For the seventeenth year in a row Wine Vault & Bistro is pleased to announce a special winemaker dinner featuring Stolpman Vineyards. We're serving a spectacular 5-course dinner paired with four of his wines. Pete Stolpman is coming down from Santa Ynez to personally host this dinner.

Stolpman specializes in Rhone and Italian varietals, and consistently earns high scores from the critics. The vineyards at the Stolpman Estate enjoy the warm days and cool nights of Ballard Canyon, which lies 25 miles from the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara County on California’s Central Coast. The combination of climate, southern exposure and limestone soils makes for a unique terroir suited to growing Rhone and Italian varietals. This is a very diverse vineyard with many different micro-climates and radical elevation changes. (Those of you who went on our "Central Coast Tour" four years ago will know exactly what we mean after having trekked through this vineyard!)

We hope you'll be able to join us for what promises to be a fun evening of tasting great wines paired with great food in the company of one of Central Coast’s most passionate personalities! Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement and the menu is below.

MENU

Nikkei-Style Prawn + Yellowtail Ceviche | Leche de Tigre | Avocado | Crispy Rice

2025 Stolpman Sauvignon Blanc (5 oz. pour)

Cochinita Pibil (Yucatan-Style Braised Pork) Crispy Taco | Elote (Mexican Street Corn) | Charred Pico de Gallo  

2024 Stolpman “La Cuadrilla” Red Blend (5 oz. pour)

Mozzarella en Carrozza | Rosemary Marinara

2020 Stolpman "La Croce" Red Blend (4 oz. pour)

Petite Filet of Angus Beef | Pecorino + Pepper Rosti | Roasted Scallion Salsa Verde

2024 Stolpman Syrah (4 oz. pour)

Fig Leaf + Vanilla Panna Cotta | Orange Lace | Poached Stone Fruits

Magdala Spanish Orange Brandy (1.5 oz. pour)

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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)

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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

2025 Stolpman Sauvignon Blanc ~ $19

(Santa Barbara County) Winemaker’s Notes: A powerhouse of tropical fruit aromas and flavors like passion fruit and mango ending with a complex, sweet lemon, citrusy finish that perfectly balances the fruit.

2024 Stolpman “La Cuadrilla” Red Blend ~ $23

(Santa Barabara County) Winemaker’s Notes: 60% Syrah, 25% Grenache + 15% Sangiovese. ~~~ Review by Vinous ~ 93 points: Flat-out delicious.  At once both bright and velvety-rich, it soaks into the palate with lively layers of black cherry, cinnamon, rose petal, orange zest and gravelly mineral tones.  The textural harmony and brilliance of the acids are undeniable. A fabulous wine at a ridiculous price.

2020 Stolpman "La Croce" Red Blend ~ $49

(Ballard Canyon) Winemaker's Notes: 50% Sangiovese + 50% Syrah. La Croce shows class and restraint relative to the hedonistic “over-the-top” opulence of many reds from the 2020 vintage. The nose and flavor profile both exhibit the red to purple fruit continuum we dream of when co-fermenting Sangiovese and Syrah. The voluptuous fruit profile envelopes the vibrant acidity and tannins don’t emerge until long after the finish. Overall, it shows the depth and luxurious polish of a top-notch Bordeaux but with the fruit intensity of Cali’s elite. ~~~ Review by Wine Advocate ~ 94 points: Loaded with kaleidoscopic layers of dark plum, blackberries, raspberries, tar and wildflowers with earthy undertones. The medium-bodied palate offers a deep core of nuanced fruit and is light on its feet with vibrant acidity and clay-textured tannins. Long, layered finish. ~~~ Review by Jeb Dunnuck ~ 94 points: Deep ruby/plum-hued with plenty of mulberry, red plum and peppery, herbal, spicy notes in its medium to full-bodied, silky, seamless, concentrated, yet weightless profile. Terrific today and will be even better in 10-15 years.

2024 Stolpman Syrah ~ $25

(Ballard Canyon) Winemaker’s Notes: Dense, rich attack of dark berry fruit balanced with a violet spiciness and finishing with savory tannins. ~~~ Review by Vinous ~ 95 points: Stolpman keeps upping the ante with the quality of this “entry-level” Syrah, a wine that shows complete and utter disregard for its modest price point.  It vibrates with pure, ripe purple berry fruit, herbes de Provence, orange peel and savory, earthy undertones.  Plush and enveloping, it offers a sensual mouthfeel with a ridiculous amount of complexity.  Ultra-fine, polished tannins remind you that this is Ballard Canyon, even if they’re pretty much buried by the weight of the fruit. Hits all the right notes. ~~~ Review by Wine Advocate ~ 94+ points: An expressive, distinctly perfumed bouquet of violets, lavender and stony accents soaring from a red and black fruited core introduces a punchy, seamless palate.  It concludes with a beamingly bright and high-toned finish supported by swelling, chalky tannins.  One of the best value wines anywhere on the Central Coast and one that has serious aging potential.

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