The chef's 5-course tasting menu with paired wines is held every Saturday.  The menu selections and wine flights change every week.  Here are the details for this week.

Please join us (21 and up only, please!) anytime from 5:00 on for a chef's 5-course tasting menu.  Cost is a mere thirty bucks for all five courses.  We've also put together a wine flight that pairs each course with a different wine.  Cost for the flight is only twenty bucks for five wines, or if you'd prefer not to do the flight, we'll also have wines available by the glass or bottle, as well as beer and cocktails.

Cheese platters, oysters on the half shell and chocolate truffles are also usually available.  The bar will be open until at least 11:00 and the kitchen will be open until at least 10:00.  Here's the line-up.  Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement if you're interested.

CHEF'S 5-COURSE TASTING MENU ~ $30

Sous Vide Beet Salad | Currants | Petite Arugula | Goat Cheese | Pistachio Vinaigrette

Butternut Squash Tortelloni | Sage Brown Butter

Smoked Duck | Spiced Cranberries | Garnet Yam | Candied Kumquats | Natural Jus

Herb Roasted Pork Belly | Stone Ground Grits | Hen of the Woods | Gremolata

Pumpkin Bread Pain Perdu | Spiced Pears | Vanilla Ice Cream

WINE PAIRING FLIGHT ~ $20

2007 Malvira' Favorita

2007 Mas Neuf Costières de Nîmes Rhône Red

2008 Seghesio "Sonoma" Zinfandel

2005 Palmina "Undici" Sangiovese

2005 Clos Jean Loupiac

LOCATION & PHONE

Wine Vault & Bistro is located in the heart of San Diego between Little Italy and Old Town at 3731-A India Street on the upstairs terrace.  Follow the black handrail up the stairs from the sidewalk to our front door.  Our phone number is (619) 295-3939.

PARKING ~ FREE & PAID

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 NOTES & BOTTLE PRICES

2007 Malvira' Favorita ~ $17

Favorita is an obscure Italian white varietal that is rumored to be a hybrid of Vermentino.  Very fragrant nose of orange blossom, white peach and apricot with rich background aromas of hazelnuts.  Complex spicy/tangy attack of sweet citrus and stone fruits balanced with a mouthwatering sweet/bitter lemon zest acidity in the evolution.  Long finish has an intriguing, unctous, almost waxy mouthfeel that adds complexity and tames the spiciness.

2007 Mas Neuf Costières de Nîmes Rhône Red ~ $12

(France) Winemaker’s Notes: 50% Syrah, 17% Grenache, 17% Mourvèdre + 16% Carignan.  Rich bouquet of red currants and wild strawberries.  Seductive palate with flavors of dark fruits and spices balanced with earthy notes in the rounded attack and mellow tannins in the long finish.

2008 Seghesio "Sonoma" Zinfandel ~ $21

(Alexander Valley & Dry Creek Valley) Nose of ripe black raspberry and blueberry with dusty background aromas of briar.  Fruit forward attack of ripe, sweet yet spicy raspberry and blueberry flavors balanced with a dusty/spicy acidity in the juicy evolution and with smooth tannins in the long finish.

2005 Palmina "Undici" Sangiovese ~ $33

(Santa Ynez Valley) Winemaker’s Notes: The 2005 Undici has a scarlet, cinnabar hue alight with ruby accents. A spicy nose of violet, plum, rose petal and cedar with a hint of menthol is unleashed by a swirl of the glass. The first sip foretells of layers of flavors, elegantly interlaced with bright acids and dusty baker’s cocoa tannins.  Dried blueberry and raspberry notes mingle with red plums, currant and clove.  Beautifully balanced with a firm, elegant texture and lingering finish replete with wild herbs and bittersweet mocha.

2005 Clois Jean Loupiac ~ $15 (375 ml)