One of our favorite events here at Youngberg Hill is our winemaker dinners. Why attend a winemaker dinner? This is where we invite guests up to our vineyard for food and wines paired in perfect harmony. But the amazing food and wine is not the main reason we love this event. Our greatest joy is sharing stories and knowledge with our guests.
Larger or corporate wineries may claim that a “winemaker dinner” is a simple pairing while someone speaks to you about their wines. This is not the dinner party we throw. Ours is a close-knit affair. Nicolette is right there, eating with you, answering questions about wine, their wine-making philosophy, sharing stories, and having discussions.
The conversation and exchange of stories and ideas is the real point of a winemaker dinner. With new friendships forming and old friendships re-forging, it’s no wonder that food can become a secondary aspect of such a dinner. That said, we could write lengthy articles dedicated to the food alone. Here’s just one example – the menu from our Spring winemaker dinner:
We began with a glass of Champagne and olive and onion tarts as the hors d’oeuvres. After meeting everyone who came, we moved on to the first course: grilled shrimp and creamy polenta paired with our 2013 Pinot Gris. The next course was a spring salad with strawberries and cheese paired with the 2011 Cuvee. After that, the herbed rack of lamb with a Pinot demi-glace, asparagus, and black potatoes paired with the 2011 Jordan filled everyone up. With so many courses, we were able to take time to enjoy the food and our guests could ask questions and share stories. Good conversation always follows great wine, and this dinner was no exception. The meal was topped off with bread pudding with Pendleton sauce and Pinot Port.
With intimate dinners like this one, we are able to make new friends and impart a deeper understanding of wine to our guests. Youngberg Hill is a family owned and operated winery and we hope to make guests feel like family. Come dine, drink, and laugh with us at our next winemaker dinner on June 7th. We look forward to hearing from you.
