Harvest is over, the grapes are pressed and the juice is snuggled away in wine casks, so what’s a winemaker to do during this lull time?
Prune the vineyards? Sure, but wouldn’t it be more fun to hit the road and pour samples of previous vintages?
That’s exactly what the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, a group of 500 winemakers, grape growers and other related partners, plans to do.
Scottsdale is the first stop on a multi-city Grand Tasting Tour and February 7 – 11, more than 30 winemakers will escape pruning duties and pour wines in a variety of venues.
Here’s the schedule:
February 7 & 8 — Winemaker dinners
Meet winemakers and enjoy Paso Robles wines with specifically crafted menus by top Scottsdale chefs:
February 7 Chef James Porter of Petite Maison and Chef Chrysa Robertson of Rancho Pinot.
Petite Maison’s 6 p.m. dinner is five courses, $75++, call 480-991-6887 for reservations.
1st course: tuna crudo with candied kumquats paired with Ancient Peaks 2010 Savignon Blanc
2nd course: Brandade de Morue paired with Lone Madrone 2008 Points West White
3rd course: roasted pork crépinete with maple glazed root vegetables & foie gras emulsion paired with Grey Wolf 2008 Instinctual
4th course: Petite Bistro filet with Roquefort spoon bread & bone marrow red wine jus paired with L’Aventure 2008 Estate Cuvee
5th course: chocolate “croissant’ and Show Pony Syrup paired with Clayhouse 2007 Show Pony Petite Sirah
[note: Rancho Pinot dinner is sold out, but call 480-367-8030 to be wait-listed.]
February 8 Cowboy Ciao & 5th & Wine & Big Daddy’s BBQ
Cowboy Ciao’s 6 p.m., pork-centric dinner is 5 courses, $65++, Call 480-946-3111 for reservations.
1st course: apple wood smoked pork belly, cranberry beans & chard paired with Clavo Cellars 2009 Albariño
2nd course: grilled pork tenderloin, carpaccio style paired with Austin Hope 2009 Grenache
3rd course: pork osso buco braised with oranges paired with Silver Horse 2008 “The Main Thing” Malbec blend
4th course: pork cheeks in mesquite bean crepes paired with Victor Hugo 2007 Petite Sirah
5th course: crème fraîche cheesecake with bacon & butterscotch paired with Hearst Ranch “Lone Tree” Cabernet Franc
Why not add the optional after-tasting (9 to 10 p.m.) at Kazimierz World Wine Bar a couple of doors down to sample several other Paso wines for only $5?
February 9 — The Grand Tasting
This showcase event at the beautiful El Chorro Lodge will feature more than 150 wines plus nibbles and noshes from El Chorro. Tickets are $55 in advance or $65 (cash only) at the door. If you’ve seen the patio at El Chorro, you’ll understand why the Paso Robles group picked this spot. It starts at 6 p.m. and runs through 8 p.m., just in time to catch the breathtaking Arizona sunset. Sample antipasto, hang out at the bruschetta bar, or indulge in small plates of red wine braised shortribs, oven roasted chicken or pork tenderloin sliders while rubbing elbows with noted winemakers from Eberle, Robert Hall and J. Lohr among others.
February 10 — Late Night with Chef James Porter, Petite Maison
Chef Porter has made late night dining a sport, offering up gussied up comfort foods for $10 or less, and he’s inviting some game winemakers over to Petite Maison for a late-night bacchanalia evening of debauchery. Call 480-991-6887 to secure your spot.
More information & Tickets to the Grand Tasting Tour:
Visit Paso Robles Grand Tasting Tour
On a personal note…
We’re excited that Eberle is one of the winemakers on the tour. Why?
In 2003, we were ensconced in the basement of Eberle Winery, tasting and blending our own special bottle of wine. We still have that 10 year-old bottle, and perhaps we’ll crack it open in February to celebrate the Paso Robles Tour hitting town. Hope it aged well.
I just wrote about a few tips for saving money when dining out. Now here’s another huge tip, but it’s only good for a week and only if you happen to be in Arizona:
The Adventurer:
You like sticking to the tried and true. No need to gamble on the unknown, especially when it comes to hard earned dollars. Besides, your favorite restaurants will appreciate your support during restaurant week. I can’t tell you which ones are your favorites, but I’m pretty sure that with 114 restaurants on the list, several are your old standbys. I’d be surprised if 
