When Cass Winery comes to town, guests at Vittorio’s can expect a sold-out dinner with Cass co-owner Ted Plemons narrating the evening. With his enthusiasm, knowledge, and delicious wine, he mesmerizes guests and makes Cass an easy wine dinner choice for Victor Magalhaes to host.
Classic Wines of California sales rep Jim Kern assisted with event coordination, including discounted wine sales. Chef Angel Gijon and his team’s efforts were instrumental in preparing the sold-out five-course dinner with over 100 guests.
Cass Winery was established in 1999 by Steve Cass, who retired from Charles Schwab and established a 145-acre vineyard in Paso Robles with the assistance of real estate agent and Paso Robles pioneer grape grower Jim Smoot.
In 2000, Cass Winery planted 145 acres with 12 varietals.
Two years later, Steve Cass and Ted Plemons visited South Africa on a golfing/wine-tasting trip to celebrate the completion of the residence and barn that Plemons built. After drinking plenty of Syrah, the two decided to start a winery, falling in love with the South African wine style.
They found winemaker Lood Kotze through a job-wanted sign they posted at the University of Stellenbosch. After the vineyard bore fruit in 2003, the first vintage began, and two years later, the Cass Winery tasting room opened in May 2005.
Cass Winery is part of the California Rhone Rangers, which requires a winery to have 75% of its wine content from one or more of the 22 traditional Rhone grape varieties approved by the French government. They also produce Right Bank Bordeaux wines. Both styles are under the guidance of winemaker Sterling Kragten.
Dinner began with grilled eggplant rolled around ricotta cheese and basil paired with the 2022 Viognier. The Viognier had refreshing flavors of stone fruit, pineapple, and hints of peach. Its stainless steel fermentation created a bright wine that paired well with the eggplant entrée.
“Steve Cass and my goals include producing fine Rhone and Bordeaux style wine that is not overripe and over oaked from estate free run juice in a sustainable manner,” Plemons started his narration.
The wines served throughout the evening were proof that Cass and Plemons had achieved their goal.
The 2021 Roussanne in the second course had aromas of lemon, green apple, and nectarine. The palate was dry and crisp, matching the aromas.
“Paso Robles fruit benefits from its calcareous soil rich in minerality and limestone,” Plemons said.
The second course, pan-seared sea bass with a lemon-saffron sauce, was perfect for Roussanne’s lemon notes.
Moving on to my favorite course, the third one, we had the 2019 Backbone Syrah with braised lamb shank and goat cheese ravioli in a mushroom sauce. This Syrah is named after a 10-acre knob in the Cass vineyard where the guest house is located.
“The knob forms the backbone of the vineyard and is where the Backbone Syrah fruit is sourced,” Plemons said.
The Backbone had a nose with black fruit, earthiness, and flavors of black cherry, blueberry, and cedar on the finish. The earthiness melded well with the mushroom sauce. Finally, guests enjoyed the 2019 C-A-B Cabernet Sauvignon served alongside grilled beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes for the fourth course and a decadent Napoleon for dessert.
Cass Winery is a beautiful vineyard and winery and a perfect vacation spot. Guests can choose to stay at the previously mentioned Guest House or at the Geneseo Inn, a luxury boutique hotel built from industrial shipping containers, perched above Cass’s 145-acre vineyard, allowing guests to “breathe in the vineyard views.”
And for those wondering, yes, Plemons designed and oversaw the construction of the Inn.
The venue is ideal for weddings, special events, or a Paso Robles weekend getaway with breathtaking rooms, food, wine, and adventures. In addition, guests can unwind with a private massage or yoga session or select one of the many Cass Camp experiences unique to the Geneseo Inn.
The winery’s café and tasting room serve delicious farm-to-table cuisine featuring beef grown at Plemons’s house ranch. Learn more about Cass Winery at casswines.com.
— Story by Rico Cassoni
Wine Bytes
— The Carlsbad Village Street Faire brings more than 100,000 visitors to town twice a year for the largest one-day street fair in the nation from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 7 in the heart of the Village. Visitors can shop at 800+ unique vendors, see live performances, and have a bite or drink at the food court and beer garden. Kiddos can have fun in the Kids Zone and more! See bit.ly/3VhYVou.
— Coronado’s 2nd annual Art & Wine Festival is from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on May 13 at 10th & C Avenue. The festival is a collaboration between Coronado’s Schools Foundation & Chamber of Commerce, celebrating art, wine, food, music & Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Admission is free. Wine tasting requires purchases. More info at coronadoartandwinefestival.com.
— WineSellar and Brasserie hosts a four-course Laird Wine Dinner at 6 p.m. on May 6, with matriarch Rebecca Laird guiding guests through their wines and 50-year legacy. The main course is sliced ribeye topped with Bordelaise and sliced filet topped with bone marrow butter paired with 2018 Laird, Cab Sauv, Napa Valley, and 2016 Laird, Mast Ranch Cab Sauv, Napa Valley. The price is $125 per person ($115 for club members). RSVP at 858-450-9557.
Rico Cassoni is the executive producer for Taste of Wine and Food alongside founder/advisor Frank Mangio, a renowned wine connoisseur certified by Wine Spectator. View their columns at tasteofwineandfood.com. Reach them at [email protected].
