One of Napa Valley’s most historic wineries recently came to Del Mar as West End Bar & Kitchen hosted an Inglenook wine dinner with senior associate winemaker Jonathan Tyer. Traci Maloney, account specialist with Aspect Fine Wine, assisted Tyer with coordinating the evening, while West End Executive Chef Carlos Ramirez created a four-course menu designed to showcase wines from the legendary Rutherford estate.
Inglenook’s history dates to 1879, when Finnish sea captain Gustave Niebaum began assembling what would become an 1,100-acre estate on Napa Valley’s Rutherford Bench. Nearly a century later, in 1975, Francis and Eleanor Coppola purchased a portion of the former Inglenook property and began a decades-long effort to rebuild the historic estate and restore its reputation.
The Coppolas reunited the property in 1995 and reacquired the Inglenook name in 2011. Tyer shared that Francis Ford Coppola remains actively involved in managing the winery today.
That commitment to the estate extends underground. Inglenook completed its 23,000-square-foot Italia Coppola Wine Caves in 2022, incorporating 120 fermentation tanks corresponding to individual vineyard blocks.
Tyer said that the estate sits on an alluvial fan encompassing 14 soil types, with individual lots typically ranging from just 3 to 15 tons. Keeping those parcels separate allows the winemaking team to better preserve their individual characteristics before blending.
Inglenook also takes an unusually long view toward vineyard management. The estate is approximately 15 years into a 50-year crop rotation program. Each year about 2% of the vineyard is left fallow for three years before being replanted, with quality fruit returning the fourth leaf. The approach creates a continuing range of vine ages supporting standardized aging throughout the estate.
The dinner began with Inglenook Blanc paired with a Bluefin Tuna Wonton before moving to one of the evening’s most creative dishes. The 2021 Blancaneaux, first produced by Inglenook in 1999, blends 40% viognier with 30% marsanne and 30% roussanne.
Less floral and more Old World in style, its acidity balanced the creaminess of béarnaise accompanying seared Hokkaido scallops, while lemon in the dish complemented the wine beautifully.
The 2019 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon accompanied Prime New York steak with wild mushroom risotto and black truffle cream for the third course.
Next, herb-crusted rack of lamb with mint pea purée, roasted fingerling potatoes, and herb chimichurri was paired with Inglenook’s flagship 2019 Rubicon. First produced in 1978, Rubicon was Coppola’s vision for a Bordeaux-style grand wine and takes its name from Julius Caesar’s consequential crossing of the Rubicon River.
The 2019 vintage blends 81% cabernet sauvignon, 11% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. Its depth and structure stood beautifully alongside the richness of the lamb, creating the star pairing of the evening.
More than four decades ago, Francis Ford Coppola set out to restore Inglenook to its former glory. The evening at West End demonstrated how successfully that vision has been realized. Inglenook is not simply preserving its remarkable past. It is still writing its story, one vineyard block and one outstanding bottle at a time. Find more information at inglenook.com.
Celebrate the Craft returns to The Lodge at Torrey Pines
The 23rd Annual Celebrate the Craft returns to The Lodge at Torrey Pines on Sunday, Oct. 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., bringing together acclaimed chefs, farmers, ranchers, vintners, brewers and artisans overlooking Torrey Pines Golf Course and the Pacific Ocean.
This year marks a new chapter under Lodge Executive Chef Eric Sakai and A.R. Valentien Chef de Cuisine Owen Beatty. The impressive culinary lineup also includes Drew Deckman, Eric Bost, Brian Redzikowski, Travis Swikard, Claudia Sandoval and Brad Wise, among others. Guests can pair their bites with wines from Chateau Montelena, DAOU, Far Niente, Orin Swift, Ridge, Silver Oak and other acclaimed producers.
New this year, guests can add $100 VIP Enhancement options featuring a Wine Militia blending session, private OVID Napa Valley and Tequila Komos tastings, or an interactive floral station. The San Diego Food Bank also joins the festival for the first time as a community partner, with a portion of ticket proceeds supporting its hunger-relief programs.
General admission is $375. Guests must be 21 or older. Visit CelebrateTheCraft.com for tickets and details.
— Rico Cassoni
Wine Bytes
• Vittorio’s Italian Trattoria in Carmel Valley is hosting an Orin Swift Wine Dinner on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 6:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy a 3-course dinner and dessert by Executive Chef Angelo Gijo. The main course features grilled “Bistro” beef tenderloin with potato au gratin and garlic broccolini paired with 8 Years in the Desert Red Blend. Cost is $85 per person + tax/tip. RSVP at 858-538-5884.
• Emilio Nares Foundation Harvest for Hope returns to Fairmont Grand Del Mar on Thursday, Sept. 17, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The evening brings together exceptional food, wine and philanthropy to provide transportation, resources and compassionate support for children with cancer and their families. Individual tickets are $250, with sponsorship opportunities available. RSVP here.
Rico Cassoni is executive producer for Taste of Wine and Food. He and founder/advisor Frank Mangio, a renowned wine connoisseur certified by Wine Spectator, are two of the leading reviewers on the web. Reach them at [email protected].
