CityGate Grille will host a wine dinner with Wente Vineyards at 6:30PM, Wednesday, Oct. 17 and will feature six courses paired with wine. Fourth generation winegrower Phil Wente will guide guests through the dinner and explain the history of one of America’s most storied vineyards.
The menu begins with a Wente Vineyards 2011 Small Lot Pinot Blanc, chilled shrimp with pears, bibb lettuce and brioche. Roasted spiced pumpkin soup pairs well with Murrieta’s Well 2011 The Whip. The first entree is a pepitas crusted red snapper with caramelized cippolini onion relish and basil oil and will pair with a 2010 Wente Riva Ranch Chardonnay. The second entree is lobster mushroom risotto with thyme, shallot and Pecorino Romano and will be served with 2010 The Nth Degree Pinot Noir. The main entrée will feature a coriander rubbed venison tenderloin with butter-poached cauliflower, bread pudding, marinated figs and Nth Degree reduction, served with a 2009 The Nth Degree Cabernet Sauvignon. Dessert will cap the evening with a Murrieta’s Well 2010 Touriga/Souza Port with a caramel apple tart with cinnamon gelato and cider reduction.
CityGate Grille is honored to host Phil Wente as the featured speaker to share stories and four generations of family history about one of the most loved vineyards in America, founded in 1883. Located in Livermore, CA, the oldest continuously owned and operated vineyard in the state won Wine Enthusiast Magazine 2011 American Winery of the Year Award. The vineyard features an award-winning restaurant, as well as an amphitheater, golf course and banquet hall for weddings and events.
One of the Wentes’ most significant contributions to American viticulture was adapting French chardonnay vine clippings to California. Known as the Wente Clone, over half of the chardonnay grown in California today was cultivated from the Wentes’ vine clippings.
The dinner is $90 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations can be made by calling CityGate Grille at (630) 718-1010.
