Pre-Dinner Reception with Angela Calad from 5:45 to 6:30

Dinner starts promptly at 6:30

$52.50 + tax and gratuity

RSVP: (619) 295-3939

Wine Vault & Bistro is pleased to announce a new wine dinner featuring the high end Chilean wines of Montes paired with an authentic 6-course South American menu.  Montes manager Angela Calad will be here all the way from Chile to personally host this dinner.

In addition to the Montes Chilean line-up (including the rare Purple Angel Carmenère - the "lost" Bordeaux varietal), we're also featuring a premium Malbec from Kaiken (their Argentinean label), as well as their new Napa Angel, a limited production Cab from their new Napa Valley project.

We hope you'll be able to join us for this great dinner!  Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement if you're interested.  Here's the line-up:

NOTE: As always, as a courtesy to everyone attending this dinner, we'll make all of the limited production wines available for purchase first to those in attendance before putting them on the shelves for the general public.

Shrimp Escabeche | Avocado | Pickled Onions + Chiles | Micro Cilantro

2008 Montes "Leyda" Sauvignon Blanc (5 oz. pour)

Empanada de Sardo (Argentinean Cheese) | Speck (Cured Ham) | Caramelized Onions | Roasted Peppers

2007 Montes "Alpha" Pinot Noir (3 oz. pour)

Pulpo Poached in Olive Oil | Black Olives | Confit Potatoes | Smoked Paprika

2006 Kaiken "Ultra" Malbec (3 oz. pour)

Lechon (Pulled Pork) Asado | Sweet Plaintains | Yucca

2007 Montes "Alpha" Syrah (3 oz. pour)

Asado de Tira (Braised Bone-in Short Ribs) | Crispy Ñoquis | Salsa Criolla

2006 Montes "Napa Angel" Cabernet (3oz. pour)

Grilled Skirt Steak | Arroz a la Plancha | Chimichurri

2006 Montes "Purple Angel" Carmenère (3 oz. pour)

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 bar will open at 5:45 for a pre-dinner reception with Angela until 6:30.  Dinner will then begin promptly at 6:30, but we HIGHLY recommend that you arrive well before then to better your chances of getting a closer parking space and to beat the last minute rush.

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 after 6:00 and that meters are also free after 6:00.  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'll be pouring 3-5 ounce tasting portions (see the line-up above) totaling 20 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.

WINE SALES

Although some wines may be in limited quantities, all wines poured at this dinner will be available for purchase at the restaurant until sold out.  We reserve the right to limit sales of any rare or allocated wines at our discretion.

WINE NOTES & BOTTLE PRICES

2008 Montes "Leyda" Sauvignon Blanc ~ $13

(Leyda Valley, Chile) Winemaker's notes:  Crisp and fresh with flavors of peach, pineapple and other tropical fruits plus hints of citrus and minerality.  100% stainless steel fermentation.

2007 Montes "Alpha" Pinot Noir ~ $19

(Leyda Valley, Chile) Winemaker's Notes:  Intense yet elegant nose with aromas of strawberries and flowers.  Clean, well-balanced palate with soft, rounded tannins and a good acidity level.  Oak is a well integrated and balanced.

2006 Kaiken "Ultra" Malbec ~ $19

(Mendoza, Argentina) Winemaker's Notes: Nose of blueberries and cassis accompanied by elegant violet and mocha aromas.  Intense, powerful palate showing sweet, gentle tannins.

2007 Montes "Alpha" Syrah ~ $19

(Santa Cruz Valley, Chile) Winemaker's Notes: 90% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon + 3% Viognier.  Fruit forward nose of black cherries and hints of strawberries combine with a smoky spiciness that adds elegance and complexity.  The Cab adds structure and hints of cassis while the Viognier adds a delicate floral touch.  A strong yet soft and velvety wine with well integrated oak.

2006 Montes "Napa Angel" Cabernet Sauvignon ~ $50

(Napa) Winemaker's Notes: Lively and generous deep garnet red color.  Well-structured, rounded and rich, this wine provides a robust mouth-filling sensation.  The wine is layered with red berry fruitiness, cedar, spice and hints of very subtle and delicate smokiness. L ong in the mid-palate with rich and smooth tannins.  A fruit forward and rich wine.

2006 Montes "Purple Angel" Carmenère ~ $58

(Colchagua Valley, Chile) 92% Carmenère + 8% Petit Verdot. Winemaker's Notes: Intense youthful purple color, typical from concentrated Carmenère.  Delicate with hints of chocolate and cigar box aromas.  The Carmenère provides elegance and spiciness while the Petit Verdot adds structure and the wildness of black berries.  Full bodied, with a considerable amount of ripe tannins giving grip and structure.  Mouthfilling with a very long finish.  (Carmenère resurfaced in Chile only in 1993, after being believed extinct since phylloxera hit Bordeaux, its original home, around 1880.  In Chile, its sole home at the moment, we consider it our Chilean variety and call it the "Jurassic Park" grape returned from extinction.)

THE FINE PRINT

Due to fluctuations of supply, we reserve the right to make substitutions of equal or greater value in case any of the wines or foods become unavailable.  Please, ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 ... even if your babysitter flakes out on you at the last minute!