Local Wine Events

Event Details

Wine OR Wine & Food

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

Steelhead Salmon Sashimi | Fava Beans | Lemon | Fennel | Micro Greens

Housemade Fettuccine | English Peas | Guanciale | Fresh Oregano | Green Garlic | Pecorino

Braised Pork Belly | Nueske Bacon Jam | Olive Oil Crushed Potatoes | Salsify | Wild Arugula

NY Strip Loin | Potato Cake | Spring Onion Confit | Roasted Wild Mushrooms | Marjoram | Demi Glace

Chocolate Pots de Crème | Hazelnut Toffee | White Chocolate Mousse

WINE PAIRING FLIGHT ~ $20

2008 Gérard Bertrand Chardonnay

2008 Bruno Rocca Dolcetto d'Alba

2007 Pascaul Toso "Alta Reserva" Malbec

2005 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon

Chris' Famous Irish Coffee without the Coffee

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

2008 Gerard Bertrand Chardonnay ~ $12

(Southern France) Winemaker's Notes: Apple and pear with minimal oak influence.  Bright acidity adds balance and roundness.

2008 Bruno Rocca Dolcetto d'Alba ~ $17

(Italy) Winemaker's Notes: Pure, clean nose of plum fruit plus elegant background notes of almonds.  Round and warm on the palate with a nice softness yet lively tannins.  A delightful note of balancing bitterness at the end, again reminiscent of almonds, makes this a perfect accompaniment to robust, meaty dishes.

2007 Pascaul Toso "Alta Reserva" Malbec ~ $32

(Argentina) Review by Wine Spectator ~ 92 points: Offers gorgeous, dark, exotic layers of fig sauce, melted licorice snap, crushed blackberry and bittersweet chocolate flavors, all laid seamlessly over supervelvety tannins. The long finish lets it all hang out. Drink now through 2011. 500 cases imported.

2005 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon ~ $30

(Napa Valley) Winemaker's Notes: Shows rich, concentrated aromatics of currant, blackberry and ripe cherry complemented by hints of toasty oak.  Flavors of leather and nutmeg coalesce with plum and vanilla in the concentrated mid-palate and settle into a seductive, chewy finish. 

Chris' Famous Irish Coffee without the Coffee