TASTE OF HOPE 2025: NEW CORK CITY
Does a glass of wine (ideally capacious enough to hold a small lagoon) sound good right now? And what if, by downing said glass—let's be honest: several glasses—you could do some good in this wicked old world? That's a win-win, baby, and we apologize for slurring.
This brings us to City of Hope's annual Taste of Hope gathering, which allows industry types to go wilding on the grape while raising money to fight dread diseases. A gallery of said philanthropic revelry can be enjoyed below. iHeart luminary Alissa Pollack and her merry band of oenophiles broke the org's all-time fundraising record this year in NYC, bringing in more than $350k. We'll drink to that.
Then again, we'll drink to anything. Cheers!
Pollack, iHeart's Mark Adams, Republic's Lucas Romeo and iHeart's John Peake found the Montepulciano full-bodied and increasingly difficult to pronounce.
Lana and Richard Palmese, Pollack, Louise Lombard and iHeart programming guru Tom Poleman found that the Bordeaux was up in both spins and streams.
iHeart's Lisa Worden, Shinedown's Brent Smith, iHeart's Brad Hardin, Pollack and Atlantic promo chief Brady Bedard couldn't decide if the Côtes du Tarn was active or alternative.
"Remember," cautioned Warner Co-Chairman/COO Tom Corson, "dignity above all else. So when you say 'cheese' for this photo, think of an austere Tyrolean grey." Meanwhile, Warner's Joan Gil, artist Dasha and the label's Josh Reich and Sara Habibi wondered if "tariff" was a tasting note.
"Maybe it's the Gewürztraminer talking, but," Warner co-boss Tom Corson observes to GM Mike Chester, "Ich liebe es einfach, auf Branchenfotos zu erscheinen."
Pollack and artists Brent Smith, Dasha and Gavin De Graw agreed that a case of the Cab Franc should be referred to as "a playlist."
Warner's Mike Chester, Pollack, biz legend Steve Bartels, CAA's Shawn “Pecas” Costner and CTM's Thomas Deelder agree that the Grenache should not be buried in overnights.