Winemaker Events
Friday, January 27 & Saturday, January 28, various times
Location: Participating Originals Restaurants and Other Locales
Enjoy intimate affairs at participating member restaurants and Originals-catered dinners in fabulous private homes. Participating wineries will showcase wines from their top vintages and introduce new releases.
NAPA VALLEY WINE "LESSON LUNCHEON" COOKING DEMO, DINING AND WINE TASTING • $125 PER PERSON
Location: Euphemia Haye Restaurant, 5540 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key, FLFriday, Jan. 27 – 10:30 am
Instead of watching a cooking show on TV, we invite you to come participate in a LIVE cooking demonstration with Euphemia Haye's Chef Raymond Arpke. Attendees can watch, interact and learn tips from this award-winning chef as he prepares them for an outstanding three-course luncheon. To make this gastronome event even more delightful, Tom Porter of Porter Family Vineyards will be bringing his Napa Valley wines where each course is paired with a beautifully handcrafted wine. Whether you're already a “foodie” or just a kitchen novice, Chef Ray makes sure that everyone will learn some chef's secrets and enjoy a delicious meal. View Menu Details. Cost for this event is $125 per person. Reservations are limited. Please call Amy at 941-383-3633 from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday - Friday to make your reservations.
TUSCAN EXPERIENCE WITH BANFI VINTNERS AND CAFÉ BACI• $150 (INCLUSIVE) PER PERSON
Location: Café Baci 4001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FLFriday, Jan. 27 – 6:00 pm
Join Roberto Mei of the legendary Café Baci as he hosts wine celebrity Roland Marandino of the famed Banfi Vintners. Chef Roberto will be planning an exquisite 5 course Italian dinner pairing each course with a delicious wine selection from Banfi Vintners. Rub elbows with one of the most famous Italian Wine celebrities while enjoying perfect Italian cuisine! It will be like taking a trip to Tuscany for one special evening!
Please contact Café Baci to make reservations. Space is limited. 941-921-4848
ALEXANDER VALLEY COMES TO LONGBOAT KEY • $100 PER PERSON (INCLUSIVE)
Location: Harry’s Continental Kitchens, 525 St. Judes Drive, Longboat Key, FloridaFriday, Jan. 27 – 6:30 p.m.
Join sommeliers, Harry and Hal Christensen with special guest Harry Wetzel IV of famed Alexander Valley Vineyards for a very special wine event. Guests will enjoy a gourmet four course dinner specially prepared by Chefs Ian, Rafael and Miguel, while enjoying the company of a true wine celebrity! Seating is very limited, please contact 941-383-0777 to make reservations.
View Menu Details
FRIENDS OF FORKS & CORKS WINE DINNER HOSTED BY WINEMAKER BUTCH MILBRANDT OF MILBRANDT VINEYARDS • $100++ PER PERSON
Location: The Longboat Key Club & Resort Harbourside Dining RoomFriday January 27, 2012 – 6:30 p.m.
Join our friends at Longboat Key Club & Resort (2011 Winner of the prestigious Food & Wine American Wine Award), as they open their doors to the public for this exciting winemaker dinner. The talented chefs will delight you with delicious wine-country cuisine, made with the freshest local ingredients from our partnering farms, and served with a fine selection of wines from Milbrandt Vineyards, from Washington State. For reservations please call 941-955-3663 or email kate@freshoriginals.com.
View Menu Details
OPHELIA'S AND OREGON WINE DINNER• $75++ PER PERSON
Location: Ophelia's on the Bay 9105 Midnight Pass Road Siesta Key, FLFriday, Jan. 27 – 6:30 pm
Chef Dan Olson
Ophelia's on the Bay, nestled along the shoreline of little Sarasota Bay, has been a gathering place for the visitors and locals of Sarasota for over 24 years. Join our friend Bill Hatcher from A to Z Wineworks, and REX HILL in hosting a spectacular dinner! A to Z Wineworks' partnership blends unique skills. Bill Hatcher brought an extensive background in strategy and finance to the Oregon wine industry and Domaine Drouhin Oregon, which he managed for 13 years before co-founding A to Z. The business model is simple: to produce and market Oregon's best wine values by concentrating on our core competencies of acquisition, blending and marketing. Chef Dan Olson will be creating a scrumptious menu to pair with Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir to name a few! View Menu Details Seating is limited, please call for reservation. 941-349-2212.
SETH AND THE SANDBAR • $75++ PER PERSON (INCLUSIVE)
Location: The Sandbar, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria, FLFriday January 27th, 6:30 p.m.
Owner Ed Chiles and Chef Ian Fairweather of the award winning Sandbar Restaurant present a special evening with an exceptional four-course menu created to highlight Lola wines from the Russian River Valley, with visiting celebrity winemaker, Seth Cripe. Enjoy delicious food paired with exceptional wines in a beautiful setting. We look forward to seeing you at this special event. View Menu Details. Call (941) 778-8705 for more information and to make your reservations.
Wine and Dine with Friends • $125/inclusive per person
Location: Bijou Cafe 1287 First Street, Sarasota, FLFriday, Jan. 27 – 6:30 p.m..
Miner Family Vineyards is a dynamic family owned winery tucked into the eastern hills of the Oakville appellation, squarely within the heart of Napa Valley. Founded in 1998 by Dave & Emily Miner along with his folks Ed & Norma, Miner is defined first and foremost by a sensational portfolio of wines, wines consistently characterized by and committed to individualistic style and uncommon quality. In only a few short years, Miner has identified, sought and secured a number of California's finest vineyard sites to produce and showcase a wide array of varietals. Each wine is crafted in a style to encapsulate the distinctive elements and the indelible fingerprints of their respective vineyards. This combination of excellent vineyard sites along with passionate and thoughtful winemaking injects the necessary components for creating profoundly joyful wines. Personal friends with Jack Edwards of Miner Family Vineyards, JP Knaggs, chef-proprietor, promises this evening to be full of fun, great food, and amazing wine amongst friends! Call 941-366-8111 to make your reservations today! View Menu Details Cost for this event is $125/inclusive. Reservations are limited. Please call 941-366-8111 to make your reservations.
South African Wine Dinner • $95++ per person
Location: Michael's Wine Cellar1212 East Ave South, Sarasota FLFriday, Jan. 27 – 7 pm
Spend an elegant evening discovering the delectable wines and dishes of South Africa with your host Michael Klauber and his special guests' winemakers: Murray Brustread of Remhoogte Wine Estate, alongside Post House Wines and Morgenhof Estate. South African wines have a long history dating back the 1600's. Over the past three hundred plus years, South Africa winemakers have developed a style of wine that has mesmerized the world. Indulge your senses with a dynamic menu created by Michael's Executive Chef, Jamil Pineda, who designed five incredible courses to bring out the intricate layers of Post House Wines, Morgenhof Estate and Remhoogte wines. Cost for this event is $95++ per person. Reservations are limited. Please call 941-366-0007 ext. 224 to make your reservations.
Salute! & The Finest Wines of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Italy $95++ PERPERSON
LOCATION: Salute! RestaurantFriday, Jan. 27 7:30 PM
Please join us at Salute! one of the hottest restaurants downtown (and the newest member of the Sarasota Originals!)for an exclusive evening! Special guest Filippo Lapides from the critically-acclaimed world-class winery Valle Reale in Abruzzo, Italy, will be pairing his exquisite and highest-level hand-crafted wines with only the finest in Italian cuisine from Chef Lazlo. This five-course show-stopper event will feature 5 seasonal courses with 5 exquisite estate wines from the finest quality producer in Abruzzo,Italy - all in the lively and warm ambiance of Salute! This event will sell out fast, make your reservations early. View Menu Details Seating is limited; for reservations, please call Salute! at 941-365-1020
Bordeaux Dinner • $145 per person (inclusive)
Saturday Jan 28th 6 pm at private residence of Robert and Julie GarvinJoin famed winemaker, Gerard Fenouillet for Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal and Chateau Ferriere for this very exciting Bordeaux wine dinner. Guests will be delighted by this multi-course meal paired with fabulous Bordeaux wines. Space is extremely limited. Please RSVP to Kate Atkin, 941-955-3663 or kate@freshoriginals.com
Carte Blanche and Keplinger Dinner • $165 per person (inclusive)
Saturday Jan 28th 6pm at the private residence of Winemaker Nicholas Allen on Longboat KeyWe invite you to join Carte Blanche & Keplinger Wines for an intimate and special wine dinner. Enjoy the evening with Vintners Nicholas and Teil Allen and DJ and Helen Keplinger at Nicholas Allen’s beachfront residence on Longboat Key. Guests will enjoy a seven course gourmet meal paired with Artisan wines from Carte Blanche and Keplinger. Reservations are extremely limited. To RSVP contact Kate Atkin, 941-955-3663 or kate@freshoriginals.com
"THREE FAMILIES" WINE DINNER • $ 115 PER PERSON (INCLUSIVE)
Location: Libby’s Café + Bar, 1917 S. Osprey Ave. Sarasota, FLSaturday Jan. 28th 6:00 p.m.
Join the Seidensticker family at Libby’s Café + Bar as they host 2 family-owned wineries for a special evening of fabulous food and wine! Michael DeLoach, of Hook & Ladder Winery and Chris Vyenielo of Lancaster Estate join forces with Chef Fran Casciato to bring you an amazing 5 course dinner with wine pairings. It’s impossible to predict what might happen as these three powerhouse families come together for one special evening of fun! What can be guaranteed is delectable food and great wine! Limited seating available. View Menu Details For reservations, contact Lisa Seidensticker at 941-487-7300 or lisa@libbyscafebar.com
CROW’S NEST AND LONG MEADOW RANCH • $85 PER PERSON (INCLUSIVE)
Location: Crow’s Nest 1968 Tarpon Center Drive, Venice, FLSaturday, January 28th. 6:30 p.m.
Venice's premier waterfront landmark since 1976, the Crow's Nest is a real local tradition, and true lovers of wine, are pleased to host a very special wine event. Join us as we host our friend, Chris Hall from Long Meadow Ranch, a winery that we have personally visited! The wines are renowned for their elegance and balanced style. Sommeliers at the finest chef-led establishments feature these wines on their award-winning lists. The wines have extraordinary flavors due to sustainably farmed vineyards. Chef Tony Bellanca will be creating a special menu for this intimate dinner. Space is extremely limited please contact Cheri LaRoche to make your reservation. 941-484-9551
BURGUNDY & RHONE VALLEY WINE DINNER • $125++ per person
Location: Michael's Wine Cellar1212 East Ave South, Sarasota FLSaturday, Jan. 28 – 7 pm
Savor the captivating charm of France as Michael's Wine Cellar presents an enchanting wine dinner with Maison Ambroise of Nuits-St-Georges, Burgundy and Mas de Guiot in the Rhone Valley. Join Michael Klauber as we welcome visiting winemakers Bertrand Ambroise of Maison Ambroise and Alexis Cornut from Mas de Guiot for a memorable night of great food and wine. Experience eight incredible wines and an award-winning five-course country French menu created by Michael's own Chef Jamil Pineda - all in the dreamy candlelight of Michael's Wine Cellar. Cost for this event is $125++ per person. Reservations are limited. Please call 941-366-0007 ext. 224 to make your reservations.
POLO GRILL WINEMAKER PAR-TAY • $60 PER PERSON (INCLUSIVE)
Location: The Polo Grill 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch, FLSaturday January 28th, 7:00 p.m.
Join us for this unique winemaker event! Not a sit-down wine dinner…this is your chance to mingle and rub elbows with celebrity winemakers visiting from Quady Winery, Milbrandt Vineyards, Pezzi King Vineyards, Robert Hall Winery, Stratton Lummis/Row 11, JP Chenet, Helfrich, and Zaca Mesa Winery! Sample the various wines while noshing on delectable food stations courtesy of Chef Tommy Klauber, alongside live entertainment! This is an event you and your friends won’t want to miss! Please call early to make your reservations. This event will sell out! Contact Melissa at 941-782-0899 x235 to reserve your spot!
Andrea’s and Allegrini • $120 ++ per person
Location: Andrea’s Ristorante 2085 Siesta Drive, SarasotaSaturday January 28, 8:15 PM
Passion, tradition and meticulous care distinguish the Allegrini family of ultra-premium Italian wines and make them among the most coveted in the world. Chef Andrea Bozzolo of the award winning Andrea’s Ristorante shares the same passion, tradition and meticulous care in creating his fine and artistic Italian cuisine. Join Chef Andrea and Giuseppe Lo Cascio with Winebow, Inc. for a spectacular night of delectable Italian specialties paired with the world-renown wines of Allegrini (Veneto) and their newest critically-acclaimed wineries of the Allegrini family from the hills of Montalcino and the coast of Bolgheri in Tuscany, San Polo and Poggio al Tesoro! This intimate and exclusive event will sell out! Get your tickets early – it is not to be missed!
Seating is limited; for reservations, please call Andrea's at 941-951-9200