mystique out of enjoying fine wines.

Our emphasis on the joy of wine comes from the heritage of the Rombauer family. Koerner's ancestors made wine in the famous Reingau region in Germany and his great aunt, Irma Rombauer, wrote the book The Joy of Cooking. Hence our focus on wine as complements to good food and good friends. Every family member is actively involved in the day to day operation of the winery from selecting grapes for the winemaking process and getting the wine to market.

We produce several varietal wines, such as Carneros Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Estate Grown Zinfandel from the vineyard below the winery, and a blended reserve wine called Le Meilleur Du Chai, which means the Best of the Cellar. At Rombauer Vineyards, we take the time to hand craft and nurture our wines. Season after season, year after year. We're pleased to say the fruits of our labor have paid off. At wine competitions and where it counts - in every glass of Rombauer wine.

In the medieval times Podere Terrabianca found itself in the ambiguous situation of being situated in the part of the countryside under the rule of Florence and, at the same time, also in the diocese of the Bishop of Siena. The very first documents mentioning its presence, dated 1085, describe it as being a country estate as, in fact, its name clearly implies.

Today the winery Terrabianca is located at the heart of the Chianti Classico region, in the middle of Tuscany, 12 km from Siena and 50 km from Florence.

The soil which consists of layers of chalk, sand and clay from the palaeozoic and mesozoic ages has the ideal composition to grow grapes of highest quality. On the 124 ha, 307 acres, there are vineyards surrounded by olive groves and woods.

They are in the best position, south and southeast exposure, at 250 to 500 mt. above sea level. The grape variety are Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Canaiolo, Chardonnay, Malvasia and Trebbiano Toscano are grown to produce a total of 350,000 bottles a year.