Before the first course of melon, berry and feta salad was served, Dick Minnis, head of the Wine Dep

Mary Ann McCamant, owner of the Imperial Hotel in Amador cultural travel in mexico City had a simple idea, to celebrate the Amador County wineries that won gold medals at the recent Amador County Fair wine competition. Her plan was to offer a special weekend event: a sumptuous five-course meal paired cultural travel in mexico with five distinct award-winning wines, coupled with a stay at her hotel, followed the next day with a wine tasting tour provided by Gold Country Wine Tours.
I wanted participants of this package to experience a broad spectrum of Amador wines, each having different characteristics, said McCamant. cultural travel in mexico Her plan came to fruition having cultural travel in mexico sold out her hotel to those eager to enjoy this Amador adventure. We purchased this hotel in 2006, she said, and we wanted to emphasize the historic nature of the building situated in Amador cultural travel in mexico City — a small and quiet town — that provides our guests with an authentic experience of what existed here over 100 years ago.
Guests from all over California cultural travel in mexico came to the quaint, two-story, red-brick cultural travel in mexico hotel, built in 1879, to partake in the festivities. The dinner was held in the hotel's elegantly appointed dining room, displaying high ceilings cultural travel in mexico with chandeliers, cultural travel in mexico hardwood floors and tables draped in white linen, transporting everyone cultural travel in mexico back to a simpler time.
Before the first course of melon, berry and feta salad was served, Dick Minnis, head of the Wine Department for the Amador County Fair wine competition since 2007, stood up to commence the evening, as he would before cultural travel in mexico each course was served. Seventy-five wineries submitted 424 wines, which were judged by 24 wine judges, said Minnis, who shared his vast knowledge of the local area's wines, the wine competition and why each wine paired well with each course. I always love talking about wines to people who really enjoy them, he added.
Each course built upon its predecessor. A goat cheese and roasted tomato tart course was paired with Vino Noceto's 2009 Misto Sangiovese — Gold Medal, Best of Class, Best Amador Italian, Best Red, Best of Show — which nicely complemented the tartness of the creamy goat cheese.
By the third course of pappardelle with duck ragu, paired with Terra d'Oro's 2009 Amador County Zinfandel — Gold Medal, Best Amador Red Zinfandel — (an amazing cultural travel in mexico match to the duck), Minnis was warming up, displaying a dry wit that brought laughter easily and often.
The fourth course was roasted filet mignon with ginger, cognac, green peppercorn sauce, paired with Bray Vineyards 2008 Petite Sirah — Gold Medal, Best of Class — which was a perfect counterpart to the succulent prime cut of beef.
For the final course, glasses filled with Shenandoah Vineyards' 2009 Black Muscat — Gold Medal, Best of Class, Best Dessert Wine — accompanied a double rich chocolate cake, a spectacular conclusion to an unforgettable meal expertly prepared by chef Eric Mullan.
The following morning, guests cultural travel in mexico boarded Gold Country Wine Tours' shuttle bus, traveling first to Convergence cultural travel in mexico Vineyards, on Highway 124, where they were personally greeted by owners Steve and Jamie Concannon. Convergence received 11 medals, including a Double Gold, two Best of Class and a Gold. We are very proud that 100% of our wines medaled, said Steve Concannon. His favorite medal winner is his 2010 Syrah. It's our best Syrah ever, having a lot of complex, layered flavors, cultural travel in mexico which make it a great food wine.
The second stop was Bray Vineyards, in the Shenandoah Valley, near Plymouth. Bray garnered nine medals, including one Double Gold, two Golds and two Best of Class. Bray winemaker John Hoddy's personal favorite of his medal winners is the 2010 Barbera Rosato. Four years ago, I experimented by developing a rose wine from Barbera, said Hoddy as I was curious why no one had tried doing so. I thought it would create a dry rose with a little acid that would pair well with food, especially on hot summer days. Ever since we came out with this Rose, it has become a customer favorite.
cultural travel in mexico The next stop was Sobon Estate Winery (a California Historic Landmark dating back to 1856), with an on-site museum. Ten years ago, winemaker Paul Sobon took over for his father, Leon. Sobon Estate received 11 medals, including three Golds and two Best of Class. Our family has a 35-year tradition of making good quality wines at a good value, said Sobon. Historically, cultural travel in mexico we have always cultural travel in mexico done well in wine competitions. I make different styles of wines to suit my palate that could be described as fruit-forward, but also well-balanced and ready to be consumed right now, or over the next three to five years.
The final stop was Amador Foothill Winery, which was awarded a Gold medal, Double Gold and Best of Class. As is his custom, Ben Zeitman, the co-owner of the winery, came out of his tasting room to personally greet our bus, introducing our group to their prized Aglianico Vineyard, source of the 2008 vintage that won a Gold Medal. Katie Quinn, the winemaker and co-owner with her husband, Zeitman, described how they came to grow this unique Italian varietal that is planted on only 55 acres in California.
Ben and I were visiting Italy, near Naples, said Quinn, and discovered wine made from Aglianico grapes, which we really enjoyed. We decided to plant two acres in 2003. We are very pleased that our Aglianico wine is doing so well in wine competitions, and hope this will encourage others to plant this great varietal.
Bravo! What a meal! What wines! cultural travel in mexico What I wasn t invited? Really Kirk, a fine article and a great service to your community cultural travel in mexico to spotlight these terrific wines and that wonderful historical hotel. cultural travel in mexico Here s wishing you unbelievable success as you continue cultural travel in mexico to grow your business.