Cape May Winery & Vineyard Grill Night is an evening to savor. The beauty, the food, the wine and the music all pleasantly drench the senses. These great dinners are available on Wednesday evenings during the summer. The bad news: They are already sold out for this year. I got my name on the list within a couple of days of the posting of the dates and menus.
Prior to our dinner, my wife and I enjoyed a flight of wines to help us decide on our wine for the dinner. I chose their Merlot to have with our dinner. I was tempted to get a bottle of their Barrel Fermented Chardonnay to complement the Salmon, but was concerned that it might not stay cold and we did have to drive home, so we settled on just the Merlot. As it turned out the Merlot was delicious with the entire meal and the temperature was actually quite cool outside. It was a nice, fruit-forward, full-bodied version with just a hint of sweetness and a very smooth finish. Other wines tasted prior to dinner included their Oak Aged Chardonnay (with the oak not overpowering the fruit), a refreshing Pinot Grigio and their Vintner’s Blend (a fruit forward red blend of dark fruits, with smooth tannins).
Our menu on Wednesday was: Charcuterie, with a variety of meats and cheeses, fruit, olives and other pairing items; parsley and garlic marinated steak with chimichuri and grilled salmon with mustard and sage; mushroom mac and cheese and broccoli salad; and a mixed berry compote for dessert. The first and last courses were served to our table, while the entrees and sides were served to us at a serving station (called up by table, so things proceeded in an organized and efficient fashion).
My wife and I enjoyed the entire meal and I was glad that I got to taste both entrees and did not have to choose between the steak and the salmon. The steak was cooked to my liking (medium rare) and the Salmon was fresh and grilled without overcooking it. The sauces were well matched to these entrees. I’m not a big fan of Mac and cheese, but this one was a winner with the mushrooms and a little truffle oil.
I should mention that the food is provided by the Washington Inn catering service. For those of you not familiar with the Washington Inn, it is one of Cape May’s finest establishments, serving fabulous food in a beautiful Victorian inn.
I am sorry to say, I do not have the name of the gentleman who played an acoustic guitar and sang an eclectic mix of soothing songs that added to the atmosphere, instead of competing with our table conversation. I had forgotten there was live music and this turned out to be a nice bonus.
For those of you who have not yet visited Cape May Vineyard & Winery, the only dilemma is where to sample their wines: There’s the large main tasting room, sporting an upscale lounging area, complete with a roaring fireplace in colder weather. Then there’s the Tap Room with its unique interior, consisting of art work and lighting fixtures made from Tap Roots of grape vines and barrels and a two-sided, large fireplace that also serves as a small framed window to the vineyards beyond. Finally you can choose to sit outside, with yet another choice: the patio or the deck. The patio is where the grill nights take place and the Tap Room is the room from which you are ushered to the grill night. The good news: all of the choices are wonderful in this beautiful setting, in one of my favorite resort towns.
Cheers!
Book Update
Cover Proof
Coming Attractions
- Reds, Whites and Brews (My patriotic salute to some recent reds, whites, and brews)
- More details about my book, New Jersey Uncorked: A Snob-Free Taste of NJ Wine
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