So we were reminiscing about all the winemaker dinners we had the privilege of hosting in 2024 (a whopping 44 if you’re keeping track), and getting melancholy thinking about some of the great wines we'd been able to pour when we thought, "How cool would it be to pair our five top best-selling red wines of the year with their own special menu?"

So we went through all of our sales recaps going all the way back to last January, ranked all the reds according to how you voted for them with your pocketbook, and picked the five top best sellers. We then designed a special menu item to pair with each of the wines. This year we took it a step further by featuring the cuisine of a different country with each course. And, as has become tradition, we’re ending with our legendary eggnog paired with dessert. If you enjoy great food paired with great wines, this is definitely one dinner you'll not want to miss!

Hope to see you here! Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement if you're interested.

NOTE: Due to the complexity of this menu we regret that we will be unable to accommodate vegetarian requests or extensive menu aberrations. Also, in the event any of the wines or food become unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute others of equal or greater value.

MENU

A nod to Italy:

Tuscan White Bean + Red Pepper Salad | Grilled Pacific Yellowfin Tuna | Castelvetrano Olive Vinaigrette

2023 Margerum “M5” Red Blend (3 oz. pour)

A nod to France:

Poulet à la Forestière (Roast Chicken in Wild Mushroom Sauce) | Egg Noodles

2022 Gainey Pinot Noir (3 oz. pour)

A nod to Japan:

Cherry Smoked Spareribs | Japanese BBQ Glaze | Asian Slaw

2020 Bastide Miraflors Côtes du Roussillon (3 oz. pour)

A nod to Greece:

Melitzanes Papoutsakia (Stuffed Eggplant)

2019 Stolpman Sangiovese (3 oz. pour)

A nod to Chile:

Slow Roasted Beef Cheek | Chimichurri Marinated Baby Potatoes | Caramelized Onion + Red Wine Jus

2022 Lapostolle “Cuvée Alexandre” Carmenère (3 oz. pour)

A nod to USA (via England):

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding

WV&B’s Eggnog (3 oz. pour)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

RSVP

Please RSVP by clicking on the “Contact the Host” button in the box on the top right and responding with the following information.

1. your cell number and best time to call so we can call you to update your credit card info if necessary

2. how many people are in your party, and

3. answers to the HEAD’S UP questions in the paragraph below if you’re a party of 1 or 2. 

HEAD’S UP

Seating is EXTREMELY limited. We have a very limited number of tables for couples who want to sit by themselves so please let us know if you’re willing to sit at communal tables as that will GREATLY increase your chances of getting in. We also have two firepit tables for two (https://www.winevaultbistro.com/fire-pit) available so let us know if you’re OK with those tables if you want to sit by yourselves. If you’re a party of three or more there won’t be a problem getting your own table. We are currently limiting party sizes to a maximum of six.

LOCATION & PHONE

Wine Vault & Bistro is located in the heart of San Diego between Little Italy and Old Town at 3731-A India Street on the upstairs terrace. Follow the black handrail up the stairs from the sidewalk to our front door. Our phone number is (619) 295-3939.

PARKING

On-street parking is usually available within a 3-block radius and meters are also free on Sunday. You can also park in the lot behind Shakespeare Pub two doors down, but do not park in El Indio's lot unless you want your car towed! If you can’t find parking next to the restaurant, there’s always LOTS OF PARKING on San Diego Avenue and the adjacent side streets just past the Chevron station across Washington Street. So please don't drive yourself crazy endlessly going around in circles waiting to pounce on that perfect spot when there's TONS OF PARKING less than three blocks away!

WINE SALES

Although some wines may be in limited quantities, all wines poured at this dinner will be available for purchase at the restaurant until sold out. We reserve the right to limit sales of any rare or allocated wines at our discretion.

WINE NOTES & BOTTLE PRICES

2022 Gainey Pinot Noir ~ $24

(Sta. Rita Hills) Winemaker's Notes: Bursts with wild black raspberry aromas balanced by rustic and savory hints of dried herbs and baking spices. Delicate nuances of sandalwood and rose petal float in the background. The mouthfeel is driven and weighty with concentrated fruit and an expansive and satiating presence. Because of its structure and underlying strength, this wine can easily be enjoyed over the next decade. 1,560 cases produced.

2023 Margerum “M5” Red Blend ~ $24

(Santa Barbara County) Winemaker's Notes: 45% Grenache, 32% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 7% Counoise + 6% Cinsault. Nose of chaparral, red berries, earth, spices, peppercorns, bramble berry and roasted meats. An amazing array of intoxicating flavors and aromas, the wine offers extensive flavors of red cherries, currants, blueberries, blackberries, roasted meats and char. Surprisingly powerful, rich, full-bodied and concentrated. ~~~ Review by Vinous ~ 94 points: A fabulous, bright and punchy wine that impresses with its purity of fruit. Vibrant plum, blueberry, mint, lavender and spice abound with a striking inner perfume and fine balance.

2020 Bastide Miraflors Côtes du Roussillon ~ $17

(France) Winemaker’s Notes: A cuvée created from old vine Grenache (30%) grown on the schist and granite soils of Saint-Paul de Fenouillet, a terroir that always ripens late in the year, and Syrah (70%) from gravelly soils near the Mediterranean. After a long maceration of six weeks, the wine ages for 12 months in roughly 75% concrete vats and 25% in huge 600L French oak barrels. ~~~ Review by Wine Advocate ~ 90 points: There's a hint of peppermint but the primary focus here is on the fruit, ranging from blueberries and mulberries into darker notes of plum and dark chocolate. It's full-bodied and creamy in texture, with deliciously supple, soft tannins, which make it exceptionally easy to drink now or over the next couple of years.

2019 Stolpman “Sangiovese ~ $31

(Ballard Canyon) Winemaker’s Notes: This seamless and uber-aromatic wine has a beautifully lifted note. Misty wild red fruit streaks over woody forest and then washes over malt and fine chalky tannins. The wine is a journey from the high-toned red fruit to the depths of the forest with integrated tannins and then yet another layer of deeper, riper, red fruit. The most refined and compelling Sangiovese we've turned out over the past 20 years. ~~~ Review by Wine Advocate ~ 94 points: Medium ruby in color with savory scents of leather, bitters, licorice and dried citrus peel. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and fresh, with fuller fruits than the nose implies, and a long finish with an array of spicy layers.

2022 Lapostolle “Cuvée Alexandre” Carmenère ~ $24

(Chile) Winemaker's Notes: Complex nose of red and black fruit, spice, herbal and vanilla aromas. Bright and vivid, it is harvested late in the season, producing a medium structure with juicy, round tannins. Pair with rabbit or four-cheese pasta with grated truffles. ~~~ Review by James Suckling ~ 94 points: A fresh, spicy wine loaded with fruit. Dark cherries, tobacco, pepper, spices and touches of paprika, dark olives, graphite and dark chocolate. Juicy and fruit-expressive on the palate with a medium to full body and fresh, fine-grained tannins. Flavorful and long.

WV&B’s Eggnog ~ $39 (750ml bottle ~ 25 oz.)

We’re releasing our legendary Christmas eggnog early this year. Last year we made well over 300 bottles and still had to turn away orders so we’re getting a head start this year. It’s an addictive concoction I’ve been perfecting for over thirty-five years now. It’s a decadent combination of super fresh eggs with bright orange yolks (instead of the typical pale yellow supermarket ones) from an organic farm, pure vanilla, cream and nutmeg aggressively spiked with two kinds of rum, cognac and bourbon. We sell it in recycled wine bottles for thirty-nine bucks. And, according to lots of research I’ve done lately, it will actually keep for 1-2 years as long as it’s continually refrigerated. And it mellows and gets better with age. I know that it just sounds so wrong to keep anything with fresh eggs and fresh cream for more than a week or two, but once a certain level of alcohol is introduced, (and we’re waaaay above that level) all bets are off and it will keep for a much longer period of time as long as it’s continually refrigerated. I kept some of last year’s batch until May and it was truly amazing but, out of an abundance of caution, I’ve somewhat arbitrarily listed the shelf life as end of March. But I’ve had customers tell me that they’ve just now opened some of last year’s nog and that it’s amazing a year later (But then again, you’d have to have the self-restraint to actually keep it for a year!)

THE FINE PRINT

Due to fluctuations of supply, we reserve the right to make substitutions of equal or greater value in case any of the wines or foods become unavailable. Please, ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 ... even if your babysitter flakes out on you at the last minute!

Hope to see you here. Buon appetito and cheers!

Chris