San Diego Wine-Ventana Vineyards Wine Tasting

Ventana Vineyards Wine Tasting
Monday, June 9, 2008
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

MELLOW, a wine bar at Liberty Station in Point Loma
2556 Laning Road, corner of North Harbor Drive,
San Diego, CA 92106

Ms. Andie England from Ventana Vineyards, www.ventanawines.com, will be joining us for a full understanding of the wines she will be pouring. Ventana is a premier vineyard in Monterey first planted in 1972. It was the first to plant Syrah in Monterey County, eleven years before other commercial plantings. Doug Meador, a legend in the world of California wine, found the site at a time when there were few vineyards in this area. Ventana wines continue to win awards at every major competition.

Our hosts are San Diego AIWF members Paula and Phil Cutting, owners of Mellow. They opened the doors at MELLOW in late June of 2007 in the Harbor Square portion of the newly developed Liberty Station. 

Phil worked in the hospitality industry for 35 years; the first 22 were with Sheraton Hotels where he was a GM for 8 hotels all over the country. The Cutting family landed in San Diego in 1988 to build what was the Sheraton Grand on Torrey Pines, currently the Hilton Torrey Pines. Once that project was completed, Phil joined Douglas Wilson Companies in San Diego for 15 years and worked on various development projects throughout the United States. 

Phil and Paula's love of wine lead them to take various wine education classes over the course of the years, and determined that opening a wine bar was a great way to share their knowledge while continuing to educate themselves on the complexities of wine. MELLOW's intention is to provide an unpretentious environment for both the wine novice and the connoisseurs to explore wines from both the old and new world in an upscale, yet intimate environment.

And Phil's extensive background in the hospitality industry lent itself to the creativity of the food offerings. The menu boasts cheese/meat/veggie pairings, bruschettas, paninis, salads and chocolate treats.

Mellow has a retail selection of over 100 wines and is open Monday - Saturday 11 AM - 11 PM and Sunday 4 PM - 11 PM. Mellow also offers a variety of classes and tastings. Visit www.mellowawinebar.com

For San Diego AIWF

Artichokes & Goat Cheese
Suggested wine: Riesling

Assorted grapes & Artisan Cheeses
Suggested wine: Chardonnay

Baked Eggplant Bruschetta
Greek eggplant baked in olive oil & tomatoes, and soft goat cheese served atop grilled artisan bread
Suggested wine: Rubystone

Prosciutto & Parmigiano Reggiano
Suggested wine: Due Amici

Mediterranean Bruschetta
Toasted Artisan bread topped with a tapenade of fire roasted roma tomatoes, marinated artichokes and Feta cheese.
Suggested wine: Syrah

Truffle & Chocolate Selection
Suggested wine: Orange Muscat

MELLOW, a wine bar at Liberty Station on Point Loma
2556 Laning Road, corner of North Harbor Drive, SD 92106 Monday, June 9, 2008, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. It will be a casual evening. If your work schedules allow you to arrive after 6:30 p.m., please let us know to make sure food and wine are held for you.

$35 Members All Inclusive and $50 Guests/Non-Members.  

R.S.V.P. to San Diego AIWF Vice Chairman Vickie Mogilner no later than Friday, June 6, 2008, space permitting. Limited Capacity. Telephone 619-297-0951, fax 619-297-0949, or e-mail vickieam@aol.com. Your check, VISA/MasterCard/AMEX # is your reservation. Reservations are non-transferable to another event. You may send guest/s in your absence. No shows will be billed. Make check payable to AIWF. Mail to AIWF, 2683 Via De La Valle #G-517, Del Mar, CA 92014. If you pay by check, please also contact Vickie by phone or e-mail to RSVP. Membership applications and renewals will be taken by phone.  Join AIWF Here

Park on street or in complimentary lot.