Sometimes when you go to an event, you know it’s going to be good before you even get there. The Vermeil Wine Tasting Event at Sovana Bistro on August 26th was one of those events.
The combination of Vermeil Wines and Sovana Bistro cuisine (crafted by Nick himself) was extraordinary, and pairings for each course were exquisite.
The grapes for Vermeil Wines are grown in Napa Valley and have been in the Vermeil family for several generations. Mr. Vermeil decided he wanted to do more and share the wonderful wines that they make with others.
As guests were arriving the staff was busy preparing the room and putting the finishing touches on everything.
When the reception began, the wine started flowing. The appetizers were paired with the 2016 XXXIV Red Wine Blend that had 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc, 22% Petite Sirah & 9% Zinfandel.
A special bonus was that several members of the Vermeil family, along with three former Eagle players from his team – Bill Bergey, Frank LeMaster, and Kevin Reilly were also in attendance.
Business owners from The Brand (Dick’s fellow winemakers from Napa Valley), Dineable and Holla Spirits were also there to show their support.
We had pre-assigned seats at tables set for ten. We were a party of 4 And we’re seated with 6 others, some of whom we’d seen in Sovana Bistro on other occassions.
A menu, describing the 5 courses and the wines they were paired with awaited us at each place setting.
Prior to each course Dick Vermeil took a few minutes to explain how each wine came about and why it paired well with food that was prepared. General Manager Adam Junkins complimented the discussion with explanations for each of the food courses. Sovano Bistro owner and chef, Nick came out of the kitchen long enough to share a little about the food selections.
Even Sovana Bistro owner Nick came out of the kitchen long enough to share a little about the food selections.
First course
Late Summer Tomatoes and Sauvignon Blanc
Second course
Pete’s Farm Corn “Velouté” and Chardonnay
Third course
House Made Rigatoni (no meat) and “Jean Louis Vermeil” Cabernet Savignon
Fourth course
Grilled “Panted Hill Farm” Tenderloin of Beef and “Rosedale Black” Cabernet Savignon
Fifth course
Blueberry Creme Broulee and 1908 Block Zinfandel
Dick Vermeil not only explained each of the wines in detail, but he made it a point to try to talk with each guest.
It was a great evening and incredibly enjoyable from start to finish!
Dianne and I are frequent customers of Sovana Bistro and have developed friendships with some of the staff. Due to that we heard about this dinner before it was even open to the public.
You may be asking yourself, how can I take advantage of and be included in events like this?
Start by liking their social media pages and/or get on the email list. This gives you first-hand information on when events or specials are either occurring or about to occur.
Be forewarned though. It’s not just rock stars whose concerts sell out quickly. This popular event sold out in in only a couple of days. If you’re planning on going, be ready and commit early. Additional tip – it’s better to purchase as many as you think will attend and relinquish extra tickets than not have enough for everyone who decides to go.
Another advantage of being on the list are being able to take advantage of gift cards. Gift cards can be purchased for sometimes 75% of the normal cost, (for example sometimes $75 buys a $100 gift card). If you’re looking to give someone a gift of this nature, why not get it cheaper? (and it could make you look better, lol)