There’s nothing quite like a dinner within a vineyard, complete with the magic glow of a perfect Western sunset followed by a canopy of stars, both in the sky and on the table.
The stars of a recent winemaker dinner by Arkenstone and The Meritage Resort and Spa sparkled in our glasses and on our plates, with a deliciously executed wine and food pairing at The Meritage’s Vineyard Deck, set on a hillside overlooking the resort. It’s a dream setting for any outdoor corporate event in Napa, and winemaker dinners are one of the many options Meritage offers.
The Vineyard Deck is among the copious meeting venues at The Meritage, with more than 40,000 square feet of function space in ballrooms, meeting rooms and its famous underground wine caves. For this outdoor event, the evening could not have been more apropos for anyone who appreciates gourmet cuisine and fine wine or who would like to learn more about food and wine pairing.
After enjoying a reception among the vines with a live harp player and an artist painting scenic watercolor canvases, we strolled over to the lavishly set tables and were treated to a five-course dinner by Ryan Rupp, Meritage’s executive chef, and his culinary team: poached lobster tartare, sudachi tomato, Hudson Valley foie gras on hot stone, rabbit confit agnolotti and crispy Wagyu and foie meatball. The sumptuous dishes were all exquisitely paired by Arkenstone master winemaker Sam Kaplan, and he couldn’t have been more precise in complementing the flavors of the cuisine with the nuances of the vintages. We were treated to Arkenstone’s 2013 Estate Sauvignon Blanc NVB, 2013 Syrah, 2012 Coliseum Block Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc NVD and, my personal favorite fifth-course pairing, the 2010 Obsidian versus the 2013 Obsidian. Both velvety Obsidians accented the flavors of the charbroiled loin of Wagyu beef, bone marrow and Jerusalem artichoke.
Dessert was a “fire and ice” experience on the lower level of the Vineyard Deck. The table was lit on fire (with the assistance of Bacardi 151) and quickly cooled with liquid nitrogen before a delicious dessert of white chocolate, passion fruit and honeysuckle was served alongside Arkenstone’s 2007 Petroglyph, a Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc blend.
Throw in the Rat Pack Band for entertainment during the evening, and there wasn’t much left to be desired. Perhaps a moonrise? That it did, and just in time to guide us for our walk down the hillside steps at the end of the evening.
