I'm always looking for new ways to provide interesting wine ideas to my readers, so when Fleming's Executive Chef Patrick Quackenbush approached me about doing a wine list for the Holiday's I was thrilled.
Patrick Quakenbush, amicably referred to as Chef Quak, was born in Sycamore, IL to an Air Force family, spending his first 10 years in Wiesbaden, West Germany. His European travels exposed him to exotic foods at a young age, which shaped his love of food. Quakenbush returned to the U.S. and studied Restaurant Management at Ohio State University, while simultaneously working at Dalt’s American Grill.
After graduation, Quakenbush moved to Orlando, where he became a Sous Chef at Planet Hollywood of Walt Disney World. For four years, he prepared meals for 6,000 people per day and earned Chef of the Quarter 4 times with a Silver Star. He went on to open sister restaurants in Las Vegas and Melbourne, Australia.
Quakenbush followed his General Manager’s lead and left Planet Hollywood for a position at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville at Universal Studios Florida. He opened another Margaritaville in Ochoa Rios, Jamaica, earning Manager of the Year along the way. He then joined NBA City, a sister company to Hard Rock, as an Executive Chef at Universal Studios.
In an eclectic city like Chicago, dinner party menus are vast and varied, making it difficult to pick the perfect wine for everyone on your list.
These are few of my favorite wines sure to please any palate:
* Joel Gott, Napa Valley Chardonnay ($15) – Chardonnay is popular among both wine enthusiasts and casual drinkers, and therefore, always a good choice. Joel Gott uses stainless steel tanks for fermentation, preserving the natural pear, stone fruit and mineral characteristics created by the cool climates of the southern Napa Valley vineyards. As a result, this wine has a fresh acidity and clean finish, making it a great pairing for a variety of food.
* Niebaum-Coppola Sophia Blanc de Blancs ($20) – This distinct blend of Pinot Blanc (70 percent), Sauvignon Blanc (20 percent) and Muscat Cannelli (ten percent) produces a floral sweetness that appeals to a broad range of tastes. Wrapped in cellophane, Sophia is a perfect ready-to-go gift that displays playful sophistication.
* 2003 Qupe Syrah Central Coast ($20) – This wine also pairs with a multitude of foods. The 2003 vintage has a bit more body than previous years, but still releases a forefront of fruit and aromas of hardspice, black pepper, berries and hints of lavender and licorice.
* A to Z, Wineworks Oregon Pinot Noir ($20) – The name comes from its blending – the grapes could be sourced from any Oregon winery, from A to Z. Blended from at least 16 different Oregon vineyards, this wine is light and easy to drink, pleasing almost any crowd with aromas of bright red fruit, spices and earthy undertones.
* Vineyard 29 Cru, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon ($50) – If you’re looking to impress your host, this Cabernet Sauvignon is a great choice. This royal pedigree yields a wine truly fit for a king. Deep and complex, this wine starts with ripe dark fruit, toasty vanilla and creamy caramel, then moves to roasted coffee cassis and dried flowers before finishing with a touch of earthiness and spice.
* ZD Reserve Napa Valley Chardonnay ($55) – Its name is derived from the founders, Gino Zepponi and Norman de Leuze, but it also stands for Zero Defects. This Chardonnay is their signature wine, known for its non-malolactic fermentation. Malolactic fermentation is a secondary fermentation that occurs after the sugar has fermented to alcohol. By preventing this, the wine retains a forward fruit flavor and crisp, natural acidity. A unique choice that will wow any social gathering.
* 2001 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley ($70) – Silver Oak is a wine most people recognize, making it an impressive gift. Fruit-driven and full-bodied, this wine has a long, lingering finish, with a complex nose that ranges from black cherry to ginger. If properly cellared, this wine will continue to improve for a decade or more, giving your host an extraordinary treat to look forward to.
* 2002 Quintessa ($100) – Though one of the more expensive wines, the Quintessa proves to be perfect for the person who has everything. This wine is a meritage, a blend that consists of the five classic Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenere. The 2002 vintage is excellent now and will continue to improve in the bottle for the next five to ten years, giving your host the option to serve now or save for later.
For more information on any of the wines listed above, please visit Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar at 25 E. Ohio St., Chicago, IL
Happy Holidays!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
WBW 50:Which Wine, Which Wilderness
Alright Russ, you've thrown the gauntlet. I know that challenge wasn't crafted with me in mind, but it sure feels like it. I don't know if you could have hit closer to home. So Russ, I'm taking you to Big Spring near Fennimore, WI.
Big Spring is, surprise, a spring fed creek. It roars out of the side of a Wisconsin dell and tumbles through a small valley on its way to the Blue River. The spring is a short hike from Big Spring Road. The spring itself is made even more spectacular by the cascade below it that connects it to the creek below. What makes Big Spring so special is that it is full of beautiful brook trout.
Spend the morning catching trout on a fly rod and enjoying the last throws of summer, which comes in late September this far north. It is classic Wisconsin trout fishing making your way through broken patches of farmland and tree stands and in the fall months being surrounded by changing leaves and drying corn.
For wine lovers the highlight of this little valley is Spurgeon Winery. Located at the intersection of Big Spring Road and Pine Tree Road, Spurgeon is exactly what you would expect of a Wisconsin winery. Supported almost 100% by tourists, the winery caters to a more casual wine drinker with a healthy selection of sweeter wines made from offbeat more hearty varietals.
After a visit to the winery it is time to celebrate the end of trout season with a shot at a final brook trout on a dry fly. Fishing over rising trout in the evening is a beautiful way to end the day, and it would call for a bottle of 2005 Montelena Chardonnay shared with a fishing buddy as the sun starts to dip over the western hills. The Montelena is young enough to still display the bright acidity and since it doesn't undergo malolactic, it would make for a nice bright crisp reminder that it is indeed still summer time, if only for a couple more days.
When it is all over, reflect on the day with a nice bottle of wine back in Fennimore at the Eagle Creek Inn, which boasts a fantastic wine list and an unbeatable dinner menu.
Big Spring is, surprise, a spring fed creek. It roars out of the side of a Wisconsin dell and tumbles through a small valley on its way to the Blue River. The spring is a short hike from Big Spring Road. The spring itself is made even more spectacular by the cascade below it that connects it to the creek below. What makes Big Spring so special is that it is full of beautiful brook trout.
Spend the morning catching trout on a fly rod and enjoying the last throws of summer, which comes in late September this far north. It is classic Wisconsin trout fishing making your way through broken patches of farmland and tree stands and in the fall months being surrounded by changing leaves and drying corn.
For wine lovers the highlight of this little valley is Spurgeon Winery. Located at the intersection of Big Spring Road and Pine Tree Road, Spurgeon is exactly what you would expect of a Wisconsin winery. Supported almost 100% by tourists, the winery caters to a more casual wine drinker with a healthy selection of sweeter wines made from offbeat more hearty varietals.
After a visit to the winery it is time to celebrate the end of trout season with a shot at a final brook trout on a dry fly. Fishing over rising trout in the evening is a beautiful way to end the day, and it would call for a bottle of 2005 Montelena Chardonnay shared with a fishing buddy as the sun starts to dip over the western hills. The Montelena is young enough to still display the bright acidity and since it doesn't undergo malolactic, it would make for a nice bright crisp reminder that it is indeed still summer time, if only for a couple more days.
When it is all over, reflect on the day with a nice bottle of wine back in Fennimore at the Eagle Creek Inn, which boasts a fantastic wine list and an unbeatable dinner menu.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Wine for the Next Generation
No I don't mean the millenials (sp?), I mean my next generation. My wife and I are having a baby. I'm really excited about it, as any expectant father would be. We are busy painting a nursery, and doing all the things hopeful parents do. I'm doing something a little different though. I'm hoping 2009 is a good year for the wine harvest. I'm sure there will be a good year somewhere in the world, but I'm hoping the traditional powerhouses have great years.
You see, I want to buy a case (or two or three) of wine for my little one. Wine is a family affair and I want to have some special bottles to share with my children over the years. What better way to share than wine from their birth year. My plan is to buy wine a couple years after my kid is born and keep it all the way to their wedding, doling out little bits along the way. I'm not exactly sure how to go about this, how much I will spend, what I will buy, and so on, but whatever it is I hope it will be special. Does anyone else out there do this? How has it worked out?
You see, I want to buy a case (or two or three) of wine for my little one. Wine is a family affair and I want to have some special bottles to share with my children over the years. What better way to share than wine from their birth year. My plan is to buy wine a couple years after my kid is born and keep it all the way to their wedding, doling out little bits along the way. I'm not exactly sure how to go about this, how much I will spend, what I will buy, and so on, but whatever it is I hope it will be special. Does anyone else out there do this? How has it worked out?
Montelena Vertical
While the Cubs were busy losing game 1, I was busy enjoying a vertical tasting of Chateau Montelena. Held at Binny's in Highland Park the event was put on by Montelena's regional sales rep. Talk about a big territory, this one guy covers the entirety of the American West from Chicago to Arizona, excluding only California. The rep was also a fly fisherman, so needles to say I was a bit jealous of his position.
On to the wine. Its a treat to get to taste 7 years worth of any winery's wine, let alone Montelena. For those that don't know, Montelena was central in the 1976 Paris Tasting, and is a favorite of Robert Parker, as well as actually producing a fantastic wine that ages quite gracefully.
I will never be the one waxing on about tasting notes, frankly I'm just not that into it. What I will say is that the 1998, 2002 and 2004 all stand out in my mind. All the wines were good, but those just had a special quality about them that jumped out. I own a bottle of the 2002 and was very excited to find that it was showing so well. I'm looking forward to popping it in a few years.
I really think this kind of tasting is a fantastic way to learn more about wine. You can go to all kinds of large tastings, but its the seated classroom type tastings that really up your game.
I'm going to try to get back to highlighting events going forward, so look for some ideas going forward.
On to the wine. Its a treat to get to taste 7 years worth of any winery's wine, let alone Montelena. For those that don't know, Montelena was central in the 1976 Paris Tasting, and is a favorite of Robert Parker, as well as actually producing a fantastic wine that ages quite gracefully.
I will never be the one waxing on about tasting notes, frankly I'm just not that into it. What I will say is that the 1998, 2002 and 2004 all stand out in my mind. All the wines were good, but those just had a special quality about them that jumped out. I own a bottle of the 2002 and was very excited to find that it was showing so well. I'm looking forward to popping it in a few years.
I really think this kind of tasting is a fantastic way to learn more about wine. You can go to all kinds of large tastings, but its the seated classroom type tastings that really up your game.
I'm going to try to get back to highlighting events going forward, so look for some ideas going forward.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Great Wine at Restaurants Without the Big Price Tag
I have always been frustrated at the price paid for wine in a restaurant. I know that liquor sales are what make most restaurants profitable and I can't fault them for that. I don't even mind paying $20 for a bottle that might otherwise sell for $10 at the store. What I get riled up about is the bottle that retails for $50-100 and can cost upwards of $200 on the wine list. In recent years I have found that there is an alternative to the high prices. Corkage!
For those not familiar with corkage it is the idea of bringing your own bottle of wine to dinner and having the restaurant, for a small fee, open and serve the wine. They are reasonably entitled to the fee because they serve the wine and furnish glasses. The fee is usually anywhere from $5 to $20 and usually corresponds to the menu prices. In some places that choose not to have a liquor license it may even be free.
Given our current economic crisis (I know, another blogger trying to capitalize on the big news headline, how original), I think it is fair to say that many of us are looking to save a little money. I am by no means advocating bringing a bottle of two buck chuck and paying $20 to have it opened with dinner (though it that's your style well I won't stop you). What I am advocating is picking up a $50 or more bottle of wine and paying the $20 for corkage. You can usually find some fantastic bottles at this price, and some even cheaper. That makes a $50 bottle a $70 bottle, that might have cost you as much as $200 at the restaurant.
One of my favorites for this is Tango Sur. I have written about Tango Sur before, but I just wanted to highlight its free corkage. Beer, wine, they might even let you bring a bottle of everclear if you were so inclined (eech). The point is that it is a great place to enjoy a fantastic bottle of wine with a fantastic meal and save some coin.
On the higher end of things I recently brought a bottle of 1998 Larrivet-Haut-Brion to Mon Ami Gabi. It was a fantastic wine that there was no way I could afford had I tried to buy it off a list (that is if they even had it). Sure I paid a markup on it, but it was stil lvery reasonable comparatively.
Chicago is awash in restaurants and almost all of them will accomodate you if you are willing to work with them. I recommend calling to find out the corkage policy before visiting. Some of them will even waive the fee if you buy a bottle off the list first.
One more nice resource for Chicago is the book BYOB Chicago. The book details restaurants that offer free corkage. If you don't find the restaurant in the book, call, I can almost guarantee they have a policy and will be happy to help you out.
For those not familiar with corkage it is the idea of bringing your own bottle of wine to dinner and having the restaurant, for a small fee, open and serve the wine. They are reasonably entitled to the fee because they serve the wine and furnish glasses. The fee is usually anywhere from $5 to $20 and usually corresponds to the menu prices. In some places that choose not to have a liquor license it may even be free.
Given our current economic crisis (I know, another blogger trying to capitalize on the big news headline, how original), I think it is fair to say that many of us are looking to save a little money. I am by no means advocating bringing a bottle of two buck chuck and paying $20 to have it opened with dinner (though it that's your style well I won't stop you). What I am advocating is picking up a $50 or more bottle of wine and paying the $20 for corkage. You can usually find some fantastic bottles at this price, and some even cheaper. That makes a $50 bottle a $70 bottle, that might have cost you as much as $200 at the restaurant.
One of my favorites for this is Tango Sur. I have written about Tango Sur before, but I just wanted to highlight its free corkage. Beer, wine, they might even let you bring a bottle of everclear if you were so inclined (eech). The point is that it is a great place to enjoy a fantastic bottle of wine with a fantastic meal and save some coin.
On the higher end of things I recently brought a bottle of 1998 Larrivet-Haut-Brion to Mon Ami Gabi. It was a fantastic wine that there was no way I could afford had I tried to buy it off a list (that is if they even had it). Sure I paid a markup on it, but it was stil lvery reasonable comparatively.
Chicago is awash in restaurants and almost all of them will accomodate you if you are willing to work with them. I recommend calling to find out the corkage policy before visiting. Some of them will even waive the fee if you buy a bottle off the list first.
One more nice resource for Chicago is the book BYOB Chicago. The book details restaurants that offer free corkage. If you don't find the restaurant in the book, call, I can almost guarantee they have a policy and will be happy to help you out.
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