RSVP: (619) 295-3939

$49.50 + tax and gratuity

Pre-Dinner Reception with Bob Broman and Ken Foster from 4:00 to 5:00

Dinner starts promptly at 5:00

Wine Vault & Bistro is pleased to announce a great new winemaker dinner featuring two different Napa Valley wineries.  For the second year in a row, owner/winemaker Bob Broman of Broman Cellars and winemaker Ken Foster of Mahoney Vineyards will both be here in person down from Napa to host this dinner.

Broman specializes in premium, limited production Cabs, while Mahoney's forte is vineyard designate Pinots.  If you've been a customer for a while you've probably had the opportunity to try the 2001 and 2003 Broman Cabs which we've stocked (and re-ordered and re-ordered!) for almost three years now.  It is without a doubt the most popular Cab in our restaurant with many loyal repeat customers. 

For this dinner we're serving a diverse selection of wines including two Italian varietals (Vermentino and Nebbiolo) from Mahoney along with one of their vineyard designate Pinots, plus a Sauv Blanc, a high scoring Syrah and the aforementioned 2003 Cab from Broman.  We hope you'll be able to join us for a fun evening of tasting some great wine paired with some great food.  Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement.  Here's the line-up:

Carlsbad Strawberries | Organic Baby Lettuces | Pine Nut Purée

2007 Broman Sauvignon Blanc (5 oz. pour)

Watermelon Gazpacho | Snow Crab | 25-Year-Old Balsamic

2007 Mahoney Vermentino (5 oz. pour)

Short Rib Stuffed Agnolotti | Parmesan + Horseradish Broth | Micro Arugula

2006 Mahoney "Las Brisas" Pinot Noir (3 oz. pour)

Braised Kurobota Pork Cheeks | Smoked Paprika Chimichurri | Sweet Corn Bread Pudding

2005 Mahoney Nebbiolo (3 oz. pour)

NY Strip Loin | Black Pepper Potato Rösti | Roasted Summer Squash | Demi Glace

2003 Broman Cabernet Sauvignon (3 oz. pour)

Whole Roasted Baby Spring Lamb | Porcini | Guanciale | Medjool Dates | Baby Red Swiss Chard

2004 Broman Syrah (3 oz. pour)

Dessert

Artisan chocolate truffles and dessert wines will be available for purchase if you've got any room left!

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RSVP ~ (619) 295-3939

Please make your reservations directly with Wine Vault & Bistro at 619-295-3939.  We're very good about returning calls promptly, so please leave a message with the best time to return your call if you get the dreaded voice mail.  Due to limited seating, CREDIT CARD RESERVATIONS ARE AN ABSOLUTE MUST.  Sales tax and an 18% gratuity will be added to the cost of all dinners.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS

If you have special dietary requests, please let us know when you RSVP, not when you arrive!  We're pretty flexible (within reason!) with substitutions and can usually accommodate most special dietary requests if given advance notice.

CANCELLATION POLICY

You may cancel your reservation up to 72 hours in advance without penalty.  NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED WITH LESS THAN 72-HOUR NOTICE unless we are able to replace your cancellation at the last minute.  (See below for groups over 4 people.)

LARGE GROUPS (OVER 4)

If you want to come with a group of friends, please make one reservation for your entire party so we can reserve a block of seats for you ... however, in the interest of fairness to others, we reserve the right to limit the number of people on a single reservation at our discretion.  The cancellation period for canceling the ENTIRE reservation without penalty is doubled from the standard 72 hours (see above) to 144 hours (6 days).  If you need to cancel only 1 or 2 people, the standard 72-hour notice still applies.

WHEN

The dinner begins promptly at 5:00, but we HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend that you arrive earlier to better your chances of getting a closer parking space.  The bar opens at 4:00 for a casual winemaker reception if you'd like to enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail before dinner.

WHERE

Wine Vault & Bistro is located in the heart of San Diego between Little Italy and Old Town at 3731-A India Street on the upper terrace.  Follow the black handrail from the sidewalk up the stairs to our front door.

PARKING

On-street parking is usually available within a 3-block radius.  Remember that it’s OK to park in yellow commercial zones on Sunday and that meters are also free on Sunday.  You can also park in the lot behind Shakespeare Pub two doors down, but do not park in El Indio's lot unless you want your car towed!  If you can’t find parking next to the restaurant, there’s always LOTS OF PARKING on San Diego Avenue and the adjacent side streets just past the Chevron station across Washington Street.  There's also a huge pay parking lot ($1 per hour) at the Mission Brewery Building two blocks south at the corner of Washington & Hancock.  (You'll have to take San Diego Avenue to Noell to Hancock to get there due to the one-way streets.)  So please don't drive yourself crazy endlessly going around in circles waiting to pounce on that perfect spot when there's TONS OF PARKING less than three blocks away!

WINE QUANTITIES

We're pouring 3 ounce (or more!) tasting portions of each wine (see the line-up above) for a total of 22 ounces per person.  Alcohol-wise that's the equivalent of almost a full bottle of wine per person.  Pour buckets are provided for designated drivers.

BOTTLE SALES

Although some wines may be in limited quantities, all wines poured at this dinner will be available for purchase to take home until sold out.

WINE NOTES & BOTTLE PRICES

2007 Broman Sauvignon Blanc ~ $14

(Napa Valley) Winemaker's Notes: This wine is a pure expression of the sauvignon blanc grape. Aromas of lemongrass, orange zest and fresh cut grass with undertones of stone fruit make this wine so inviting. The citrus is rounded out with white peach and apricot on the palate with a clean, fresh finish. The fresh acidity in the wine will hold up to many different cuisines, but this is also the perfect accompaniment to warm summer afternoons.

2007 Mahoney Vermentino ~ $13

(Carneros) Winemaker's Notes: Vermentino is a crisp Italian white varietal with refreshing acidity.  Beautifully balanced with delicate floral aromas and underlying layers of white peach and sweet citrus.  Perfect with oysters, ceviche, seared scallops or smoked trout, or just by itself as an aperitif.

2006 Mahoney “Las Brisas” Pinot Noir ~ $26

(Carneros) Winemaker's Notes: Our vineyard’s name acknowledges the dependable and beneficial Pacific breezes that blow through it from the Petaluma Gap in the coastal range, cooling the vines and producing gradual ripening of the grapes. This vineyard produces pure expressions of ripe, red cherry fruit and spicy notes, making wines with lovely textures and a harmonious integration of fruit with oak. While this wine shows well in its youth, it has enough structure to evolve for several years to come.

2005 Mahoney Nebbiolo ~ $17

(Carneros) Our 2005 Las Brisas vineyard Nebbiolo is a luscious mouthful of wine. Rich, ripe flavors of dried cranberry and cherry are perfectly complimented by a touch of French oak.  This wine has firm tannins and a refreshing acidity that will pair perfectly with steak, a hearty stew, dry aged cheese, or similar fare.

2003 Broman Cabernet Sauvignon ~ $44

(Napa Valley) Winemaker’s Notes: Complex, yet smooth and supple, this wine presents aromas of plum, pomegranate and cranberry fruits with traces of cocoa, leather and cedar. Full and rich in the mouth with fine integrated tannins; our Cabernet has a long, smooth finish. This is a stunning wine that is fruit forward, ripe and intense with superior structure and complexity.

2004 Broman Syrah ~ $23

(Napa Valley) Review by Wine Spectator ~ 91 points: Complex and detailed, with fresh, floral wild berry, boysenberry and blackberry fruit that's full-bodied, elegant and well-balanced, ending with a burst of dark fruit and fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2015.  413 cases made.