SUMMER FUN: BBQ & BLUEGRASS
As it was a perfectly lovely and balmy evening we enjoyed visiting and being outdoors. If only this beautiful weather could last!
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2016 BORDEAUX:
JACKASS RIDGE A GREAT VINTAGE
Lake Tahoe
All Articles by Veronica Rollman Kaufman
July at Lake Tahoe is the perfect time for outdoor festivities and dining. Gentle Lady Stefani Olivieri offered her lovely ranch in Truckee for the Lake Tahoe Chapter’s annual Western themed party time.
The home of Master Commander Ernie Grossman and Master Lady, Margaret Lewicki was the venue for yet another wonderful wine and food pairing experience in Truckee.
Wine tasting and Bluegrass music plus yummy hors d’oeuvres were enjoyed at the Barn. I don’t think the horses who once lived there would have recognized their lovely quarters! Following the entertainment, munchies, and wine, we, almost 100 strong, walked the short path to the outdoor terrace at Stefanie’s beautiful mountain home.
As we relaxed outdoors on another balmy August night, imagining ourselves cruising down the Gironde River in France, our own Sommelier, Sudsy Torbeck, treated us to tastings of the 2016 Bordeaux (most of which are, as yet, unavailable). We were treated to Bordeaux from Saint Estephe, Pauillac, Saint Julien, Margaux and Pessac Leognan.
Master Knight and Cellar Master Ron Finolio not only provided the selection of difficult to get wines, he also gave us a truly informative and interesting talk on the role of the tastevin. While many of our members probably know a great deal about the mysteries of tasting, smelling, seeing wine, there were many of us who were delighted to understand more from Ron’s talk.
Sudsy explained the legal requirements of what can be named “Bordeaux” and shared with the 50 of us enjoying the evening the reviews of several of the most respected wine connoisseurs. It was both fun and a challenge to identify both the “nose” and taste descriptions; think “cigar box”! The 2016 vintage truly holds great promise to be a remarkable example of the wines from this region of France.
Chef Ron Allen (how could we have a barbecue without Ron?) prepared a feast of barbecue ribs, brisket and salmon accompanied by baked beans, green salad, orzo salad and corn bread. Wonderfully refreshing sangrias were prepared by our Gentle Lady Stephanie Harris: traditional red wine and citrus fruit or (my personal favorite) a white wine and fresh peach sangria. A new twist was added this year: a cookie baking contest. Prizes were awarded while most of us just enjoyed sampling the many varieties offered.
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We were treated to an “in house” prepared dinner paired with a 2016 Bordeaux wine from the Haut Medoc area of the Left Bank of the Gironde. The incredibly tender and delicious barbecued Prime Tri-Tip steaks were prepared by KOV Knight Richard Mackler. Lady Stephanie Harris prepared the baked potatoes and salad, accompanied by locally baked crusty French bread. A “surprise” dessert of baklava was beautifully paired with 2016 Sauternes.
The Arbor
