The Cincinnati Mondiale kicked off the new year on January 12 with its heralded Cellar Treasures event at the Carnegie Hall Event Center across the Ohio River in Newport, Kentucky. This high-end wine experience is featured about every two years. Mondiale members and guests pull out all of the stops to share an exceptional bottle of wine from their personal cellars to be shared by all in attendance. As always, the event was expertly coordinated by Echanson Provincial Midwest Mary Horn. In addition to experiencing outrageously wonderful wine selections, the group competed for prizes and bragging rights that last until the next Cellar Treasures event.
Carnegie Hall 
Joan Musumeci and Chevalier Gordon Cameron sampling appetizer 
Jim Willis, Joe Pierce, Rona Willis, and Martha Willis 
Tartare Appetizer 
Vice Chargé de Presse Graig Smith and Bailli de Cincinnati & Chambellan Provincial George Elliott 
Chevalier Mark Millett and Dame de la Chaîne Julia Benkert 
Chevalier Matthew Millett and Rona Willis 
Chevalier John Mocker and Chargé de Presse Provincial Midwest Honoraire Lee Flischel sampling wines 
Jayne Menke, Sherie Glazier-Bessler, and Echanson Provincial Mary Horn 
Vice Chargée de Médias Sociaux Hononaire Sue Flischel and Guenter Matthews 
Chargé de Presse Provincial Midwest Honaire J.T. Mayer and Jan Lazarus 
Chevalier Marc Watson and Chevalier Viral Patel 
Marilyn Buckley, Ray Jackson and Kim Jackson 
Guenter Matthews, Kathy Merchant, and Paul Parks enjoying the wines 
Appetizer 
Some of the Cellar Treasure Wines 
Short Rib, Salmon and Potato 
Dessert 
Chambellan Provincial George Elliott awarding Vice Chargée de Médias Sociaux Hononaire Sue Flischel with her prize for first Entries on Blind Tasting and Best Wine 
2nd Place Ties for Best Wine of the Evening – Chevalier Nick Gonzales and Chevalier John Mocker 
Chambellan Provincial George Elliott awarding Mystery Wine winners Guenter Matthews and Professionnel du Vin Ian Pascoe 
DelightMore Servers with Chambellan Provincial George Elliott
The Carnegie Hall in Newport was funded by Andrew Carnegie and built in1898. It served as a library for many years. In 2025, it was completely renovated and transformed into a magnificent event center by the current owners, the DelightMore group. Handsome Italian Renaissance architecture sends you back in time. Ornate Corinthian marble columns that surround the entryway’s marble floor symbolize the elegance and grandeur of the late 19th century.
Fifty members and guests shared passed appetizers (Bay Scallop Ceviche, Tomato and Feta Gougères, and Beef Tartare Crostini) while sampling the array of wine offerings. Bailli George Elliott introduced guests to kick off a three-course dinner: Braised Short Ribs with Red Wine Demi-glace, Blackened Salmon with Citrus Salsa, and Panna Cotta which paired nicely with the dessert wines.
At the conclusion of the evening, Mary Horn announced the prize winners. Chargée de Medias Sociaux Honoraire Sue Flischel was honored for being the first person to submit votes for the various contests. Chevalier Nick Gonzales and Chevalier John Mocker tied for the best red wine award with a 2012 Ovid Proprietary Red and 1998 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, respectively. Vice Chargé de Presse Honoraire JT Mayer won the award for best white wine with a 2016 Paul Launois Single Barrel Champagne, Grand Cru Le Mesnil-Sur-Oger. For the blind “mystery wine” tasting contest, Mary Horn chose a 2001 Fattoria La Magia Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and a 2023 Zind-Humbrecht Clos Jebsal Pinot Gris. Again there was a tie for this award going to Chevalier Guenter Matthews and Professionnel du Vin Ian Pascoe.
Following the award presentations, a well-deserved round of applause was given to Echanson Provincial Midwest Mary Horn, the attentive DelightMore staff, and all of the competition winners.
Graig Smith, Vice Chargé de Presse