Who and What:  Rhone Wine Extravaganza

Details:

Are you curious about French food, even more so about the wine?  Then let our Chef and Sommelier take you through a Rhone Valley culinary adventure, focusing on one of France’s oldest and most prestigious wine regions. 

With its head in Burgundy and its feet in the Midi, the Rhone Valley has managed to create an extensive wine culture which is rivaled by few others.  Even seven Popes have chosen the Rhone Valley as their home over the Vatican! 

The Rhone Valley wines will please just about every palate.  The Northern Rhone, with only 3% of the wine production, has dark reds (think Syrah) and fragrant golden whites (think Viognier), and the Southern Rhone has luscious Chateauneuf Du Papes which traditionally mature at a young age. 

With no shortage of wine selections and some benchmark vintages, choosing the perfect menu to compliment the wines will be an easy task.  We are thinking of a rich country Cassolet matched with a Cote Rotie from Etienne Guigal to enhance your enjoyment of this classic Southern France dish.

Who and What:   Au Bon Climat, Ambuellneo Costa De Oro

                               with Jim Clendenon, Greg Linn & Gary Burk

Details: 

This dinner will be highly educational as you get to rub elbows with one of the foremost winemakers in the world (Jim Clendenon) and two guys (Greg Linn and Gary Burk) who are helping to shape the future of the wine industry in the Santa Maria Valley.  The wines featured will all come from the legendary Bien Nacido Vineyard and will include Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Syrahs. 

I would hope that Jim Clendenon needs no introduction as his winery is on Robert Parker’s short list of Best Wineries in the world.  The winery has cultivated an international reputation for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris.  In short, the “Mind Behind” Au Bon Climat is recognized worldwide for his classically-styled wines. 

Gary Burk started Costa De Oro winery after paying his dues at ABC/Qupe for almost nine years.  His wines have received critical acclaim from James Laube/Wine Spectator and also from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. 

Our good friend Greg Linn is co-ordinating this event and has his own winery called Ambuellneo.  Greg’s 2006 Bulldog Pinot Noir just received a 90 score from Robert Parker and his personality is every bit as interesting as his wines.

Who and What:   Silver Oak Cellars

                               with Charlie Campbell

Details:

Every two or three years we try to persuade our friends at Silver Oak Cellars to do a dinner with us.  Our customers are big fans of both the Napa and Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon as well as their newest venture, Twomey Cellars.  This winery is producing outstanding Russian River Pinot Noirs as well as a terrific Sauvignon Blanc, from the Calistoga area.

Be assured we will offer more than the current releases at this dinner.  Counting on our relationship of close to thirty years with Silver Oak we will ask to purchase some older vintages so you will have an opportunity to see how these wines stand the test of time.  We recently had a customer bring in a 1991 Silver Oak to one of our wine dinners and it was spectacular.  The wine was impeccably balanced and would have made the founders Ray Duncan and Justin Meyer proud.

Who and What:   Chateau Montelena Winery

                                with Rita Pirkl

Details:

Chateau Montelena’s rich history dates back to 1882 when Alfred Tubbs bought 254 acres just north of Calistoga and shortly there after planted his vineyards, built his Chateau and imported a French born winemaker to craft his wine. 

The next chapter began in 1972 under the leadership of James Barrett.  The vineyard was cleared and replanted, the Chateau outfitted with modern wine making equipment and wines were made for the first time in decades.

In 1976 Chateau Montelena put California on the forefront of the wine world.  That year a who’s who of the French wine and food establishment gathered for a grand tasting in Paris.  Four white Burgundies were tasted against six California Chardonnays.  When the scores were tallied the French Judges were convinced that the top ranked wine was one of their own.  In fact it was Chateau Montelena’s Chardonnay, that was rated above all other wines and California’s wine industry had come of age. 

If you are not already a fan of this winery you will be after this dinner as we start off on the Mendocino terrace with their Potter Valley Reisling.  When we move on to the sit down portion of our dinner we will try a couple of their Chardonnays and at least three of their Cabernet Sauvignons.  One of the Cabernets will be from their library collection so you will get a chance to see how they have improved over time.