Archived Article By Tom Fitzmorris Originally published March 6, 2008 Two Wine Dinners A Week Through April French Quarter Wine Festival, Week Two Last year, the energetic Chef Dominque Macquet decided he could single-handedly assemble a series of wine dinners impressive enough to call it a festival. It was successful enough that here it is for a second year. We're in the second week of the Festival, which kicked off last Friday with a tasting of many of the wines that will appear in the wine dinners to follow. Two of thoese were held this week. Two more are on the schedule each week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the middle of April. All of them take place in the handsome setting of Dominique's, in the Maison Dupuy Hotel, on Burgundy at Toulouse. Each of the menus will be tailored to the wines. Since those come from all over the world, Dominique will find himself cooking Italian food one night, American another, and French and a third. What distinguishes these dinners from most of the ones offere seemingly every night around town is that they'll each be attended by a major figure from the winery--the winemaker, owner, or top manager. That used to be common, but the demand for the time of these guys is such that we don't see them as often as we once did. The list below shows some big names indeed. Here's the full schedule of all the dinners. The menus and specific wines are posted on the French Quarter Wine Festival's website. All the dinner prices are inclusive of tip. Reservations for the dinners can be made online, or by calling 504-648-6119. Tuesday, March 11, 2008 Testarossa 7:00 p.m. $95 Located in Los Gatos, Testarossa Vineyard is housed in a 19th century Jesuit-built winery. Founder Rob Jensen produces limited quantity wines that have received critical acclaim for their complexity, balance, and silky texture. Rob will share his history and philosophy while pouring a broad array of their single vineyard wines from some of the most highly acclaimed vineyard sites. Thursday, March 13, 2008 Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery Seminar and Dinner, 6:00 p.m. $125 Dinner Only 7:00 p.m. $95 For years, Ferrari-Carano has been producing excellent wines from vineyards throughout Sonoma. Recently they expanded their red wine production to Alexander Valley, headed by winemaker Aaron Poitter. Aaron will start the evening with a seminar featuring their newly released and highly acclaimed PreVail and continue through to a dinner including their Mountain and Vineyard Ranches wines. Tuesday, March 25, 2008 Elyse Winery Seminar and Dinner, 6:00 p.m. $125 Dinner Only 7:00 p.m. - $95 The gregarious Ray Coursen, owner and winemaker, will lead a captivating seminar on the differences between Syrah and Petite Syrah. Then, during a special dinner, Ray will introduce you to his Cabernet, Zinfandel, and his two newest wines, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Thursday, March 27 Fisher Vineyards Dinner 7:00 p.m. $95 The Fisher family has been growing and producing wines in both Napa Valley and Sonoma County since it’s inception by Fred and Juelle Fisher in 1973. This artisanal producer consistently recieves rave reviews from both consumers and critics. Join second generation, Robert Fisher, for an evening of unforgettable wines including their Mountain Estate Vineyard Chardonnay and Coach Insignia in Dominique’s Restaurant. Tuesday, April 1 Spring Mountain Vineyards Dinner 7:00 p.m. $105 Spring Mountain Vineyard's 226 acres are located on the eastern slopes of Spring Mountain. There, they produce a renowned Bordeaux blend as well as a small quantity of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier, And Syrah. Winemaker Jac Cole will show off his collection of wines including his reserves and a library selection. This is an opportunity to sample some of the best of this amazing appellation. Thursday, April 3 Souverain Dinner 7:00 p.m. $95 For the past fifteen years, Ed Killian has been at the helm of winemaking at Souverain, in Geyserville. This top Sonoma winemaker produces full bodied and rich wines from Alexander Valley. Ed will be on hand with a full gamut of his wines including Reserve Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon as well as some older vintages. Chef Dominique will once again create inspirational cuisine. Tuesday, April 8 B.R. Cohn Winery Dinner 7:00 p.m. $95 Award-winning winery, B. R. Cohn, located in the heart of Sonoma, was founded in 1984 by Bruce Cohn, longtime manager of the Doobie Brothers. Dan Cohn will host an unforgettable evening at the Maison Dupuy while you enjoy an array of this prestigious winery’s libations at a dinner paired with fabulous fare. Thursday, April 10 Simi Winery Dinner 7:00 p.m. $95 One of the oldest Sonoma Wineries founded in 1876, Simi has continued to grow as a landmark California house, branching from its beginnings in the Alexander Valley to the Russian River Valley. Today, the portfolio of wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, And Zinfandel. Winemaker Steve Reeder will present these quality wines, as well as their Landslide Vineyard cabernet sauvignon, alongside the reputable cuisine of Dominique Macquet. Tuesday, April 15 Clos Pegase Dinner 7:00 p.m. $95 Clos Pegase is a unique estate-bottled winery in that it's two vineyards are located at both ends of the Napa Valley, one in Calistoga and the other in Carneros. This allows for a tremendous variation in flavors in its wine portfolio. Jan Schrem is an international art collector and passionate proprietor. His wines reflect a sense of place and his commitment to traditional winemaking techniques. Jan will join us for an evening starting with a presentation entitled "Bacchus the Rascal, A Bacchanalian History of Wine Seen Through 4,000 Years of Art" and followed by dinner at 7:45p.m. featuring a selection of Clos Pegase wines. Thursday, April 17 Hanzell Vineyards Seminar and Dinner 6:00 p.m. $135 Dinner Only 7:00 p.m. $105 From high in the Sonoma Mountains, Hanzell produces handcrafted Burgundian style chardonnays and pinot noirs. Enjoy many older vintages of these outstanding wines, as Michael Terrien discusses Hanzell’s philosophy and approach to creating Burgundian- style wines in California. A fabulous meal by Chef Dominique will follow, which will include a surprise vintage from Hanzell’s cellars. © 2008 Tom Fitzmorris. All rights reserved. news@nomenu.com