2014 Best Winery Chefs Culinary Classic

Four of Northern California's most culinary-focused wineries are donating their chefs and wines to produce the second annual Best Winery Chefs charity dinner, November 8, 2014 at the Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club. The event will raise funds for Redwood Empire Food Bank and other hunger-related organizations as well as recognize a group of mostly under-appreciated, talented chefs.

Winery chefs are responsible for producing an endless array of meals for demanding wine professionals, yet their kitchen skills are rarely seen or appreciated by the general public. This unique annual event offers diners an opportunity to do just that as they meet and mingle with four chefs who will each prepare a course to be matched with their wines as part of a fabulous, four-course sit down dinner.

Simi Winery Executive Chef Kolin Vazzoler will begin the evening with a sea scallop, broccoli di ciccio and marcona almond appetizer paired with Simi 2013 Sauvignon Blanc. For the first course, Lynmar Estate's Executive Chef David Frakes will pair a 2012 Quail Hill Pinot Noir with an herbed "Beggar's Purse" made with wild mushrooms. Jeff Mosher, Robert Mondavi Winery's Executive Chef will prepare the entrée composed of seared beef rib eye, parsnip puree, wild mushrooms, baby carrots and Brussels sprout salad bordelaise, served with Mondavi's 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. To conclude the meal, Tim Bodell, Executive Chef for Francis Ford Coppola Winery will provide a dessert of olive oil torta with autumn fruit, served with Coppola Reserve Port.

A wine reception will precede dinner, and silent and live auctions of travel and wine experiences will follow.

Tickets for the dinner and auction are $145 per person, and are available by clicking the Registration link on the left. For ticket information, contact Ken Petro at kpetro@ies-hvac.com or by calling 707-849-3836 during normal business hours.