Toast of the Town: UNLVino celebrates 30th anniversary as top winetaster

Wednesday, April 28, 2004 | 8:18 a.m.

"Take a Sip for Scholarship" has been the motto for UNLVino since its inception in 1974. It is anticipated that Saturday's UNLVino at Bally's Event Center will attract more than 10,000 wine enthusiasts who will come not only to imbibe, but to greet old friends and make new ones.

UNLV alumni often plan vacations around UNLVino. This year some of the grads will meet for dinner Friday. They'll meet again for lunch before going into the 30th Grand Tasting on Saturday. Graduates the world over "come home" for this annual hotel college event.

UNLV's William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration was in its infancy when UNLVino debuted in 1974. It was a wine class at the hotel college that inspired Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada Senior Managing Director Larry Ruvo to approach Dr. Jerry Vallen, founding dean of the college.

Ruvo presented his scholarship concept; Vallen liked it. They sealed the exclusive agreement with a handshake, Old-West style. The result? Since its creation UNLVino has raised millions of dollars for scholarships and student activities at UNLV.

Ruvo's commitment to UNLVino has never wavered. How long will his involvement continue? "As long as I'm breathing!" He means it. Ruvo is a man dedicated to his family and to helping any student with "a thirst for knowledge" get an education. More than 600 hotel college students and mainstream students volunteer to work at UNLVino. The core of the volunteer force is 25 students who make up a three-credit class, TCA 376B - Interactive Hospitality Marketing. These students are considered the future leaders of the hospitality industry. They devote an entire semester to preparing for the day of the Grand Tasting.

The Interactive Hospitality class was created in 1999 when the college recognized it needed students to take the lead on all aspects of UNLVino. Heading the class is professor Mohsen Azizoltani, who serves as liaison between UNLV and Southern Wine & Spirits and directs the students during the Grand Tasting. Chef Jean Hertzman of the Culinary Arts Management Program oversees all of the students involved with food and service. It is an awesome undertaking.

According to Ruvo, "The students form a coalition and work like a well-orchestrated machine. Watching them in the environment they created gives me great satisfaction."

Also impressive is the contact maintained by scholarship recipients with Ruvo. They write and phone from all over the world to thank him.

UNLVino is not just about the students, continued Ruvo. It is also about the consumers and their interest in wine. This is an opportunity to talk to some of the finest wine producers in the world.

UNLVino includes not only wine tasting. A wine auction that has raised large sums of money for scholarships to the Harrah College of Hotel Administration is always one of the highlights.

In addition, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, "Bubble-licious" at the Hard Rock Hotel pool will feature 30 "world-class" champagnes and sparkling wines.

On hand to greet guests and officially toast the evening will be Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, bon vivant Robin Leach, actor/comedian Pat Morita and other celebrity friends of UNLVino. "Bubble-licious" tickets are $50 per person. Call 693-5000.

Another featured event is the second year of "Auss-Some and Then Some," a showcase for Australia's finest winemakers, at Cili at the Bali Hai Golf Club Friday, which has been expanded this year to include New Zealand and South African wines. Culinary delights from Wolfgang Puck's kitchens are included. Tickets are $35 per person. Call 856-1000.

One of the primo wine lunches will take place from noon to 2 p.m. Friday at Smith & Wollensky on the Strip. Wine expert Kevin Zraly will take the mystery out of wine buying in one hour. Frank Prial of the New York Times calls Zraly "The grandfather of wine-primer writers and a one-man Cirque du Soleil." Zraly is the highly respected and very funny author of "Windows on the World Complete Wine Course." Zraly will answer questions and sign books.

Smith & Wollensky will provide the lunch and wines from their All American Wine List. Tickets are $50 per person. Call 862-4100.

The heady event isn't without its interesting stories. Before the days of designated drivers and hotel and UNLV security, it was Dean Jerry Vallen who made the judgment calls about who had one too many. One elderly feisty female didn't agree with his call and physically attacked the well-meaning Dean. Vallen, always a gentlemen, had to call for help. With three students to assist him, they managed to take her home.

The next day word came that she had charged Vallen with kidnapping! Of course he was cleared of the spurious charges, but he had a few worrisome days before the charges were dropped.