Wine Vault & Bistro is pleased to announce a 5-course wine importer dinner featuring wines from the south of France. Longtime San Diego wine rep Paris Driggers will be here in person to host these dinners. 

This will be an amazing opportunity to taste through an over-delivering line-up of wines with very attractive price points. (The most expensive bottle is only $21!) The menu will feature lots of traditional French items along with some creative French-inspired preparations that will pair perfectly with each wine. Hope to see you here! Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement if you're interested.

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

MENU

NV Prosper Maufoux Cremant de Bourgogne Rose (5 oz. pour)

Caramelized Shallot Tart | Wild Arugula Salad with Bleu d'Auvergne, Crispy Bacon + Herbes de Provence Vinaigrette

2021 Pesquie “Terrasses” Blanc (5 oz. pour)

Crispy Skin Butterfish | French Vadouvan Curry Cauliflower Cream | Caramelized Caulilini

2020 Janasse “Reserve” Cotes du Rhone (5 oz. pour)

Coq au Vin: Roasted Chicken Thigh | Lardons | Wild Mushrooms | Whipped Potatoes with Toasted Garlic

2019 Lafage “Bastide Miraflors” Cotes du Roussillon (3 oz. pour)

Smoked Toulouse Sausage | Stewed White Beans | Roasted Farmer’s Market Vegetables

Sidecar Cocktail (1 oz. pour)

Strawberry + Rhubarb Clafoutis | Vanilla Whipped Cream

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

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

NV Prosper Maufoux Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé ~ $21

(France) Winemaker's Notes: 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay + 20% Gamay. Nose of red fruits like cranberry and cherry. Attack and evolution of candied red fruits and citrus ending with earthy biscuit notes.

2021 Pesquie "Terrasses" Rhone White Blend ~ $15

(France) Winemaker's Notes: 40% Viognier, 20% Clairette, 20% Grenache Blanc + 20% Roussanne. Fermented and aged entirely in tank, the classic floral and pit fruit flavors and aromas of the Viognier are tempered by the crispness of Clairette and the creamy weight of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc. ~~~ Review by Jeb Dunnuck ~ 91 points: A gorgeous, clean, up-front and delicious white that's ideal for drinking over the coming summer months. Nose of ripe lime, chalky mineral, mint and some garrigue notes. Pure and clean on the palate with wonderful fruit.

2020 Janasse "Reserve" Côtes-du-Rhône Red Blend ~ $19

(France) Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan + Cinsault. This reserve bottling is a more serious effort than the regular Côtes-du-Rhône that showcases the estate’s ability to marry richness with finesse. Lavishly ripe and extracted, moderately tannic and endowed with a beautiful structure, this Côtes-du-Rhône has rich notes of fresh fruit (crushed strawberry, blackberry) supported by a hint of licorice.

2019 Lafage “Bastide Maraflors” Cotes du Roussillon ~ $16

(France) Winemaker’s Notes: A cuvée created from old vine Grenache (30%) grown on the schist and granite soils of Saint-Paul de Fenouillet, a terroir that always ripens late in the year, and Syrah (70%) from gravelly soils near the Mediterranean. After a long maceration of six weeks, the wine ages for 12 months in roughly 75% concrete vats and 25% in huge 600L French oak oak barrels. ~~~ Review by Wine Advocate ~ 91 points: Hints of peppery spice, vanilla and woodsmoke accent the blueberry-scented nose, while the full-bodied palate is ripe, supple and concentrated, adding hints of black cherries, chocolate and licorice on the long finish.

Sidecar Cocktail

(France) A classic cocktail invented in the early 1900’s. The original version was made with equal parts Cognac, Cointreau and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Over the years the recipe morphed to half parts of Cointreau and lemon but when we compared both recipes we felt the original recipe was more balanced. So that’s what you’re getting tonight!

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