Tag Archive for: wine

THE WOODALL UNCORKS TRIONE VINEYARDS WINE DINNER ON MAY 25

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/20/22

Westside Eatery Collaborates with Sonoma Winery for a

Wine-and-Dine Experience to Remember                   

Executive chef John Metz invites guests to the Woodall for an exceptional wine dinner experience with Trione Vineyards & Winery on Wednesday, May 25. Metz and chef de cuisine Karl Gorline will take guests on a culinary cultural journey with a five-course menu paired with wines from Sonoma’s Trione Vineyards & Winery.

Family-owned and operated Trione Vineyards & Winery is deeply rooted in the Sonoma County wine industry. Three generations of the Trione family have owned and cultivated nearly 600 acres of vineyards in three prime appellations: Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley, and Sonoma Coast.

The cost of the dinner with pairings is $125 per person plus tax and tip. Reservations can be made by emailing thewoodallatl@metzcorp.com.

MENU:                         

Amuse-bouche

Crab tartlet garnished with yuzu, apple, and radish

First Course

Trout belly ceviche garnished with honeysuckle, Meyer lemon, and fennel

2021 Trione Sauvignon Blanc

Second Course

Roasted chicken chawanmushi served “hiyashi” style with consommé,

red shrimp, mushrooms, and edamame

Trione 2018 Chardonnay

Third Course

Kurobuta pork short rib with a spicy and smoky black mole sauce,

corn panisse, and chickpea and corn relish

Trione 2017 Pinot Noir

Fourth Course

Prime strip steak with pommes paolo and a classic French bordelaise sauce

Trione 2016 Henry’s Blend

Fifth Course

Whipped kabocha squash custard with yogurt sorbet, a crispy pavlova, and sumac

Trione 2015 Syrah

SOUTHERN BELLE EXPLORES THE TRAILBLAZING WINE OF THE OREGON TRAIL ON APRIL 27

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 4/17/22

Grab a Glass and Head West as the Sommelier Team

Uncorks the Innovative Wine of Oregon

Wednesday, April 27 6:30-7:30pm

Southern Belle invites pioneers and pinot lovers alike to explore the wild West as it takes a deep dive into a variety of Oregon wines during the newest installation of its popular Travel in a Glass wine tasting event on Wednesday, April 27.

Guests will join Southern Belle and Georgia Boy’s sommelier team of Cate Hatch, Jordan Traylor, and Fred Torvik as they lead the trailblazing wine-tasting experience. Oregon has long been famous for its stunning pinot noirs, but there is much more to the story. Variety is the spice of the state these days, and guests will be shown a whole new world of innovation in winemaking.

Chef Joey Ward and his team will provide a variety of small bites to accompany the tasting, and attendees will have access to mixed-case discounts on all six featured wines. The cost to attend is $65 per person, and seats can be reserved online. Please note that Southern Belle is normally closed on Wednesdays, and no other food will be available for purchase.

Save the date for the next Travel in a Glass tasting on May 25, 2022.

ATLANTA SPRING WINE FESTIVAL 2022

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/17/22

Atlanta Spring Wine Festival
Historic 4th Ward Park
Saturday, April 9, 2022, 1-5pm

Being held on Saturday, April 9 at Historic 4th Ward Park, Atlanta Spring Wine Festival has 50+ Wines, beer, Live Music, DJ Qtip, and more activations! Tickets include entry, entertainment, souvenir acrylic wine glass, and unlimited alcohol tastings.  Tickets are $45 Advance, $50 after March 31, $60 day of event.

21 and up event, no kids, no babies, no pets. Rain or shine event, no refunds. No outside food or beverage. Do not drink and drive, take Uber/Lyft or walk. Alcohol will cut off at 4:45pm. We reserve the right to cut off anyone at any time.

CATTLE SHED’S MONTHLY WINE DINNER HIGHLIGHTS THE BEST OF WINE AND SEASONAL CUISINE

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/7/22

Guests Will Gather to Toast New Flavors the First Tuesday of Every Month

Cattle Shed Wine & Steak Bar, the upscale Alpharetta eatery from Big Table Restaurants offering chef-driven, seasonal dishes, will host a monthly wine dinner starting April 5.

“Our general manager and sommelier Chris Reid will carefully pick each month’s wine offerings to offer our guests a unique experience,” says Sean Yeremyan, Big Table Restaurants owner. “Executive Chef Olivia Hurst has planned a perfectly paired menu of five courses – including salmon carpaccio, mascarpone ravioli, and a cowboy-cut ribeye – highlighting the season’s best ingredients.”

Cattle Shed’s wine dinners will take place on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. and will include intriguing wine education throughout the evening.

The cost is $125 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Space is limited; guests can reserve a spot by calling 770-559-8749. Visit www.cattleshedwinebar.com for additional information.

UNCORKED ATLANTA WINE FESTIVAL 2022

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/17/22

Saturday, February 12 at noon

Pratt-Pullman Yards

Tickets here.

Join us on Saturday, February 12th for the next edition of Uncorked Atlanta Wine Festival at the historic core of the Entertainment District of Atlanta at Pullman Yards.

From 12:00pm – 4:00pm enjoy complimentary wine and craft beer tastings (over 50 varieties), music performances, and fun wine-themed activations.

General Admission tickets run $45-$60 and include:

  • Souvenir Uncorked Atlanta Tasting Glass
  • Complimentary Wine and Craft Beer Tastings (50+ varieties)
  • DJ and Music
  • Food Available for Purchase

NORTH GEORGIA DAY TRIP: JASPER, TALKING ROCK, FAINTING GOATS

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/2/22

Join us for our North Georgia day trip to Jasper, Talking Rock, and Fainting Goats.

In front of you, the golden mountains point to the bright blue sky that’s dotted with puffy white clouds. As you weave through the hills, mountain streams bob and weave, cutting through the green grass and creating a beautiful, relaxing view from the road. Close to the mountain majesty, there’s a cozy downtown filled with warm red brick buildings that line the quaint two-lane street. Jasper has come into its own with cute shops, coffee houses, several good restaurants, and even a brewery. It is quickly becoming a hot day trip for Atlantans that want to get away for a day. Being only about an hour, we ventured up to Jasper to try Old Mulehouse for brunch, then meandered our way through the beautiful mountains to Talking Rock and Talking Rock Brewery, and our final destination at North Georgia winery, Fainting Goats.

On the corner heading into Jasper is Old Mulehouse, with a tea-light patio, and beautiful, old brick building that’s breathtaking inside! Rustic, yet industrial, the Old Mulehouse is a spacious, open-air restaurant with exposed brick and a sprawling bar area. They had transformed into The Old Yulehouse with stockings hung with care, multiple Christmas trees, and a gorgeous lounge area behind a pair barn doors. Outside, the patio is large, dotted with patio furniture and covered in case of rain. We sat near the end of the patio where you can sit and stare at the mountain views all day. There, we tried several brunch items like the salmon hash, the brunch burger, and the steak and eggs. We also opted for some unique items, the Greek hush puppies and egg nog cheesecake, as well as some of their featured Christmas cocktails.

Kicking off our brunch with a Christmas cocktail of the day, the Peppermint Martini. The one has a bit of everything from creaminess to minty to sweetness from the sugar rim and then a good hint of booze on the back. It’s definitely a cool Christmas cocktail! The other cocktail we tried is the Hayman’s Law, which is their take on a slow gin fizz, but with elderflower! It comes off refreshing, light, tangy, and a good sippable brunch drink. We know why it’s a customer favorite.

Our brunch meal was a mix of seriously good salmon hash, a hearty brunch burger, festively seasoned fries, and a savory steak and eggs. Starting with the Salmon Hash, which combined smoky, salty, tender salmon perfectly paired with earthy cooked spinach, crunchy potatoes, and a fantastic bright lime hollandaise on top. It was a spectrum of flavors that came together well. Beyond the hash, we also opted for the Brunch burger that is well-seasoned and perfectly cooked. On top, hearty pork belly adds a ton of savor, as well as sharp cheddar cheese on some nicely buttered buns. This beautiful burger came with the best seasoned fries! The seasoning is phenomenal and a good mix of crunch and potato. John loves a good steak, so he picked the steak and eggs. Now that’s one perfectly cooked and seasoned steak! It is paired with fluffy eggs and the same amazing fries.

Not only is the brunch fantastic, so are some unique apps and desserts they offer. Starting with the Greek Hush Puppies, these little numbers are house-made falafel that’s grainy and earthy just like you’d expect it with mellow chickpeas. Whatever you do, you must eat it with the sauce! It is spicy and creamy at the same time! Then, the best surprise of the whole meal was the Egg Nog Cheesecake! They have a new pastry chef, and her cheesecake of the day was this one, which was simply stellar! Creamy and thick with a mellow, sweet, and savory egg nog juxtaposing the delicate cheesecake for a fantastic flavor. The best part though must be the ooey, gooey sweet sugar cookie crust that melted in your mouth and was the icing on the cake for this dessert.

After our big meal, we took the mountainous road up to Talking Rock, GA, a quaint little town with only about 6 buildings downtown. Then, right on the railroad tracks, the main attraction, Talking Rock Brewery. Nestled in a train car, Talking Rock Brewery is not only cute and eclectic, but its beer also brings people together in this small town to watch the game or just to play some cornhole. We pretty much tried all of their beers, so here’s our take on them.

They have a little bit of everything for everyone, like the Caboose Georgia red that’s mellow up front with a good hoppy bit on the back, yet smooth. My favorite is the Pumpkin Express Pumpkin ale that’s soft, mellow with a hint of pumpkin but not overbearing. Another good option is the Pullman Pub Ale that is a little thicker with a creamy head and mellow malt balancing the hop on the back. If you like dry Irish Stouts, you’ll enjoy the Dart that had a range of toasty, smoky, and a slight back of the throat bitterness. John’s favorite is the Party Like It’s 95 Blonde Ale that is very drinkable, light, and refreshing. He also really enjoyed the Just the Ticket Pilsner that is also light, but with slightly more flavor on the back. If you like IPAs you can’t go wrong with either the Run 8 IPA or the Polar Express Double IPA, both hoppy, while the Double IPA is hazy and juicy.

The flight empty, we headed to our final destination even further up in the mountains, Fainting Goat Winery. The second you arrive, the vineyard sprawls in front of a large chateau perched high on a hill. Below, there is a pin with several goats that are as friendly as you can imagine coming up to the gates and smiling. The day was warmer than usual, so we sat on the lawn, tasting in hand, overlooking the gorgeous view of the vineyard, watched the goats play, and enjoyed the best mountain views! The best spot is on the porch above the lawn where you can watch the sunset! This winery has been on our list for a long time! This day we both got a wine tasting, John got The White Album and I got the Crowd Pleaser. Here are our thoughts! Pro tip: get the Wednesday Night Sauvignon Blanc! We know why it’s award winning.

Of the crowd pleaser tasting, I substituted the Revere Blanc du Bois for the Sauvignon Blanc. This one is floral and hearty, a sweetness up front that finishes dry. The second was a rose called the Summer Quartz. It tastes like roses, a slight sweet peach, and finishes dry. It’s mellow and great for sipping! For the red wine, Harvesting Homes Malbec smells like plum and tastes like a light red wine with a little bit of sweetness of that plum and a little bit of chocolate. Of the White Album tasting, the Amber Fields Chardonnay is very good, smooth and buttery with a good sweetness that comes out near the end. Didn’t get any oak on this one, even though it is oak barreled. The favorite was the Wednesday Night Sauvignon Blanc. It wasn’t what we expected; it’s lemony, citrusy and dry. I typically stay away from these as I don’t like grapefruit in my wine and this one didn’t have that at all! All around a great selection of wines and a beautiful view.

We round through the mountain roads back towards Jasper and the orange, blue, and purple sun set over the cozy little downtown. A beautiful day filled with great memories.

Photo Gallery

Barcelona Wine Bar: The Date Night Spot

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/25/21

The metal, wood, and soft hues from the setting sun enveloped the Barcelona Wine Bar Westside wrap-around patio. At the bar a couple chat over a shared bottle of red wine with an assortment of small plates. Now this is date night done right with the ambiance, impeccable food, and endless wine bottle list, all meant for sharing. We imbibed on the fantastic Aperitivo Board, bubbly BarCava, spicy Grilled Pulpo, great Grilled Broccolini, divine Potato Tortilla, creamy Jamon & Manchego Croquetas, and finished it off with crispy calamari. Who’s ready to go on a Friday night date night?

Sipping on some bubbly, the BarCava is an exclusive sparkling wine made just for Barcelona. It’s bright, tart, and crisp with tons of bubbles. A must try. To go with our wine, we started with the Aperitivo Board, which was an assortment of tasty Serrano, Feut, Mahon, tangy and creamy Patatas Bravas, spicy peppers, buttery almost, and sharp and creamy Manchego. You can mix and match in any combination, which we both loved the Serrano with the Manchego and a dollop of the spicy mustard on top.

Something that we love about Barcelona is the small plates that’s perfect to sharing. You can try more of the extensive menu this way and explore a variety of flavors. You can get everything from light dishes like the pulpo to decadent like the Potato Tortilla to hearty, fried calamari. Speaking of the dishes, one of our favorites was the Potato Tortilla. This fun dish is served like a piece of pie and starts creamy and sharp and then melts in your mouth. We found this dish eye-roll good from the richness of the cream and potato to the earthiness and tang of the chive dip on the side.

After that hearty dish, we went a little lighter with the Grilled Pulpo and Grilled Broccolini. The octopus is simply grilled and tender and topped with a mix of olives, tomatoes, and a spicy bright vinaigrette. It’s a spicy, earthy, and tender dish! On the other hand, the broccolini is slightly crunchy with a fresh, fantastic lemon aioli that comes off as bright and creamy. Impeccably paired with crispy capers for an earthy bite on the end.

To end the night our tour around the Barcelona menu, we tried the Jamon & Manchego Croquetas and the Crisp Calamari. The Croquetas are crunchy, rich, creamy, and oh-so gooey. All of the complex flavors that all go so well together. Go bold or go home, right? We ended with the Crisp Calamari. This fried goodness is the right amount of light crunch and tender squid. Juxtaposed with a tart, tangy and bright dipping sauce for the perfect bite.

What would you want to try?

GRANDIOSE GRAPE WINE FESTIVAL 2021

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/14/21

Saturday, November 13 at 2 pm

The Mill Kitchen and Bar

The Mill Kitchen and Bar hosts The Grandiose Grape Wine Festival in Roswell Saturday, November 13th, 2021, 2pm-5pm: Early VIP Entry at 1pm. The Grandiose Grape Wine Festival is a curated collection of the finest wines to taste & explore with live entertainment and chef curated food.
Tickets include entry and entertainment, souvenir glass, chef curated food & wine samples 90+ vendors.
$90 VIP Advance Admission at 1PM | SOLD OUT
$100 VIP Advance Admission at 1PM
$50 Advance General Admission at 2PM
$60 General Admission at 2PM
Tickets: HERE.
VIP Guest will receive early admission into the festival at 1PM with a Reserve Wine Tasting with over 25+ Vendors & VIP Food, entertainment, souvenir cup, & VIP Gift Bag with gift cards. General Admission entry starts at 2PM with over 90+ Wines, Food, souvenir cup, and entertainment.
Note: 21 and up event, no children. Rain or shine event, no refunds. No outside food or beverage. Do not drink and drive, take Uber/Lyft or walk. Alcohol will cut off at 4:45pm. We reserve the right to cut off anyone at any time.

NIGHTMARE IN ATLANTA HALLOWEEN 2021

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/11/21

Fowling Warehouse

Saturday, October 30 8:30 pm

Tickets: here.

Get ready for a spooktacular Nightmare in Atlanta Halloween Party at Fowling Warehouse; Westside Atlanta’s hottest new sports bar and entertainment venue.

Atlanta’s premiere Halloween bash scares up all kinds of excitement at the Fowling Warehouse with an open bar all night, glow party favors (while supplies last), top ATL DJs playing all the hits, multiple areas to mingle, LED lighting, and a state-of-the-art sound system to rock this party into the wee morning hours. PLUS free Fowling Games for all attendees AND not one but two costume contests with prizes! Prices range from $39 to $100.

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕳𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖘

  • Five (5) Hour Open Bar Entire Event
  • Top Atlanta DJs
  • State-of-the-art Sound & LED Lighting
  • Multiple Areas to Mix & Mingle
  • Complimentary Fowling Games for All Attendees – $20 value!
  • Two Costume Contests with Prizes:
    • Best Couple / Group
    • Best Costume or Most Original Costume
  • Beads, Candy & Glow Party Favors for All (while supplies last)
  • Exclusive VIP Area with Added Perks:
    • All Access to VIP Lounge with Separate Bar Areas
    • Premium Booze
    • Upgraded Glow Party Favors

𝕾𝖔𝖒𝖊 𝕴𝖓𝖋𝖔 𝖙𝖔 𝕶𝖓𝖔𝖜

Age Requirement: Must be 21+ to participate. Valid ID (not expired, not cut) required or NO ENTRY – no exceptions. All sales are final; no refunds or exchanges. Prices subject to change while supplies last.

Dress Code: Halloween costumes strongly encouraged. Costumes must not include weapons, and all masks must be removed upon entering for ID check. * Don’t forget about the costume contests; so dress in your scary, silly or sexy best to win prizes!

Door: Presale Tickets Guarantee Entry. Event will likely sell out. * Opt for VIP with Added Perks. *

Parking: Fowling Warehouse features a private parking lot. Parking availability is limited so plan accordingly and arrive early. Please party responsibly and don’t drink & drive — use ride share, taxi or designated driver company to get home safely. Get Directions >

Please Note: We follow CDC and WHO websites for all recommended guidelines to throw a safe event. If event is canceled due to Covid-19, you’ll be refunded.

ATLANTA FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES STELLAR LINEUP OF CHEFS, MIXOLOGISTS FOR THE EVENT’S HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED RETURN SEPTEMBER 9-12

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/15/21

Tasting Tents to Feature New Live Culinary Demos, Barbecue Competition & 

Ultimate Sunday Tailgate

Festival Discounts Tasting Tent Tickets For First Responders

Celebrating the rich culinary traditions of the South, the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival (AFWF) is thrilled to announce its stellar lineup of chefs and mixologists, along with new programming this year. Tickets are on sale now for both tasting tents and the intimate dinner series, taking place between Thursday, September 9 and Sunday, September 12. 

The festival’s highly anticipated Tasting Tents will return to Historic Fourth Ward Park on Saturday, September 11 and Sunday, September 12, and feature wine pop-up stations, a cocktail garden, live music and an interactive food and beverage pairing area. For the first time in the event’s decade-long history, revelers can experience the soon-to-be announced live learning experiences presented by Publix in the form as culinary demos as part of the signature Tasting Tents. Culinary Demos will feature a mix of visiting Southern and local Atlanta culinary personalities who will be educating and entertaining guests during the two days. 

To kick off festival weekend, AFWF will be hosting its first-ever barbecue battle competition, where some of the top Georgia hotspots will compete for the title of “best barbecue bite” on Saturday. On Sunday, guests can enjoy the ultimate tailgate party surrounding the big game pitting Atlanta versus Philadelphia. Guests can enjoy a bevy of offerings including elevated football bites prepared by the likes of Top Chef alum John Tesar (Knife), Bruce Kalman (SoulBelly BBQ), Alex Seidel (Mercantile), Giorgio Rapicavoli (Luca Osteria) alongside pit master all-stars Leonard Botello (Truth BBQ), Burt Bakman (Slab BBQ) and more! Throughout the weekend, the Tasting Tents will host a curated Yelp Atlanta spotlight section featuring a variety of their favorite local spots.

AFWF takes pride on its extensive weekend of programming and events where guests can eat, drink and explore the South’s best talent. Intimate live and in-person culinary experiences include a festival collaboration dinner with Lazy Betty’s Ron Hsu and Aaron Phillips, A Taste of España dinner at John Castellucci’s Cooks & Soldiers, Sunday Supper at Deborah VanTrece’s Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, Southern Revival Brunch at The Woodall with Chef John C. Metz, Italian Sunday feast at Colletta Atlanta, The Ultimate Omakase experience at O-Ku Atlanta, curated dinner at 5Church with Chef Mark Alba and — back by popular demand – South Main Kitchen’s Taste of NoLa dinner with live musical entertainment! 

Atlanta has embraced this amazing event for more than 10 years,” says Brett Friedman, Partner and CEO of Agency 21, which owns and operates Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. “Even during the pandemic when we could only operate at a limited capacity, the city’s talented chefs remained vigilant in their support for us. We’re so grateful to be back and to focus the attention where it always belongs, on the people throughout the hospitality industry.” 

Continuing with last year’s commitment to give back to the restaurants that helped build this incredible event, a percentage of proceeds will support two local charities. AFWF will be supporting Children of Conservation, with proceeds dedicated to the conservation of endangered species through education, habitat preservation and wildlife sanctuary. In an effort to curb hunger and reduce food waste in the Metro Atlanta area, AFWF will be partnering with Second Helpings Atlanta to collect fresh, surplus food from each of AFWF’s activations to donate to local hunger relief agencies. 

In an effort to honor their dedication and drive throughout the pandemic, AFWF will offer 50% off tickets to Tasting Tents for Sunday to frontline workers. In order to redeem the discount, email a21events@squadup.com with proof of profession to be sent a private discount code.

In 2019, Agency 21 acquired AFWF with the intention of making last year’s 10th anniversary celebration the best yet. The pandemic changed everything, but not the spirit of Southern hospitality. AFWF will stay true to its origins, offering a celebration of the South.

Tasting Tent tickets are on sale now. General Admission One Day Passes are $150 with VIP tickets priced at $250. General Admission Weekend Passes are $275 with VIP priced at $450. Prices will increase on August 13. 

For more details and to purchase tickets, visit www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com.Interviews and photography are available upon request. If you are interested in covering/attending this year’s festival, please apply here.