Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and if you’re looking for the perfect dish to seduce your Valentine – look no further. Our recipe for Steak au Poivre à Deux and Roasted Rosemary Garlic Potatoes paired with a deliciously seductive red wine will ensure an evening of endless possibilities! Steak au Poivre is a classic French dish that consists... Read More
The post Valentine’s Day Deliciousness: Steak au Poivre à Deux & Roasted Rosemary Garlic Potatoes! appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.
When it comes to charity wine events, few have the caché of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. Widely considered one of the most successful in the U.S., the event is held every January at the tony Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort on Florida's balmy west coast.
Well-heeled, philanthropically minded patrons pay $10,000 per couple to attend a weekend of spectacular food and wine events featuring the industry's brightest stars and most revered legends. This glamorous event is held for a wonderful cause and, since its inception in 2001, has raised over $146 million for the Naples Children and Education Foundation which has benefited over 40 local children's charities.
The 2016 Naples Winter Wine Festival kicked off a weekend of vinous revelry with a very special tasting and luncheon commemorating the 40th anniversary of The Judgment of Paris, a wine tasting held in Paris in 1976 that changed the wine world forever. The tasting pitted a selection of France's most highly regarded wines against a selection of American wines which, at the time, weren't well-known outside of California's west coast.
Steven Spurrier + George Taber chatting before the tasting
In a surprising defeat, the American wines trounced the French, forever establishing the U.S. as a vinous force to be reckoned with.
The Vintage Cellar, a Celebration of The Judgment of Paris featured a retrospective tasting of vintages of the fêted American wines (the Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Estate Cabernet Sauvignon) followed by a luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort's restaurant, Lemonía.
The tasting was moderated by the very men involved in this historic event 40 years ago: Steven Spurrier, event organizer and proprietor of L'Academie du Vin; Bo Barrett, CEO and Master winemaker of Chateau Montelena; Ted Baseler President and CEO of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars; and George Taber, editor for Time Magazine who's coverage of the event brought it to national attention.
The service of these special wines was executed by a bevy of Master Sommeliers and many notable wine industry names were in attendance including Emily and Paul Michael of Peter Michael Winery, the Festival's 2016 Honored Vintner; Jean-Charles Boisset of the Boisset Collection; and Violet Grgich of Grgich Hills Estate who's father, Mike Grgich, was the winemaker for Chateau Montelena at the time of the tasting and crafted the legendary winning Chardonnay.
The day of the Naples tasting, Englishman Steven Spurrier, nattily dressed in a cream-colored linen suit with pink shirt and matching pocket square, kicked off the talk by recounting his introduction to the world of wine and sharing some very memorable experiences in the vineyards and cellars of Spain, Germany, France and Portugal.
Spurrier and his wife eventually settled in Paris where they purchased a wine shop, "I was the first...to sell the red wines of Guigal, Chateau Beaucastel and Chateau Rayas. I was constantly on the lookout for wines that spoke firmly of where they came from."
He also began hosting a variety of wine tastings featuring new producers which is where the idea for the Paris tasting came from, "The plan was to select wines only from the newish, boutique wineries to show the tasters the cutting edge of California."
Spurrier never suspected how the results would forever impact the wine world. He also voiced his disdain for a certain film made about the tasting (for my review of Bottle Shock, please click here). He was, however, quite excited about another film slated for release in July 2017 entitled The Judgment of Paris which will strive to provide a more accurate account of the details surrounding the event (please watch video above for Spurrier’s complete talk).
Next, the dapper and distinguished George Taber spoke, impressing upon us how close he'd come to missing the tasting altogether. Even when he arrived, it wasn't until he was given a score card featuring the names and order of the wines during the tasting and listening to the judges' comments (the judges tasted the wines blind) that he realized he had a story, "I heard one of the French judges exclaim while sampling a wine, 'Ah, the majesty of France' but when I looked at the score card I could see he was drinking the Freemark Abbey Cabernet from California!"
Taber went on to exclaim, "[the tasting] was a turning point in California wine...it definitely brought up everybody's game."
The affable Bo Barrett expounded on the importance of the tasting following the ravages of Prohibition on the California wine industry, "[the judgment of Paris] was the nail in the coffin of Prohibition." On his own contribution, "I was just a soldier, twenty years old and there were only three of us working in the cellar making just $3.15 an hour! It was the right wine at the right place on the right day...but we had the dream."
On his legacy, "like a mason, I look back on my work which has stood the test of time and I'm proud of that."
A tasting of the Chateau Montelena Chardonnay from the 1992, 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2008 vintages (all poured from magnums) revealed wines which, across the board, had aged with incredible grace. They were still fresh and lively with ample fruit and layers of delicious flavor. Older vintages expressed concentrated notes of baked apple, butterscotch and spice while the younger wines were rife with lemon verbena, apple tart and spiced pear balanced by a lovely minerality.
While not a part of the actual 1976 event, Ted Baseler, President and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates current owner of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, has enjoyed an esteemed thirty year career in the wine industry. The bottle which won the competition was then-owner Warren Winiarski's first vintage and it was only the vineyard's second leaf - very young by vineyard standards!
Baseler proudly informed us a bottle of the winning Cabernet, the 1973 Stag's Leap S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon, is on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, DC as one of the "101 Objects that Made America"(don't worry, the winning Chateau Montelena Chardonnay is there too).
Our special tasting of the Estate S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon included the 1983, 1993, 1998, 2008 and 2012 vintages and revealed wines which had definitely stood the test of time. The older vintages still possessed plenty of tannins and acid while dried fruits such as currant and cherry were accompanied by notes of earth, feu de bois, cocoa and spice. Conversely, the younger 2008 and 2012 vintages exhibited gorgeous layers of lush, ripe dark fruit, dark chocolate and coffee which were delightfully balanced and elegant.
A Q&A session at the end of the tasting revealed even more interesting insights from our speakers. When asked what has changed most in winemaking since 1976, Barrett replied, "Fruit handling and access to better cultivars are probably the biggest changes for us since then. The grapes picked for the Chardonnay that won the tasting were picked mid-afternoon and now we realize the importance of picking at night."
When asked about the upcoming film, The Judgment of Paris set to film this Summer, Baseler added, "the new film will tell the story of the of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, much like Bottle Shock focused on the Barretts and Chateau Montelena. It should be released in mid-2017."
Someone also asked why the French judges at the tasting were blindsided by the results to which Spurrier responded, "At the time of the tasting the judges knew the wines of their particular regions and weren't familiar with US wines. It was almost a social event for them." Spurrier also cheekily added, "You could also sum it up in one sentence, 'How a Croat and a Pole made history thanks to an Englishman!'"
This very special event was the perfect start to yet another successful weekend in Naples for a wonderful cause. In addition to the tasting and luncheon, the festival also featured sixteen vintner dinners held in elegant private homes, the legendary Great Expectations auction and a Celebration Brunch. For more information on the Naples Winter Wine Festival please click here.
When it comes to charity wine events, few have the caché of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. Widely considered one of the most successful in the U.S., the event is held every January at the tony Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort on Florida’s balmy west coast. Well-heeled, philanthropically minded patrons pay $10,000 per couple to attend a weekend of spectacular food and wine... Read More
The post The 40th Anniversary of “The Judgment of Paris” Celebrated at The Naples Winter Wine Festival! appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.
With Snowmageddon inflicting some pretty miserable weather on us this Winter, it seems like the perfect time to hunker down at home and enjoy some fabulous food and wine! Our "Perfect Pairings" segment explores the delicious depths of flavor and highlights combinations that synergize beautifully together. There's nothing like discovering a "1+1=3" combination that really make your palate sing! And why should that experience only be enjoyed at a fancy restaurant? Our "Perfect Pairings" are easily prepared at home where you can savor them with your friends and family...and take all of the credit! This installment features succulent, pan-seared Crispy Chicken Thighs with Bacony Spinach and Escarole paired with two (yes, TWO!) delectable wines.
The recipe is what I'd call a "comfort food compromise" in which decadent, skin-on poultry thighs are paired with the bright flavor of spinach and escarole studded with bits of smoky bacon and finished with a squeeze of lemon. Chicken thighs are some of the most underused comfort food ingredients EVER! They are utterly delicious and relatively inexpensive when compared with the ever-in-demand chicken breast and there's nothing like the sound they make hitting the screaming hot oil in a pan (for some gratuitous chicken thigh porn, please click here!). This Winter, why not try substituting thighs for your recipes which call for chicken breasts? You'll immediately have a more hearty, filling dish which is perfect for the season's frigid weather.While my tasting panel (ahem, my husband Steve and I) usually agrees on one final wine to pair with a particular dish, in the case of our lovely, crispy chicken thighs, we were deadlocked on two: a rosato from Southern Italy and a Pinot Noir from California's Russian River Valley. Whenever I see any incarnation of pork in a recipe, I immediately think rosé; the fruity flavors and bright acidity of these dry, pink wines resonate with it in almost any form. In this case the 2014 Leone de Castris "Five Roses" Rosato from Puglia (which we recently served at our Swank Farms dinner), a deep pink rosé made from the Negroamaro grape, synergized with everything in this dish from the bacon to the squeeze of lemon. The 2013 J Vineyards Pinot Noir from California's Russian River Valley on the other hand, had delicious dark cherry fruit and smoky earth elements which were sheer perfection with the smoky, bacony greens and meaty chicken thighs. So depending on your vinous preferences, you have two gems to pick from!
I hope you enjoy our latest "Perfect Pairing" and find the time to prepare it this Winter in the comfort of your own home. In the event these two wines aren't readily available to you, ask your local wine merchant for wines that are similar and they should be able to hook you up. For previous installments of our "Perfect Pairings" segment, please click here and, as always, thanks for reading!Bon appétit,
"Crispy Chicken Thighs with Bacony Spinach & Escarole"Serves 6-88 large bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs2 Tablespoons good olive oil8 slices, thick-cut bacon, coarsely chopped2 shallots, finely chopped1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or more to taste2 heads of fresh escarole, torn into large pieces3 big handfuls of baby spinach2 lemonsKosher salt & freshly ground black pepper1.) Season chicken liberally on both sides with Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.2.) Once oil starts to shimmer, place chicken thighs skin side down into the hot pan and cook until golden and crisp, approximately 10-12 minutes. Turn thighs over and cook an additional 8-10 minutes until cooked through. Cook thighs in two batches of four at a time and pour off excess fat in the pan between batches. Remove cooked thighs to a foil-covered plate and set aside.3.) Pour off fat from the hot skillet and add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 7-10 minutes. Add shallots and red pepper flakes to the pan and toss to coat.4.) Add large handfuls of escarole to the pan, letting each bunch wilt slightly before adding more. Remove pan from the heat before adding the last bunch of escarole and baby spinach and then toss to coat with the deliciousness in the pan. Season greens to taste with Kosher salt and pepper.5.) Divide escarole among the plates, top with a chicken thigh and serve with lemon wedges.
With Snowmageddon inflicting some pretty miserable weather on us this Winter, it seems like the perfect time to hunker down at home and enjoy some fabulous food and wine! Our “Perfect Pairings” segment explores the delicious depths of flavor and highlights combinations that synergize beautifully together. There’s nothing like discovering a “1+1=3” combination that really make your palate sing! And why should that experience only be enjoyed at a... Read More
The post “Perfect Pairings”: Crispy Chicken Thighs with Bacony Spinach & Escarole Paired with 2 Perfect Wines! appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.
What do you do when you're hosting an outdoor dinner party for 200 discerning South Florida foodies and the forecast calls for rain...and lots of it? If you're Darrin and Jodi Swank, you don't panic...you simply move everything under a rustic, beautifully appointed pole barn and proceed to serve your guests a mouth watering, multi-course meal paired with delicious wine and prepared by some of South Florida's most acclaimed Chefs.
Such are the occasional travails of South Florida farming's most dynamic duo, Darrin and Jodi Swank, owners and proprietors of Loxahatchee's Swank Farms. In addition to providing some of the finest produce to many of our favorite local restaurants, their perpetually sold out "Swank Table" dinner series is back for another season. These special dinners feature some of South Florida's finest Chefs and Sommeliers and are definitely one of the hottest tickets in town. Culinary icons ranging from Chef Michael Schwartz of Miami's Michael's Genuine to Chef Nick Morfogen of Delray Beach's 32East have braved the bucolic splendor to prepare delicious, farm-inspired, family-style meals for appreciative foodies who have remained steadfastly loyal to the couple's culinary endeavors.
I've had the pleasure of participating as a featured Sommelier for Swank Table since 2013 and this season I'm honored to be slated for two dinners. The first, featuring a "Farm Stand" theme, was held on Sunday, January 10th and benefited the wonderful local charity, Season to Share, the Palm Beach Post's annual holiday campaign. For those who attended this magical evening, it was certainly a feast for the senses! Guests were greeted with a welcome drink prepared by Chris Martin, Mixologist of West Palm Beach's popular Avocado Grill. Martin crafted his concoction using Tito's specialty vodka and sweet green tea, garnished with lemon and mint. He had infused the vodka prior to the event and the fragrant, sweet aroma alone was intoxicating! Guests sipped and strolled the farm, cocktails in hand as the delightful strains of the superb featured band, the SOSOS got everyone in the mood to feast.
Diners were then treated to an assortment of eye-catching hors d'oeuvres which utilized the Swank's farm-fresh ingredients in the most creative and delicious ways. Chef Nicole Votano of Miami Beach's Dirt restaurant served a gorgeous Lemon Balm Ricotta and Strawberry Crostini with Cracked Black Pepper, Fennel Confit, Micro Basil and L'Estronell Olive Oil; Chef Tory Martindale of the Four Seasons in Palm Beach prepared "Atomic Turtle Eggs" which consisted of lobster and cheese stuffed spicy peppers wrapped in bacon and BBQ smoked; Chef Simon Stojanovic, Swank's Culinary Chef Liaison, created a delicious Spring Roll with Sriracha Sauce; and Michael Reidt, Chef/Owner of Miami's Pilgrim did a lovely, earthy Red and Golden Beet Carpaccio. Plated together, the four hors d'oeuvres created a stunning culinary mosaic! To pair with the diverse flavors and textures of the starters, I chose a delicious Italian rosé, the 2014 Leone de Castris "Five Roses" Rosato from Puglia. This wine is a blend of 90% Negroamaro and 10% Malvasia Nera with notes of ripe cherry, strawberry and raspberry and a delightfully crisp acidity.
Following the hors d'oeuvres, tours of the farm's growing operations and produce shopping from the event's featured vendors, guests were seated for dinner. The first course, prepared by Nicole Votano was Dirt's "Florida in Winter" Salad featuring Swank spicy greens, crisp broccolini, roasted curried cauliflower, sweet pickled cherry bomb peppers, coffee-rubbed cheddar and roasted shallot vinaigrette served alongside butternut squash and wild mushroom farro risotto. The dish paired marvelously with the 2014 Mastroberardino Mastro Greco di Tufo, a crisp, lean white wine from Italy's Campania region. The wine's naturally high acidity handled the variety of flavors perfectly.
Next up was Chef Michael Reidt's Grilled Tilefish with Caramelized Carrot Brandade and Jerk-spiced Crab Vinaigrette. This creative dish was accompanied by charred broccoli with blood orange gastrique and toasted ham crumbs and paired equally well with either our featured white or red wine. Yes, you heard me, I said fish and RED wine! I love to dispel the myth that white wine is the only proper pairing for fish and on this particular evening I poured the 2014 Mastroberardino Mastro Aglianico, a medium-bodied red wine made from the Aglianico grape. The wine's bright fruit and food-friendly acidity paired remarkably well with the grilled fish and its accoutrements.
For the final savory course, Chef Tory Martindale dished up an Espresso-rubbed NY Strip with Chili Seared Tuscan Kale. which was served alongside merguez cassoulet, mint chimmi, toasted pine nuts and cafe au lait sauce. With the variety of flavors in this dish, the Aglianico was a wonderful choice with its mild tannins and friendly fruit. Dessert was artfully created by Chef Arielle Curasi from Jereve @ EmKo in West Palm Beach consisting of Earl Grey Valrhona Milk Chocolate Mousse as well as a Port wine and chamomile poached pear. One thing is for sure, no one EVER leaves a Swank dinner hungry!
A special thank you to my Dream Team who came to help me pour wine again this year, Wayne Pasik, Eric Price and, of course, my husband Steve and if you like the sound of this magical meal, I really hope you can join us on Sunday, February 28th for "The Envelope Please..." dinner which will benefit the Palm Beach International Film Festival. This dinner is the same night as The Oscars so come have some fun with us before you go home and watch the awards. For more information on the event and/or to purchase tickets. please click here. I promise to be pouring some delicious wines...rain OR shine!Cheers,
What do you do when you’re hosting an outdoor dinner party for 200 discerning South Florida foodies and the forecast calls for rain…and lots of it? If you’re Darrin and Jodi Swank, you don’t panic…you simply move everything under a rustic, beautifully appointed pole barn and proceed to serve your guests a mouth watering, multi-course meal paired with delicious wine and prepared... Read More
The post A Fabulous “Farm Stand” Feast at Swank Farms! appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.
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