Bouchaine Vineyards Wine Dinner
October 17, 2013
6:30pm
$110 per person not including tax/gratuity
410-771-0505 for reservations
-Jackets required for men-
6:30pm
Introductory Reception
crab & shrimp rangoon
honey-balsamic chicken bites
Riesling “Las Brisas Vineyard”, 2012
1st Course
pan smoked atlantic salmon, charred vegetables, tomato-basil sauce
Chardonnay “Estate Vineyard”, 2010
2nd Course
duck confit, rainbow micro-greens, crackling, dark cherry & vanilla glaze
Rose of Syrah, 2012
3rd Course
espresso rubbed pork loin, roasted baby carrots, raspberry sauce
Pinot Noir “Estate Vineyard”, 2007
4th Course
grilled lamb loin, fine-herb and tasso risotto, blackberry jus
Syrah, 2012
Dessert
pecan-pumpkin bread pudding, apple cider caramel glaze, vanilla chantilly cream
Late Harvest Chardonnay “Bouche D’or”, 2010
A bit of History of Bouchaine Vineyards…..
Bouchaine Vineyards inhabits the oldest continually operated winery in the Carneros wine region. The site was first planted to vines and orchards in the mid-1800s by pioneer Boon Fly. In 1927, before the end of Prohibition, the property was purchased by Italian immigrant, Johnny Garetto. After the Repeal he operated perhaps the first winery with a tasting room in the region.
Garetto sold the ranch to Beringer Brothers in 1951. Beringer used the winemaking facility for the next thirty years making upgrades along the way. In 1981 Gerret and Tatiana Copeland, residents of Wilmington Delaware and long time admirers of the wines of Burgundy, purchased the facility from Beringer and established Bouchaine Vineyards. A massive renovation was completed in 1995 updating the winemaking facility with new technology and refurbishing the entire facility in a rustic style that garnered numerous awards from historic and architectural organizations.
The most noteworthy change in winemaking style has occurred recently with the hiring of Michael Richmond as winemaker and general manager. Mike Richmond has over 30 years experience in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir production in the Carneros region including his founding Acacia Winery. He and the Bouchaine winemaking team have updated both farming and winemaking to bring the wines to a new standard of excellence
Michael Richmond began his wine making career at Freemark Abbey after taking an 18th month bike riding vacation upon graduating from the University of Texas at Austin in 1968 with a degree in special education, landing him in Napa Valley. In 1979 he co-founded Acacia Winery located in which is now the Carneros district of Napa Valley. Also co-founding The Steamboat Pinot Noir Conference which is now in its 30th year, the private event brings the camaraderie of Pinot Noir winemakers to help foster a sense of community and a climate of openness and goodwill. This has greatly helped progress in the quality of wines from this region.
When Acacia was sold to the Chalone Group Michael remained on board helping working as Vice-President of sales, helped rejuvenate their Carmenet winery, and finally came back on to help run Acacia until a Steamboat Conference in 2002 that he heard that Bouchaine was looking for a General Manager, there was no looking back after that.