StarBulletin.com

Guenoc makes special wines for Ruth's Chris


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POSTED: Saturday, November 08, 2008

“;Lisa's drinking her first glass of red wine,”; said an exuberant Debbie Koerner, Lisa Josephsohn's sister. Sure enough there was Lisa at Ruth's Chris at Restaurant Row Monday night knocking down a glass of Guenoc Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon. It was her first glass of wine since being diagnosed with cancer months ago. Lisa said she read a story that said red wine helps fight cancer, which she has, so she gave it a shot. The wine was part of the 20th anniversary celebration of Ruth's Chris at the Row. The cab and a Guenoc chardonnay are a special bottling for the five Ruth's Chris restaurants in Hawaii. Randy Schoch has the Ruth's Hawaii franchise. Wine broker Mark Milton, president of M&S Brokerage; Ruth's Chris Hawaii's Jeff Blair; and Langtry Estate and Vineyards' board chairman Easton Manson, whose primary brand is Guenoc, got together on the anniversary bottling. It is distributed by Better Brands. The anniversary party was held the night before the election, and Republican Mark said this is the first year he will be voting for a Democrat for president because he feels Barack Obama is “;the right person for the job. I think he will do an excellent job in restoring America's credibility from an international perspective. I'm willing to put my tax differences aside for the bigger picture,”; Mark said. ... Don't forget the fundraising party at Ruth's Chris tomorrow to help pay for Lisa's medical bills. There will be much food, beverage and entertainment. A donation of $100 is suggested ...

STAGGERING ON: No doubt about it, by turning 77 Oct. 26 I entered the door to “;Geezerville.”; The joints are stiffer, the bad knee hurts more, the hearing is weaker, the weights at Clark Hatch Fitness Center seem heavier than they really are, and it is definitely necessary to hold on to the railings going up or down stairs. But I'm still working as a columnist and copy editor. So reaching geezer age isn't a bad thing, especially if you consider the alternative. And it's great to have niece Kaina Awaa to keep an eye on me and have close lady friends who go out of their way to toss me an annual birthday party. They did that this year at the Kahala home of Daynin Dashefsky. It was supposed to be a little gathering with visiting San Jose attorney Todd Rothbard grilling his famous hamburgers, but Realtor Drea Kia, Mihana Souza and Daynin made it a day to celebrate my birthday as well. Daynin is a singer and has a karaoke machine. She, Kristian Lei, Kimo Kahoano, Jimmy Borges, Hank McKeague, and three 20 Years Too Late band members, “;Skinny”; Lynnie and Dr. Eric Crawley and Drea, sang. Drea also prepared loads of food, augmented by steaks from Clarence and Chris Ching and pupu and wine from Charlie, Atsuko and Kealoha Beeck. Drea's daughter, Ana Malia, 12, danced hula as Mihana played guitar and sang. A surprise was the Abrego Ohana showing up and singing ...