Please join us (21 and up only, please) on Saturday, June 01th at 6:00 for our Chef’s 5-Course Tasting Menu with paired wines. Doors open at 5:15 for happy hour and dinner starts promptly at 6:00. Cost is a mere eighty-nine fifty for all five courses and all five paired beverages. Sales tax and a 20% gratuity will be added which will bring the total to just under $115. Due to limited seating, CREDIT CARD RESERVATIONS ARE AN ABSOLUTE MUST. We accept Visa and MasterCard only.

NOTE

Due to the complexity of this menu we regret that we are unable to accommodate vegetarian requests or extensive menu modifications.

CHEF'S 5-COURSE TASTING MENU

Chilled Heirloom Tomato Soup | Market Herb Pesto | Torn Croutons | Shaved Pecorino

2021 Mas de Gourgonnier Rose (5 oz. pour)

Crispy Skin Chicken Thigh | Wine Braised Fennel | Olives | Saffron Citrus Butter

2022 Bennett Valley “Bin 6410” Pinot Noir (5 oz. pour)

Trofie Pasta | Spicy Housemade Pork Sausage | Toasted Garlic Sugo di Pomodoro

2021 Ronchi "Amphora" Langhe Nebbiolo (3 oz. pour)

Skirt Steak Saltimbocca | Crispy Pancetta | Creamy Sage Demi-Glace

2021 Turley “Estate” Zinfandel (3 oz. pour)

Honey Poached Apricots | Amaretti Crumble | Whipped Mascarpone

2018 Royal Tokaji “Late Harvest” Tokaj (2 oz. pour)

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RSVP

Please RSVP by clicking on the “Contact The Host” button in the box on the right and responding with the following information.

1. your cell number and best time to call so we can call you to update your credit card info if we don’t already have it on file

2. how many people are in your party, and

3.(IMPORTANT!) answers to the HEAD’S UP questions in the paragraph below,. 

HEAD’S UP

Seating is EXTREMELY limited. We have a very limited number of 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 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.

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

Meters are free after 6:00 so if you park in a metered space just put in enough money (usually under a buck) to get you to 6:00 and then you’ll be home free. Free non-metered 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 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

2021 Mas de Gourgonnier Rose ~ $15

(France) Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon + Mourvèdre. Clear orange-pink color. Nose of vibrant, mineral-tinged, redcurrant, orange zest and peach scents with an herbal nuance thta builds in the glass. Taut and racy on the palate, offering tangy red berry and citrus fruit flavors along with hints of honeysuckle, saffron and tarragon. Fleshes out through the smooth, clinging finish, which leaves blood orange and white pepper notes behind.

2022 Bennett Valley “Bin 6410” Pinot Noir ~ $21

(Sonoma County) Roasted hazelnut tones on the nose closely followed by the signature aromas of blackberry, cherry and raspberry fruit for which this wine is known. On the palate, the spice tones and tannins from the wood are supported with the rich fruit and a clean crisp finish.

2021 Ronchi "Amphora" Langhe Nebbiolo ~ $26

(Italy) Winemaker's Notes: Pure Nebbiolo from the "Ronchi" cru, the family’s prized terroir and one of Barbaresco’s top vineyards. This is basically young vine Barbaresco aged for one year in terracotta amphorae. This neutral vessel allows the wine to breathe yet doesn’t impart any flavor unlike oak barrels. A stunningly aromatic and textured wine with energy and lift. As beautiful as Nebbiolo can and should be. Power, finesse, aromatics — it’s all there. Piedmonte lovers will not want to miss it. The elegant, structured palate doles out crushed strawberry, cherry, clove and white pepper. Refined and polished with a silky finish.

2021 Turley “Estate” Zinfandel ~ $66

(St. Helena, Napa Valley) Winemaker's Notes: This vineyard is special to all of us here at the winery as it's right in our backyard. It’s what we see every day at work (and from the family home). We have slowly and steadily planted additional head-trained dry-farmed Zinfandel vines to complement the original planting from the mid-1990s, and the entire property is certified organic. Taking a page from our beloved old vine vineyards, we’ve also planted several of the varieties most commonly interplanted in old Zinfandel vineyards including Carignane, Trousseau and Cinsault. Fragrant and savory with notes of garrigue, dark chocolate, salted plum, meat marinade and Provençal herbs. The texture on the palate evokes Cabernet or even Petite Syrah in structure and timbre, further demonstrating the multifaceted appeal of this sonorous wine. ~~~ Review by Wine Spectator ~ 93 points: Refined and deeply structured, with potent wild berry, roasted sage and white pepper flavors that build richness and tension toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2031. ~~~ Review by Vinous ~ 92-94 points: Bright, punchy and intensely savory. This St. Helena Zinfandel delivers the goods. Powerful and deeply resonant, the Estate is absolutely compelling. This Zinfandel, in reality a Zinfandel-based field blend of 24 varieties, is full of dynamism and character. It will likely need a few years to come together, but then watch out.

2018 Royal Tokaji “Late Harvest” Tokaj ~ $23 (500ml)

(Hungary) Winemaker Notes: Pale gold color with delicate aromas of exotic fruits and spice. Light and fresh on the palate with hints of white peach, it is medium sweet with an excellent acid balance, a silky texture and a clean, long, crisp finish. ~~~ Review by Wine Enthusiast ~ 92 points: This amber-colored late-harvest wine from Tokaj has aromas of honeycomb and white flowers, especially jasmine and freesia. In the mouth, it has nice fruit sweetness and flavors of clover honey, ripe apricot and yellow peach.

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!

Chris