For the thirteenth year in a row (excluding that pesky four-year covid hiatus), Wine Vault & Bistro is pleased to announce a 6-course wine dinner featuring Cass Winery from Paso Robles. Cass makes premium quality, limited production wines, focusing primarily on Rhone varietals. Winery co-owner Ted Plemons will be down from Paso Robles to personally host this dinner.

We hope you'll be able to join us for what will surely be a fun evening of tasting great wines paired with great food while rubbing elbows with one of the most colorful people in the business! Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement if you're interested. Here's the line-up:

Oh, and did I mention that we’re serving REAL Japanese A5 Wagyu beef (around $15 per ounce) for the final course?!

NOTE: Due to the complexity of this menu we regret that we will be unable to accommodate vegetarian requests or extensive menu aberrations.

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Shrimp Chorizo Stuffed Piquillo Peppers

2022 Cass "Oasis" Rose (4 oz. pour)

Lobster Agnolotti | Saffron + Shellfish Beurre Monté | English Peas | Lobster Oil

2022 Cass Viognier (3 oz. pour)

Smoky Mushroom Hotpot: Shiitake + Brown Beech Mushrooms | Crispy Pork Belly | Udon Noodles

2021 Cass Grenache (4 oz. pour)

Moroccan-Spiced Lamb Meatball | White Beans with Toasted Garlic | Olive + Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade

2020 Cass "Backbone" Syrah (3 oz. pour)

Pan Roasted Japanese A5 Wagyu Steak | Potato Rosti | Crispy Brussels Sprouts

2020 Cass Cabernet Sauvignon (3 oz. pour)

Dark Chocolate + Mascarpone Tart | Citrus Macerated Strawberries | Toasted Pistachios

Magdala Spanish Orange Brandy (1 oz. pour)

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RSVP

Please RSVP via email to chris@winevaultbistro.com with the following information. (Please do not telephone in your reservation as everyone is working remotely and no one will be here to answer your call and it will just go to voicemail and delay your reservation.)

1. your cell number and best time to call so we can call you to update your credit card info if necessary

2. how many people are in your party, and

3. which day you want to attend (Saturday or Sunday), and

4. answers to the HEAD’S UP questions in the paragraph below,. 

HEAD’S UP

Seating is EXTREMELY limited. We only have a few tables for couples who want to sit by themselves so please let us know if you’re willing to sit at communal tables as that will GREATLY increase your chances of getting in. We also have the two firepit tables for two (https://www.winevaultbistro.com/fire-pit) available so let us know if you’re OK with those tables if you want to sit by yourselves. If you’re a party of four or six there won’t be a problem getting your own table. We are currently limiting party sizes to a maximum of six.

COST

Cost for the complete dinner including all six courses and all five wines plus a Spanish Orange Brandy with dessert is $99.50 per person. Sales tax and a 20% gratuity will be added to the cost of all dinners which will bring the total to just over $127.00. Due to limited seating, CREDIT CARD RESERVATIONS ARE AN ABSOLUTE MUST. We accept Visa and MasterCard only.

SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS

Due to the complexity of this menu we regret that we will be unable to accommodate vegetarian requests. If you have any other special dietary needs, please let us know when you RSVP, not when you arrive. We will do our best to accommodate special dietary needs if we can and if given advance notice. Please be aware that LAST MINUTE MENU ABERRATION REQUESTS WITHOUT ADVANCE NOTICE WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO ACCOMMODATE.

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.

WHEN

The dinners begin promptly at 6:00 on Saturday and at 5:00 on Sunday, but we HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend that you arrive earlier to better your chances of getting a closer parking space. The bar opens at 5:00 on Saturday and at 4:00 on Sunday if you'd like to mingle with Ted and enjoy an adult beverage 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

Valet parking is available. The drop-off point is two doors south of our entrance in front of Shakespeare Pub at the corner of India and Winder. Meters are free after 6:00 on Saturday and all day on Sunday. On-street parking is also usually available within a 3-block radius. 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. 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 two 4-ounce portions of wine and three 3-ounce portions (see the line-up above) plus a Brandy with dessert, or the equivalent of over three-quarters of a 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

2022 Cass "Oasis" Rose ~ $19

(Paso Robles) Crisp and refreshing with grapefruit blossom both on the nose and palate. This pleasingly light and dry rosé is the product of dedicated grape picks, minimal skin contact, light pressing and cold fermentation in stainless steel. Notes of strawberry shortcake and grapefruit lead to a crisp exciting finish.

2022 Cass Viognier ~ $23

(Paso Robles) Luscious and aromatic with enticing floral aromas of jasmine intertwined with pear and white apricot. The palate is dry and crisp with citrus flavors of lemon curd and grapefruit with a light banana finish.

2021 Cass Grenache ~ $27

(Paso Robles) A very user-friendly wine that pairs with almost everything. Sweet cherry and strawberry nose with hints of anise and cedar chips. Easily approachable palate with delicate acid and tannins with creamy cherry and almond notes.

2020 Cass "Backbone" Syrah ~ $36

(Paso Robles) This dark brooding Syrah is a classic representation of this varietal. Dark aromas of black fruit, cedar chips and earth develop into flavors of black cherry and blueberry pie with a hint of sweet tar. The fruit-forward characteristics of this vintage open into darker flavors of cedar, wet earth and pepper.

2020 Cass Cabernet Sauvignon ~ $42

(Paso Robles) Fruit-forward nose of lingonberry jam, black cherry, cassis and cranberry. Earthier flavors of cedar sawdust, eucalyptus, stewed beets and violet develop after the wine opens after 30-60 minutes. Smooth palate with flavors of cherry, chocolate and Kona coffee.

Magdala Spanish Orange Brandy ~ $35

A Mediterranean orange brandy made by steeping lots of orange peels in grape brandy carefully distilled in small batches at the Torres distillery in Barcelona. Ageing in old oak casks produces an aromatic elixir, silky in texture and exceptionally elegant. 78 proof.

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!

Hope to see you here. Buon appetito and cheers!