www.southingtoncitizen.com
Volume 13, Number 28
Friday, July 12, 2019
Winemakers will compete at Italian-American fest
Former chamber director returns
By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
Local amateur vintners will compete in a wine-making contest at the Italian-American Festival later this month.
The leader of the Southington Chamber of Commerce during the 1990s will return to her former position as executive director next week.
Hekeler
The chamber’s board hired Barbara Hekeler to fill the job vacated by Taylor Crofton, who resigned in May.
“She’s already heading into the office today and checking in,” Miceli said July 1. “She’s just so ready to get started.”
Hekeler, a Cheshire resident, was the chamber’s executive director from 1993 to 1999 before resigning to raise her twin daughters. Dawn Miceli, board chairwoman, was impressed with Hekeler’s experience and knowledge of the town and its businesses. During her tenure, the chamber tripled its membership and posted surpluses.
Hekeler said board and chamber members suggested she apply for the position.
Northeast Produce in Plainville sponsors the contest and has presses that can mash grapes for those without equipment at home. Barbato said he uses the company’s California grapes. The festival is scheduled for July 26, 27 and 28 on Center Street. Homemade wine will be judged and prizes awarded on July 27, a Saturday, at 2 p.m. The contest, in its 12th year, gets between 40 and 50 entries from locals. Most age their wine about a year, according to Barbato. Grapes bought in the fall are mashed and the juice fermented in a glass jug or steel container. How long to age the wine depends on the grapes, Bar-
Luigi Barbato, a Southington resident and organizer of the Italian-American Festival’s winemaking contest, pours grapes into a crusher at his home. Courtesy of Antonietta Barbato
bato said. Some wines are better if aged longer, which Barbato found out by asking professional vintners in Italy and the United States. “I’ve been to a lot of vineyards,” he said. “The more you ask, the more you learn.” His wife Antonietta Bar-
bato is president of Sorelle d’Italia and a festival co-director. She said the contest is still gathering applicants. A group of dancers from Sorelle d’Italia, including Antonietta Barbato, will again be doing a traditional Italian dance. Last year the group did the Tarantella. See Wine, A42
“She will be able to jump right into the position and gain ground immediately with moving the Chamber forward in a positive manner — from strengthening our member base to forming civic and community partnerships,” Miceli wrote in a statement announcing the hire.
“I’m really going to be spending my first few weeks at the chamber on the internal structure of the organization,” she said. Hekeler will also be looking to hire and fill vacant positions. The chamber had a number of recent departures.
Embrace the mission Membership in the Southington Chamber of Commerce has declined by about half over the past four years, according to Lisa Jansson, the chamber’s former events See Chamber, A42
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While he’s not entering his wine, contest organizer Luigi Barbato is among those who buy or grow grapes and make wine at home.
Hekeler’s official first day was July 9, but Miceli said Hekeler had already begun working.