Wine, Dine, & Be Dazzled with @CapitalGrille Women Winemakers #GenerousPour Tasting!

Eight remarkable wines, crafted, designed, or owned by women from some of California’s most acclaimed vineyards for $28. Yeah, you heard me right! The Capital Grille in their Summer Generous Pour event invites you to explore and enjoy as many of these remarkable wines and varietals as you like for the limited time of July 6th through August 30th, 2015.

As a Certified Sommelier, I am proud to share nowhere is the rise of women in the industry more prevalent than in California. Women represent half of the graduates from the state’s top enology programs, and are employed as lead winemaker at ten percent of California vineyards.

“The Generous Pour collection is a celebration of the vital role women play in the growing wine industry,” noted MS George Miliotes, one of only 229 in the world to have earned that prestigious title. “We are proud to feature eight exceptional wines created and shaped by seven extremely talented women, from highly-regarded California wineries,” he added.

Raising a glass, or in my case, eight to these gifted winemakers, proprietresses, and visionaries. Here’s the mouth-watering synopsis of our delightful and intimate dinner with MS Milotes, Ms. Ryan, Ms. Laura, Chef Price, TastyChomps, Daily City, Orlando Date Night, and Orlando My Way!

The wines are listed in the order I tasted them. The whites of the evening paired beautifully with the appetizers Pan Fried Calamari with hot cherry peppers, Lobster and Crab Cakes, and Prosciutto wrapped Mozzarella with vine ripe tomatoes.

The 2015 Generous Pour Collection includes eight remarkable wines by seven talented women:

Barrymore, Monterey 2013: Actress Drew Barrymore’s Pinto Grigio is a delightful, crowd-pleasing white wine, well rounded and easy going. Delightful flavors of lemon drop, Asian pear, and honeydew melon accompanied by a “wet stone” minerality from the vineyard’s ancient soils.

Galerie “Naissance” Napa Valley: Wine Maker Laura Diaz Muñoz‘s Sauvignon Blanc is aged on lees in neutral oak barrels, this brilliant debut SB has a wonderful weight and no oakiness. Lovely aromas of white peach, pink grapefruit, and jasmine followed by flavors of citrus with a hint of pineapple and bright lingering finish.

Stonestreet “Bear Point” Alexander Valley 2012: Winemaker Lisa Valtenbergs Chardonnay, awarded 95 points by the acclaimed wine critic Parker, is an extremely limited production which is the gold standard for California style Chardonnay. Powerful floral elements of lemon blossom and jasmine accompanied by flavors of ripe red apple and kumquat, lush with a glorious lengthy finish.

The obvious choice for an entree  was Porcini Rubbed Bone-In Ribeye with 15 year aged balsamic. Accompanied by Lobster Mac n Cheese, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with smoked bacon, Grilled Asparagus with lemon mosto, and Roasted Fingerling Potatoes.

Rich dishes like steak usually call out for an equally rich, intense, structured, and concentrated wine. Well balanced red wines with tannins as  a world-class Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot works wonder. A powerful Cabernet Sauvignon with a steak is pretty hard to beat.

Cambria “Julia’s Vineyard” Santa Maria Valley 2012: Winemaker Denise Shurtleff‘s Pinot Noir comes from Cambria, a rare, single-estate winery that nurtures its own grapes, for a Pinot Noir that faithfully reflects the finest characteristics of the Santa Maria bench. Bright purple in color, with spicy aromas and red fruit and dark berry flavors, this Pinot Noir has a solid tannin structure.

Matanzas Creek, Sonoma 2012: One of my personal favorite Merlot is made by Winemaker Marcia Monahan. Bennett Valley is one of California’s wine-growing hidden gems. Fog, a cool climate, and rich, volcanic soil produce a stunning Merlot. A complex blend of flavors, including dried blueberries, bittersweet chocolate, and salty black licorice; seamless tannins; and a long, vibrant finish.

 

Kinton, Santa Barbara 2007: Exclusive to The Capital Grille for The Generous Pour event Wine Visionary Julia Jackson Syrah 2007 was a storybook vintage in California. Medium bodied with aromas of blueberry, vanilla, and spice with a hint of leather and blueberry jam that linger at the finish.

Arrowood Reserve Speciale, Sonoma 2011: A majestic Cabernet that is as rare as it is fine made by Winemaker Kristina Werner. With only a few thousand cases produced, it doesn’t appear on wine lists very often. But it is available this summer at The Generous Pour. 100-year-old vines add to the rich complexity of this lush wine. Enjoy aromas of black cherry, toast, and crème de cassis blended with flavors of dark berry and cedar.

Mt. Brave, Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley 2011: Produced in extreme conditions 1,800 feet above the valley floor, this is a spectacular, powerful wine by Winemaker Laura Díaz Muñoz. The small, intense grapes grown in rugged terrain at high altitude produce beautiful flavors of roasted espresso, blackberry, anise, and violets.

For the sweet finale, we tasted generous portions of Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake, Coconut Cream Pie, and Cheesecake with seasonal berries.

During The Generous Pour, The Capital Grille servers will provide tasting notes and suggest pairings for each course, based on individual preferences. This will allow guests to craft their own personalized wine dinner. Follow MS George Miliotes on Twitter and Instagram @TheWineExpert to join the #GenerousPour conversation. For more information, please visit: thecapitalgrille.com, Facebook and @CapitalGrille.

There is only ONE WEEK left to check these incredible wines. Incidentally it is also coinciding with one of my most anticipated foodie events of the year – Magical Dining. And YES, Capital Grille is participating. So pick up the phone and make your reservations and make sure to leave me a note in this post of your favorite wine and food pairing.

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