Local Event Premier Host

WINE VAULT & BISTRO: Margerum Winemaker Dinner With Doug Margerum

Cost: $109.50 + tax and gratuity

For the thirteen straight year, Wine Vault & Bistro is pleased to announce a 5-course wine dinner featuring Margerum Winery from Santa Barbara. Winemaker Doug Margerum will be here in person to host the dinner. Those of you that went on our Central Coast wine tours in 2022 will have fond memories of meeting him and visiting the winery then.

Doug started his wine and culinary journey as a child while exploring France and Italy with his parents. Next he worked his way through high school and college as a cook and server in local restaurants before he and his family opened the famous Wine Cask wine store and restaurant in Santa Barbara in 1981. He started Margerum Wine Company in 2001 as a boutique producer of small lot Santa Barbara County wines. He now devotes his energies full time to Margerum Wine Company as well as being a consulting winemaker for several other local wineries.

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 respected vintners from the Central Coast. Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement if you're interested.

Doors open at 5:15 for happy hour/informal winemaker reception and dinner starts promptly at 6:00. Cost is $109.50 for all five courses including paired beverages. Sales tax and a 20% gratuity will be added which brings the total to just under $140 out the door. Due to limited seating, credit card reservations are a must. We accept Visa and MasterCard only.

MENU

Macadamia-Crusted Softshell Crab | Bacon | Butter Lettuce | Grilled Lemon | Buttermilk Dressing

2024 Margerum “M5” White (4 oz. pour)

 

Seared King Trumpet Mushrooms | Mushroom Dirty Rice | Chives

2023 Margerum “Estate” Cinsault (4 oz. pour)

 

Chicken Breast Stuffed with Black Forest Ham + Comté Cheese | Browned Butter Fettuccine

2024 Margerum “M5” Red (4 oz. pour)

 

Charred Wagyu Skirt Steak | Crushed New Potatoes | Scallion Confit with Garlic Chips

2023 Margerum Syrah (4 oz. pour)

 

Dark Chocolate Chunk Cake | Kahlua Caramel Drizzle | Vanilla Chantilly Cream

White Russian Cocktail (3 oz. pour)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

RSVP (IF ON A DESKTOP COMPUTER)

Click the “Contact the Host” button in the “Tell a Friend” box on to the right and respond with the info below.

RSVP (IF ON A MOBILE DEVICE)

Scroll to the very bottom of this posting. Click the “Contact the Host” button in the “Tell a Friend” box at the bottom and respond with the info below.

RESPOND WITH THIS INFO

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

2. how many people are in your party, and

3. answers to the HEAD’S UP questions in the paragraph below if you’re a party of 1 or 2.

HEAD’S UP

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 long communal tables (“Last Supper” style) as that will greatly increase your chances of getting in. (Yes, we understand that this is a Valentine’s dinner and that most folks will want a private table and, yes, we will do our best to accommodate that but at some point we max out on private tables!) We also have a firepit table for two (https://www.winevaultbistro.com/fire-pit) available so let us know if you’re OK with that table if you want to sit by yourselves. Also, please consider inviting another couple or two to join you as if you’re a party of four or six there won’t be a problem getting your own table. 

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

Metered and non-metered on-street parking is usually available within a 3-block radius. Try to find non-metered parking as the new meters are now enforced seven days a day until 8:00PM yet still only allow a maximum of two hours. You can also park in the free 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 usually parking on the side streets behind the restaurant, on San Diego Avenue one block in front of the restaurant and on the adjacent side streets just past the Chevron station across Washington Street. If you plan to drive here make sure to allow yourself plenty of time to find a parking space but ideally use a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft so you don’t have to deal with it.

WINE NOTES & BOTTLE PRICES

2024 Margerum “M5” White ~ $22

(Los Olivos District) Winemaker’s Notes: 34% Marsanne, 32% Grenache Blanc, 15% Roussanne, 12% Picpoul Blanc + 7% Viognier. Nose of apricots, white florals, sweet honey with hints of brioche toast and tropical fruits. Flavors of apple with a touch of peach nectar engage with bright acidity.

2023 Margerum “Estate” Cinsault ~ $19

(Los Olivos District) Winemaker’s Notes: 84% Cinsault, 14% Syrah + 2% Grenache. Bright aromas of fresh dark berries mixed with a rusticity of saddle leather, Santa Barbara garrigue and wild sage. Refreshing alate of bright black fruits. Plush, delicious, roun, and fresh with a full, rich mouthfeel.

2024 Margerum “M5” Red ~ $25

(Santa Barbara County) Winemaker’s Notes: 40% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 12% Mourvedre, 7% Counoise + 6% Cinsault. A Grenache-based blend with elegance and layers making it a versatile food wine. The overlying presence of Grenache flavors initially impacts the palate, followed by a finish complete with hints of jam, cocoa and dark berry contributions of Syrah and earthy Mourvèdre. Syrah adds richness and power, Mourvèdre adds earthy, old world, Counoise adds aromatics of watermelon and Cinsault adds a spice component.

2023 Margerum Syrah ~ $28

(Santa Barbara County) Winemaker’s Notes: 98% Syrah, 1% Grenache + 1% Viognier. Nose of dark bramblebrry, Mediterranean spice, black pepper and black olives. Substantial, mouth-filling palate with loads of dark berry fruits, dark plum, cherry and anise mixed with Provençal herbs and grilled meat. Round, complex, fresh and very satiating.

White Russian Cocktail

A decadent three-ingredient cocktail made with vodka, Kahlua and heavy cream. Invented in the 1960’s when someone added cream to a Black Russian rendering it white, the White Russian suffered a bit from a stodgy, antiquated reputation for the next couple of decades. Then the 1998 movie “The Big Lebowski” came along and breathed new life into the cocktail thanks to Jeff Bridges’ character, the Dude, sipping it exclusively ... and constantly ... throughout the film’s duration.

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

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