Wine tasting at The Tasting Room

It was better than expected. The wine, the culinary program under the watchful eye of Chef Michael Kramer and the great people around our table, we was lucky with who we joined up with, 3 guys working for the marketing activity at Beringer, a re-sale guy, the Vice President for public relation at Penfolds (a Foster group company), and the chief winemaker herself  Laurie Hook.

Sitting at the table with the winemaker gave us good stories and closer communication to increase the wish to visit Napa Valley in t he recommended month of October or November.

But back to the wine and food, we are looking forward to hit The Taste room again for their wood-burning pizza oven, but I must say it was a wonderful taste to the food presented over 6 courses yesterday.

Starting with: Roasted Baby beet, Balsamic Caramel, Sea Salt Chevre along with a glass of ’04 Beringer Stainhauer Cabernet Sauvignon.

Thereafter Sea Scallop, Israeli Couscous, Pancetta, Truffle Honey along with a ’04 Beringer Bancroft Ranch Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Just great and the taste of the Scallop and Pancetta, great.

The third selection was a ’04 Beringer Chabot Cabernet and Braised Pork Shoulder, Caramelized Onion Puree, Braising Juice, hmmmm…..

The wine we have selected for our Christmas party this year is ’04 Beringer Marstone Cabernet Sauvignon. Yesterday it was served with Rack of Lamb, Mushroom, Potato, and Mint Oil; yes we could feel the X-Mas time. Maybe not the highest rated Beringer, but perfect for us by end of the year.

For me the taste of the Braised Shortrib was just over what I could expect of meat. Melted completely on my tongue. With Sage Polenta and Tomato Conserve including a glass of ’04 Beringer St Helena Home Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.

End of the evening it was Cheesy Girl “Buff” Agro Dolee with top ranked 95pt ’04 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

As you may see, I could have been disappointed not finding the Sangiovese wine on the table, but at least I got to ask the winemaker the reason for not finding to many vineyards with that grape. As expected it is difficult to get a good wine from the Sangiovese grapes in California and Napa Valley, even so I will get my hand of it and taste it to compare as we did compare these Cabernet with our experience with Italian wines.

I look forward to visit the vineyard.

Many of the 40 participants at the Wine Tasting yesterday got their bottle or two.

We will wait until we are back from our 2 weeks in Norway until we make our order. Then the Buffet is ready to receive them and store them for the occasions of a dinner with friends or X-Mas parties.

Now I look forward to compare prices in Norway up against the retail prices in US, above wines have a retail price above US 100 $. In 3 weeks time I will be back and tell you if they are above or under that level.

Beringer Vineyards holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley. It is also one of the very few wineries that survived the draconian prohibition of 1922, which lasted over a decade. The estate is also in the National Register for Historic Places as a historic district, a status it has held since 2001. With its perfect blend of modern technology and age old traditions, Beringer Vineyards still produces memorable wines that continue to bring recognition to the company and all of Napa Valley

http://www.beringer.com/