Wine club release parties are the best! Great new releases, many times some food pairings, sometimes even live music. The recent Eagle Ridge Vineyard release party added an extra level of excitement when they released their very first Rosé!
We admittedly adjust our travel calendar to attend Eagle Ridge Vineyards release parties. Without fail, owners Jim and Cheryl Perry put together a fun, relaxed, and delicious event. Their collaborations with local caterers produce great pairings that tantalize the palate and bring out the best in both the food and the wine. These events are not to be missed!
The food was presented by On the Vine Catering, a division of Cabana Dave’s. For this event, they served a tri tip slider with caramelized onions on a house baked roll, with optional blue cheese. On the side was gourmet mac and cheese and a classic Caesar salad. A chocolate truffle provided a nice sweet conclusion to it all.
The entire reason for the party, of course, was to celebrate the release of two new wines. Every vintage of the Eagle Ridge Zinfandel is memorable, so our expectations were sky high. Even more exciting, though, was the release of their very first rosé, derived from Zinfandel grapes. We had heard whispers about this rosé for a while, and the release was finally upon us. The wine club pack contained one 2016 Zinfandel and one 2018 Rosé of Zinfandel. Two wines made from the same varietal and even the very same vineyard!
We got in line to receive our plated meal and got a splash of the rosé. All the wait for this premiere rosé was not in vain! A lovely aroma, a soft and rounded mouth feel, and a lovely, light fruity flavor made this our new favorite summertime sipper. The mac and cheese really became incredible when paired with this rosé. The Zinfandel did not disappoint, either. The nose was monumental, intriguing and promising big things in the first sip. It showed lots of pitted fruit up front with a delightfully balanced pepper finish that lasted for several minutes. A perfect pairing for the tri tip slider, cutting through the umami of the meat and onions.
After our lovely lunch, we collected another splash of wine and wandered out to the side patio. There we found tables and chairs, some with umbrellas, strategically placed to provide views of the live band. Yes, there was a live band! Rhyme and Reason was performing, offering original country, jazz, and blues, with an occasional hint of Cat Stevens on some of the vocals.
After listening to most of their set, we went back inside and picked up our club pack. We hope to have an excuse to sample this rosé poolside in the coming weeks!
About the Author: John grills a mean steak and is always in the market for another wine fridge. Believes that if a winery has more than 10 employees, it's probably too big. Buys wine faster than he drinks it, but who cares?
