Two Texas wineries were featured at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League’s annual Savor the Symphony. The fundraiser was held as a hybrid event – ticket holders enjoyed the event in person at the Ritz-Carlton, or they opted to have their three-course dinner delivered to their home with the event program streamed directly to them.
The event was a sellout. For those attending in person, Savor the Symphony was an elegant evening with a three-course dinner and silent auction held at the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, on Thursday, April 29. The evening began with a champagne reception and silent auction followed by a seated dinner and program at 7:15 p.m.
The Honorary Chair was Roberta Corbett, a longtime supporter of the DSO and the Dallas community. Sharon Ballew was the event chair and Anne Ligon is the DSOL President.
Guests were exuberant about getting dressed up and attending the in-person event. Comments overheard included that this was the “first time in a year to put on mascara, high heels, and a cocktail dress.”
The hotel observed social distance protocols by reducing the number of attendees and seating six at each table.
Kim Noltemy, Ross Perot President & CEO of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, thanked the guests for attending and emphasized that the proceeds of events such as these benefit the education and outreach programs of the DSO. The Young Musicians was launched recently as part of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Southern Dallas Residency, providing free instruments and free instruction to students in Dallas’s southern area through after-school and summer camp programs.
“These programs are so vital because children in these programs perform better in school and they give them social and emotional learning experiences,” said Noltemy.
Others in attendance included Myrna and Bob Schlegel, Venise and Larry Stuart, Angela Fontana and Andy Szuwalski, Jolie and Bart Humphrey, Barbara and Bob Bigham, Carole Ann and Dick Brown, Donna and Herb Weitzman, Marena and Roger Gault, and C’Mone and Nick Wingo.
The program for the evening featured two Texas wineries, each owned by past chairs of Savor the Symphony: Rose Mary Gatlin from Inwood Estates Winery and Nan Michelle Anderson of Triple N Ranch Winery.
Rose Mary Gatlin and her husband Dan are owners of Inwood Estates Winery with locations in Dallas and Fredericksburg. Rose Mary co-chaired Savor in 2000 and was a longtime member of the League, serving as President in 2008-2009. Inwood Estates specializes in making superior quality fine wines from attentively farmed Texas grapes. They have been named one of the top one hundred wineries in America for three years in a row. For more information, visit www.inwoodwines.com.
Nan Michelle Anderson was chairman of Savor in 2017 and recently opened Triple N Ranch Winery this past summer. The Triple N brand is named for Nan Creel, the matriarch of the Ranch and Winery Family, her daughter, Nan Michelle, and her granddaughter, Nan Christina. The senior Nan started raising purebred Texas Longhorns in the ’80s at her Henderson County ranch. In 2020, Nan Michelle opened the Triple N Ranch Winery, specializing in high quality Texas wines. They are excited to offer a multi-generational Texas-women owned winery showcasing the best Texas grown grapes and wines. The winery is located in the beautiful East Texas Cedar Creek Lake area in Trinidad, Texas, serving hand-crafted wines with good food in moderation. For more information, visit www.triplenranchwinery.com.
The proceeds from the evening will benefit the Dallas Symphony Orchestra education and outreach programs, including DSO Kids, Young Musicians, and Young Strings.
Mission Statement: The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League is an organization of volunteers who support the Dallas Symphony Association through service, education and fundraising activities.
History: Since 1946, the DSO League has worked to support the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through service, education and fundraising efforts. Since 1998, the League has contributed more than $20 million in support of the Dallas Symphony Association’s Community Outreach and Education programs, which help bring the wonder of music to thousands of youths and adults in the Dallas Metroplex.
Photos by Chuck Clark