Inspiration Vineyard's Winemaker Dinner Event - Sonoma County California

Winemaker’s Dinner Event

                Inspiration Vineyards Winemaker Dinner Event was a spectacular look into the regional wine community. This dinner event was Inspiration Vineyard’s first, hosted at the winery. After meeting ex-winemaking professor and current winemaker for Inspiration Vineyards, I have a new found respect for the food and wine. Living in the Sonoma County region for 23 years now, I have always had an aspiring connection to the “Wine County” and learning more about it.

                Between Inspiration Vineyard’s winemaker and special guest chef Ken Rochioli, the night was not only highly educational, but mouthwatering. The menu started out with appetizers served with their 2010 Inspiracio which is a Rhone inspired white wine. Rhone is a region in Southern France, which like Sonoma County, holds the perfect climate for grape growing. Beside the point, the first appetizers were Seared Duck Breast with Honey, Ginger and Lavender. Second up was the Scallop and Smoked Salmon Cake with Remoulade Sauce.  This is a French sauce but Louisiana has made its own version. It is based on oil or mayonnaise and has added ingredients such as mustard, garlic, paprika and Cajun seasonings.

                Once the music stopped and it was time to sit down for dinner, we had a Mango, Jicama, Bodega Bay Dungeness Crab Salad with Lemon Curry Dressing. Alongside of this beautiful dish was a glass of Inspiration Vineyard’s reserve 2010 Chardonnay. To say the least, this wine had an extravagant buttery overtone with hints of pear, citrus and melon. Its acidity was balanced to perfection, making it a very smooth Chardonnay. As the group tasted the first wine, we also were given a sample of the unfiltered version of it. This was a very interesting and special experience to taste the difference between unfiltered Chardonnay which had a strong overtone of buttery popcorn, and filtered Chardonnay which had a much mellower buttery sensation.

                Next on the dinner list was Neoma Rochioli Chicken Stew over Creamy Polenta with Jack and Parmesan Cheese. The dish was paired with Inspiration’s 2009 Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley appellation. This was a delightful paring and probably my favorite. And lastly, we finished up dinner with the final Entrée served with their 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the Dry Creek Valley. The Entrée was Herb-Garlic Beef with Bacon Bourbon Shallot Sauce sided with Crumbled Blue Cheese Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Grilled Asparagus with Balsamic Drizzle and Roasted Walnuts.

                The meal was pared perfectly with their wines. Of course the Cabernet Sauvignon would be pared with the main Entrée considering it is the King of all wines. After finishing the last Entrée, as I was waiting for dessert, I reflected on my experience. My favorite part of the dinner was the Pinot Noir pared with the chicken and polenta stew. This light red wine was pared perfectly with the dish. The creamy and cheesy sensation the stew had on my palate pared quite well with the fragile 2009 Pinot Noir.

                After dazing off for a moment or two, I had a dessert dish placed in front of me. I remember being quite full but the 85$ I paid was motivation to keep going. Dessert was served with their 2009 Reserve Syrah grown out of Dry Creek Valley. I found it odd paring dessert with a Syrah. It wasn’t until I hear the name of the dessert to which I understood, “Chocolate Syrah mini cake.” This dessert was a unique one, and quite a learning experience.      

                The amount of different flavors that flew through my palate at the Inspirational Winemaker Dinner Event opened my eyes to the artistic side of food and wine. Every dish was composed of a different assortment of ingredients which were carefully pared with their wines. I found it to be an amazing experience which I learned more than I thought I would. I will use the knowledge I gained to better my position at Francis Ford Coppola’s Rustic Restaurant, where I currently advancing a full time serving position.

                Another interesting experience I gained from the Inspiration Vineyards Winemaker Dinner Event was meeting Ken Macheras, to whom of which is the owner of Platypus Tours Limited. Mr Macheras was a Financial Planner for 30 years and is an exceptional business man. No he owns Platypus Tours which is a Wine tours, walking tours, Limo Bus Charter, and special event transportation services company. We exchanged emails and are planning on getting together for a glass of wine to talk about my future endeavors and whatever else we see fit.     

A small bit on the world of White Wine

                The world of white wine is a vast one. White wines of course are not white at all, but golden clear with a yellowish tint to them. The seven major varietals of white wine are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Gewurztraminer, Semillon and Moscato. Chardonnay being the number one best selling white wine varietal, I will start by discussing it.

                Chardonney is the number one white wine varietal in the United States. The Chardonnay grape is a low-maintenance and easy to grow. It adapts well in a variety of climates resulting in mass quantity. Low demand means low cost.

                The Chardonnay grape has an impressive range of flavors. Mostly malolactic fermented, the classic buttered and oak overtones to the fresh fruity flavors of melon, citrus, tropical, apple, and pear all work in sync to impress the palate. Chardonnay will pair well with any poultry dishes, seafood, pork and other cream and buttery based recipes. Chardonnays not made with oak barrels can go well with little garlic based recipes, salads, grilled shrimp, shellfish and other curry dishes. 

                Sauvignon Blanc originated in France and thrives in New Zealand’s cool regions. This white wine produces a zippy overtone with tropical and berry based flavors. This wine is often seen blended with Semillon, but also comes in many varietal forms.

                The flavor is crisp and holds a refreshing acidity. It delivers an herbal sensation with a wide range of veggie flavors such as grass, hay and other mineral tones. Citrus and tropical mixtures are common in Sauvignon Blanc.

                This wine pairs well with an assortment of different foods. It pairs well with appetizers, veggie dips, garlic and Italian seasonings in creamy sauces. Flavorful salads such as the Caesar, Greek, or garden salad pair great with this friendly white.

                Riesling is one of the wine worlds new “sweethearts.” It originated in Germany’s Rhein and Mosel river valleys. This wine can span across a wide range of styles from dry and sweet, to light and full bodied. Highly aromatic with pear, apple, peach an other floral undertones. It also poses hints of limestone and slate from its native soils in Germany. On the nose, it often has a honey spice aroma.

                It is a perfect wine to pair with a versatile foods which hold challenging flavors and spicy foods. It can also be paired well with a range of desserts, appetizers, shellfish, etc.

                Pinot Grigio is an Italian name for Pinot Gris. This white wine is closely related to Pinot Noir grape. This is a medium- full bodied wine which is dominated by pear, lemon, apple, and melon. Foods with a higher acidity bring out the best in a Pinot Gris. Dishes with nuts like a pecan topped baked Halibut. The best Pinot Grigio will come from the Alto Adige region.

                Gewurztraminer -Grown predominately in France, Germany, and the United States, the Gewurztraminer grape thrives in cooler regions. This wine, like the Riesling can be made in both dry and sweet varieties and tastes best when enjoyed at a young age. Flavors most prevalent include: honey, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, apricot, pear, and other floral tones. Foods to pair this wine with include Asian food, BBQ and chicken wings.

               

                Semillon can be made in both a dry and sweet wine. It has a reputation for making some stunning wines. Its oily texture makes a perfect wine to pare with a tart and sweet style of dessert. It can also make well with shellfish and other fish dishes.

                Moscato is often sweet and always fruity, with a characteristic grapefruit and musky aromas, this wine is best enjoyed alone or with different types of desserts.

                Overall, the world of white wine can be learned over the course of years. But or the everyday server, this general information will boost check averages ten-fold. Wine knowledge is a highly valuable in the world of food and beverage.

"Red Red Wine"

The world of red wine is fascinating and has a long history behind it. The following will discuss the 10 major types of red wine and grape varieties. Just to mention, a bottle of wine which is composed of only one kind of grape, for example Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, then the wine is called a varietal. According to U.S. Federal Law, to be named a varietal wine, it must be made from at least 75% of the grape variety stated on the label. Variety is used to refer to the type of grape, and varietal is the truth about a certain wine. For example, Francis Ford Coppola’s “Cinema” is a blend of five different grapes Cabernet, Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, and Petit-verdot. Overall, red wine is an adventure with every sip. Having some basic knowledge and understanding of it can dramatically change your experience in the large world of wine. The way I see it is, "wine is easy to learn, but hard to master." Above is a video on how to taste red wine, and below is a little about the top 10 most popular reds. 

An important fact is the reason why red wine has a strong tannin taste compared to white wine, which does not. Red wine is made from purple and red grapes, which are fermented with the skins, seeds, and sometime pieces of stem. The fermentation of these solids with the grape juices in effect gives red wine its condensed tannins. White wine usually is fermented with just the grade juice.

The difference between tannins and acidity in red wines: When you drink wine high in tannins, you’ll notice your tongue feeling gripped with a dry and puckery sensation. This is the condensed tannins you are tasting. There are different kinds of tannin, and condensed tannins are the ones found in wine. When the taste is lighter, crispier, and the flavors zing in your mouth like orange juice, this is the acid in the wine. 

1.   Syrah, sometimes known as Shiraz in America, thrives in California, Australia, and France’s Rhone Valley. This heavy red wine complimented with sensations of fruit makes it pair great with beef, steak, wild game, stews, and anything with an acidic venue.

2.   Malbec doesn’t have a typical taste, depending on where the grapes are grown and how the wine is made, it generally produces an easy drinking wine. It pairs great with meat based foods such as spicy mexican food or a spicy penne pasta. Typically originates from Bordeaux. The grape is grown in cooler regions on California, Australia, Chile and is the most popular red grape in Argentina.

3.   The great Cabernet Sauvignon, usually aged in Oak, is often blended with Cabernet franc and merlot. This wine is simply paired with red meats, and anything with a more acidic side. If enjoyed when young, it produces a gripping full-bodied wine, and will hold it young red color. When aged, the Polyphenols in the wine polymerize and the wine illuminates a more orange color. And the taste will be much more mellow. When aged in oak, the wine develops hints of toast, leather, popcorn.  

4.   Merlot, or (mare-lo) is an easy to drink and often used by wine educators to introduce red wines. Scents commonly noticed are black cherry, plums, herbal flavors and is much less tannic than a Cabernet Sauvignon.

5.   Pinot noir is the hardest grape to grow and the most sophisticated. This wine virtually holds almost no tannic sense.. The low level of polyphenols makes is a very soft red wine. The aromas are fruity like cherry, strawberry, earth, tea leaf, and other lighter fruits. A Pinot noir pairs great with salmon, chicken, lamb and other dishes like sushi rolls.

6.   Zinfandel is seen all over the board, but most popular in Dry Creek Valley and Rockpile in Sonoma County California. It makes heavy bold reds. Depending on the heaviness, zinfandel can be paired with grilled and barbecued meats, pizza, tomato-sauce pastas, etc.
7.   Barbera Wine is more along the lines of a pinot noir in terms of light and smooth taste. This wine is low I tannins but high in acidity. The wine pairs great with sea foods, hardy meats and other highly acidic foods. 
8.   Cabernet Franc is rare to find in a varietal. Wine makers primarily use it in blends. It is often used to soften off a classic Cabernet Sauvignon or to give structure to a merlot. It also has a tendency to give other heavy reds a fruitier flavoring. The wine is becoming more popular everywhere, but it is predominantly found in Bordeaux, France.

9.   Originally from Spain, Grenache Wine is one of the most planted red wines in the world. It holds similar to Cabernet Franc, but wine makers are starting to use it to produce a much more affordable and delicious wine.

10. Sangiovese Wine is high in acidity and does very well with spicy Italian and tomato based foods. With aromas of cherry, plum, cinnamon and vanilla, this red wine will also do well with a lesser sweet dessert.

Red Meat + Red Wine

Imagine getting home from a long day at work, school, or even a workout. You’re not trying to feel bloated with some high calorie meal cooked in butter, but you are looking to be satisfied. A new favorite meal which is full of flavor and somewhat healthy for you is streak and vegetables. The steak is a bone in New York, and the vegetables are Asparagus, Broccolini and sliced mushrooms sautéed with olive oil, white wine, and a bit of salt and pepper all paired with a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Northern California and Bordeaux (France) Cabernets are known as the world’s best. Particularly, Napa Valley’s climate and soils are the most suitable for these types of grapes. The boldest grapes, California Cabernets have high tannic levels and are commonly known as a massive grape. According to Wine and Food magazine, California crushed just fewer than 450,000 tons of Cabernet grapes in 2009.

Some of the most popular Cabernet Sauvignons in Napa Valley to keep an eye out for are the 2006 Luna Vineyards Napa Valley and the 2004 Macauley Vineyard Napa Valley. These years produced the best Cabernets. Understanding those years as good years for Cabernets will give you a huge advantage when deciding what to drink when starring at a large restaurant wine list.

As a server, pairing a New York steak with a glass Cabernet Sauvignon is a great choice. It’s one of the most classic American meals. But, you want to understand that a Cabernet Sauvignon is not the only type of wine which pairs great with red meat. You want to have your own style that will give you the biggest sale. If a guest is going to have 30$ or 90$ steak, as a server you need to understand this is the texture (firm, chewy, juice pink center, tender) and what pairs well with it. Among the many drink choices, a bold red wine is the best fit.