UPCOMING WINEMAKER DINNERS

We’ve got lots of winemaker dinners coming up including Journeyman, Cass, Daou and Mauritson to name a few. Dates, menus and pricing haven’t been finalized so we can’t take advance reservations just yet but be sure to watch for email updates in the coming weeks!

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In the meantime, we thought it would be fun to kick off Spring by showcasing some dishes featuring the flavors of the season paired with some delicious wines including a 95-point Pinot that normally retails for sixty-five bucks.

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! Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement and the menu is below.

Doors open at 5:15 for happy hour and dinner starts promptly at 6:00. Cost is ninety-nine fifty for all five courses and all five paired beverages. Sales tax and a 20% gratuity will be added which brings the total to about $127. Due to limited seating, credit card reservations are a must. We accept Visa and MasterCard only. 

MENU

Strawberry Gazpacho | Bocconcini | Speck | Balsamic Gelee | Basil

2025 Daou Rose (4 oz. pour)

Salmon Piccata | Linguine

2024 Villa Varda Pinot Grigio (4 oz. pour)

Grilled Airline Chicken Breast | Roasted Asparagus + Wild Mushroom Stir-Fry

2023 Omen Wines Pinot Noir (4 oz. pour)

Seared Lamb Loin Chop | Mediterranean Couscous | Chimichurri

2021 Bokisch “Liberty Oaks Vineyard” Tempranillo (4 oz. pour)

Carrot Cake | Brandy-Soaked Golden Raisins

Magdala Orange Brandy (1 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)

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

2025 Daou Rose ~ $17

(Paso Robles) Winemaker’s Notes: 86% Grenache + 14% Sauvignon Blanc.. Nose of ripe peach, apricot, star fruit and honeydew melon.  Soft, clean palate with effusive flavors of lemon zest, stone fruit, papaya and watermelon, finishing with mouthwatering crispness and elegance.

2024 Villa Varda Pinot Grigio ~ $15

(Italy) Winemaker’s Notes: Aromas of green apple, wildflowers and citrus zest.  Juicy and lively, with a core of citrus and white fruits. 

2023 Omen Wines Pinot Noir ~ $23

(Petaluma Gap, Sonoma County) Winemaker’s Notes: Vibrant floral nose accentuated by red fruit, subtle vanilla and chocolate notes.  Fruit forward flavors of strawberry, raspberry, cranberry and pomegranate are balanced by refreshing acidity on the palate and followed by savory notes of truffles, umami and the classic earthiness of Pinot Noir. Gentle, lush tannins lead the way to a lingering and complex finish worth savoring. 

2021 Bokisch “Liberty Oaks Vineyard” Tempranillo ~ $24

(Jahant, Lodi) Winemaker’s Notes: Nose has notes of green apple along with aromas of sizzling bacon, hints of dark cherry and earthiness.  As it unfolds on the palate, juicy blackberries, a zesty twist of orange-infused chocolate, and delicate hints of hickory smoke evoke memories of relaxed summer evenings around a bonfire. 

Magdala Spanish Orange Brandy ~ $35

(Spain) A Mediterranean orange liqueur 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. 

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