Grape Squeeze

So Mr. Sweeting came back from the Okanagan one day and said to his son Paul, ‘You guys should see if you can do a Winemaker’s Dinner with these guys’ and handed him a business card for the Enotecca Winery Group.  Paul in turn handed the card to me and when I flipped it over I said to him, ‘Oh yeah, no problem.  I know their sales agent.  Let’s see what we can do.’

One phone call lead to several more, and those translated into meetings and tastings with Jay Drysdale from Enotecca and the Chefs from the Ramada Plaza.  All of that inspired my road trip to the South Okanagan at the end of June (see my blog called ‘An Okanagan Road Trip’ for details on that adventure) to visit Le Vieux Pin and La Stella.  Now, the culmination of all of this effort will be a six course dinner for forty eight guests featuring the wines of Le Vieux Pin and La Stella and the creatively delicious talents of Chef Jonathan Stewart and his team at the Ramada Plaza.  The event will be hosted by Jay Drysdale who represents the two wineries and who himself has an extensive background in food and wine.  Jay has worked as both a Chef and a Sommelier before joining the Enotecca group, and is presently considered one of the top wine and food educators in the Okanagan Valley.

Take a look at the evening’s menu and the featured wines:

Le Vieux Pin Merlot

6pm RECEPTION

Seared Qualicum Bay Scallop, Salsicia Vinaigrette

Roasted Beet and Green Apple Salad with Shaved Kibrit

Wine:  La Stella Vivace Pinot Grigio 2009

Ripe and tropical with rich apple and pear notes.  The palate has good weight

and clean acidity for both balance and freshness.

6:30pm DINNER

West Coast Chowder Our Way

Wine:  Le Vieux Pin Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Zesty and vibrant with tropical fruit, gooseberry, and grassy notes.

Partial barrel fermentation and aging enhances the complexity and texture.

~

Braised Pork Cheeks with Pear and Cinnamon

Wine:  Le Vieux Pin Pinot Noir 2007

This is an elegant wine with spicy cherry aromas and flavours

beautifully framed by oak, with just a hint of dark cherry and leather on the finish.

~

Roasted Valley Duck Leg with Rosemary and Grilled Polenta

Wine:  La Stella Fortissimo 2007

A Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc blend

with aromas of mocha, black forest cake, and grilled herbs.

Firm tannins and bold textures round the finish.

~

Rack of Caribou, Roasted Forest Mushroom Fricassee,

Seared Potato Pave and Chive Butter, Lacquered Red Curry Squash Puree,

Smoked Chipollini Onion Jus

Wine:  Le Vieux Pin Merlot 2007

Concentrated red fruits with cinnamon, allspice, and cedar on the nose.

The palate is focused with flavours of currants, strawberries, raspberries,

and mint lifted by a touch of natural acidity.

~

Steamed Vanilla Bean, Blood Plum Pudding,

Nectarine and Fresh Goat Cheese Gelato with Green Cardamom,

Honey Comb Cookie

Wine:  La Stella LaStellina Rosato 2009

This Merlot Rosé offers up strawberry and rhubarb aromas that follow through

onto the palate and finish with blueberry and plum flavours.

La Stella LaStellina Rosato

Tickets for this event are available for $99.99 + tax (gratuities are included) at Whatcom Wine and Spirits.  You may purchase them from our Ramada Plaza Abbotsford store location, or get in touch with me via email and I will arrange them for you:  rose@whatcomwineandspirits.com.

This promises to be another amazing collaboration… make sure not to miss it!

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