Wine Dinners
Wine Dinner - Jim Clendenen
We're very proud to announce our second Wine Dinner of the Year, featuring Jim Clendenen, the mind behind Au Bon Climat, and one of the world's most acclaimed wine makers, to be held at The Bay Wolf restaurant 7:00 p.m. Tuesday April 21
The
six course dinner is priced at $115 per person, including tax and
gratuity ($110 per person for Farmstead Wine Club members in good
standing). The Baywolf is located at 3853 Piedmont Avenue in Oakland.
Prepaid reservations are a necessity and can be made by calling Farmstead Cheeses and Wines at 510 864 9463.
I'm sure that this will be an evening full of discoveries, humor, great food, and wonder.
As always, there will be opportunities to purchase the wines tasted at the dinner at discount.
We'll be tasting some great wines from both the Au Bon Climat and Clendenen Family Vineyards portfolios
- 06 Clendenen Family Vineyards Tocai Friulano
- 06 Au Bon Climat Santa Maria Valley Estate Chardonnay
- 06 Au Bon Climat Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Barbara Historic Vineyard Collection Chardonnay
- 06 Au Bon Climat Los Alamos Vineyard Santa Barbara Historic Vineyard Collection Chardonnay
- 06 Au Bon Climat Nielsen Santa Barbara Historic Vineyard Collection Pinot Noir
- 05 Barham Mendelsohn Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
- 01 Clendenen Family Vineyards Nebbiolo
Chef Michael Wild has crafted a six course meal to pair with Jim's wines:
- Appetizers of Gougères, Olives, and Duck Liver Flan
- Boudin Blanc of Vealand Chicken with French Lentils and Cabbage
- Pan Roasted Calimari stuffed with Shrimp
- SBraised Lamb with English Peas, Fava Beansand Spring Onions
- Cheese Course from Farmstead Cheeses and Wines
- Dessert
- (Vegetarian options are always available, just ask in advance)
About Au Bon Climat Founded in 1982, Au Bon Climat (which means "a well-exposed vineyard") produces internationally-recognized Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Blanc wine from grapes grown in California's Santa Barbara County.The Au Bon Climat winery is located on the world-famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, and is owned by winemaker Jim Clendenen. Au Bon Climat was listed on Robert Parker's Best Wineries of the World in both 1989 and 1990, while Jim Clendenen has been named Winemaker of the Year in 1992 by the Los Angeles Times, and Winemaker of the Year in 2001 by Food and Wine Magazine.
About Jim Clendenen Jim Clendenen graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with High Honors in Pre-Law in 1976. It was during his "junior year abroad" in 1974, while turning 21 in France, that he discovered life beyond tacos. After graduation, a one month stay in both Burgundy and Champagne convinced him to attempt a career in wine rather than continue on to law school.
Beginning with the 1978 harvest, Jim was assistant winemaker at Zaca Mesa Winery for three vintages, a valued training experience. In 1981 his vision broadened with three harvests in one year as Jim worked crush and directed the harvest at wineries in Australia and France. Three harvests in one year confirmed his masochistic tendencies.
The winery has cultivated an international reputation for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Jim Clendenen, the Mind Behind Au Bon Climat, is recognized worldwide for his classically-styled wines (in addition to his Burgundian-focused ABC wines, Jim is also highly regarded for his Italian and other French varietals). In 1989 and 1990 Au Bon Climat was on Robert Parker's short list of Best Wineries in the World, and in 1991 was selected by Oz Clark as one of fifty world-wide creators of Modern Classic Wines. Dan Berger of the Los Angeles Times named Clendenen the Los Angeles Times Winemaker of the Year in 1992; Food & Wine Magazine named him Winemaker of the Year in 2001. Germany's leading wine magazine, Wein Gourmet, in 2004 named Clendenen Winemaker of the World; and in 2007, Jim was inducted into the James Beard Foundations Whos Who of Food and Beverage in America.
About BayWolf A Bay Area tradition for over thirty years, and a perennial Chronicle Top 100 restaurant, The Bay Wolf offers an elegant and relaxed setting in which to enjoy fine cuisine, inspired by the regions of the Mediterranean. Founding chef and owner Michael Wild opened Bay Wolf in 1975 with the goal of serving simple food bright with flavor in an inviting, comfortable environment. Since then, he has cultivated a place where fine food and wine, conversation, and celebration happen naturally.
Long influenced by the food of Tuscany, Provence, and the Basque country, over the years Wild has developed and refined Bay Wolf's robust, down-to-earth blend of California and Mediterranean cuisine. His devotion is to straight-forward cooking prepared with the freshest seasonal ingredients.