Archive for the 'Restaurant News' Category

Free Corkage

Wine club members (Santa Barbara Winery and Lafond Winery members) who tote their shipment wines along to the Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro will receive free corkage.  This means you can enjoy your club wines at your next meal out for no restaurant surcharge for bringing a bottle in. 

I am going to start putting out a supplementary pairing page that will be attached to club shipment newsletters to suggest helpful pairing tips for the wines that club members receive.  Now, I am still experimenting myself, so they will just be my thoughts on what to eat with your wines, and the reasons why the pairings work.  Experiment away yourselves and make sure to let me know if you come across any stellar pairings with our wines.

For those of you reading this who are not in the wine club, if you are interested there is a secure sign up here.  Wine club members receive 20% off of all wine and retail merchandise at both Santa Barbara Winery and Lafond.  Two bottle shipments are sent every other month (excluding summer months), and average $40.  Members also receive free tastings at both winery for up to four guests and access to special events put on exclusively for members, from barrel tastings to our annual Wine Club Barbeque at Lafond Vineyard.

Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro, 516 State St., Santa Barbara

962-1455

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery

Passport Pairings

I am eagerly awaiting the first Wednesday of the month with our new Passport to the World of Wine series now in full swing.  Pinot Noir will be this coming Wednesday, giving tasters and visitors the opportunity to taste five different pinot noirs from around the world (this time being New Zealand, France, Oregon, and two from the Sta Rita Hills). 

The tasting menu that will pair alongside each of these wines demonstrates the versatility of the grape in terms of matching with a variety of different weights and flavors, particularly dependent upon style.  Sesame tuna on cucumber discs will be the starting point paired with the New Zealander from a winery called Wild Earth

Baked Camambert cheese on crostini drizzled with a nutty pear walnut dressing will be served with the French Burgundy

Mushroom and Bacon Tartlets will be paired with Oregon’s Willamette Valley Pinot.

Pulled Lamb Sliders will go alongside the Santa Barbara Winery and Lafond Pinots.

All of these wines are served at the Bistro, so it’s a nice way to get a sampling of their new wine list.

Passport to the World of Wine, Pierre Lafond Bistro

January 7, 2009

25.00 per person

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery