Local Restaurant Holding Wine Dinner with High End California Wines

Henry's at the Farm located at Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa is hosting another one of their famous wine dinners this month. This night out will highlight wines from the Hendry Vineyards in California. The event will be held on Sunday September 25, 2017. The cost per person is $69, plus tax and gratuity.

Hendry Ranch Winery has been family owned and farmed for more than 75 years. During that time the family has expanded their vineyards to total more than 114 acres of property and grapes that include Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Albarino, Petite Verdot, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Primativo and Cabernet Franc.

If you have never been to a wine (or beer or whiskey) dinner, you might not know what to expect. As you arrive and check in, you will usually be greeted with a glass. On this particular night, Sunday Sept 24, 2017, you will be handed a glass of the Hendry Rose. Rose's are not the over sweet pink wines that you might remember. Most are done in a drier style, some still showing a note of pleasant fruit others having crisp acidity. Always remember to try everything thing with an open mind, you just might find something that you like. The 2016 vintage of the Hendry Rose, is a blend made up of "48% Zinfandel, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15.5% Primitivo, 15.5% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc." This potentially could be your only chance to taste this particular wine as it has already sold out at the winery.

As you are invited to sit down at your table, get ready for the first course. The menu that Henry's has set for you includes will begin with a Beaverkill Trout Ceviche with jalapeno and lime zest. Served with this course will be the Hendry 2016 Albarino. This wine is completely un-oaked, being fermented entirely in stainless steel tanks and it won a Best in Class medal in May at the Sonoma-Marin Fair. Expect this wine, with its crisp, tart finish to pair nicely with the ceviche.

For the second course, Henry's is serving Seared Day Boat Scallops with a Hepworth Farms Tomato Fondue. The scallops being rich, the team at Henry's has paired it up with a rich barrel fermented 2016 Chardonnay from Hendry's. Wine geek note, this wine has not under gone malolactic fermentation. What does that mean in English? You get a cleaner, less buttery chardonnay which has a touch more acidity (and food friendly-ness) than most.

The third course brings out the big guns, Cabernet Braised Short Ribs, with Wild Hive Polenta and Millstone Kale. The combination of these three foods without the wine is going to be awesome, then you bring in the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon from Hendry's and you are going to have a real treat of a wine pairing. This wine spends 21-24 months in new French oak barrels. In English, that means you are going to get an exceptionally spicy, texture rich wine that is super dark in color, full bodied and complex. If you are into big bold California cabernets with upfront silky fruit and that say "hello! I am a big wine!" finish. You are going to love the pairing of this wine with the short ribs. You won't even notice that you finished the kale on your plate, your mouth is going to be so happy.

For dessert, (if you have room) Henry's has lined up for you the Millstone Farms Apple Caramel Cake which takes advantage of the Millstone Ginger Gold apples that are grown right there on their property with creme caramel. For this final wine pairing, they have chosen Hendry's Block 28 2013 Red Zinfandel. Jammy and fruit forward, this wine also comes with a 'kick'. Its abv comes in at 15.4%. If you think that zinfandel is a rose or pink wine that is sweet, this wine is nothing like that. Dark in color with ruby garnet hues, this wine will make you forget that pink stuff ever existed. How will this hearty wine pair with the dessert they are making? Go to the dinner to find out for yourself.

Last tip. If you like any of the wines served at this particular (or any other) wine dinner, make sure to ask where you can get them, often there is a local retailer that is partnering with the restaurant or facility. Find out which business it is, they could be offering you a special discount on the wines (or beer, etc) that was served that night. Remember to ask, if you like something.