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Ridge Vineyards Blending Seminar & Picnic Lunch
Ridge Vineyards Blending Seminar & Picnic Lunch
$275 per person
Attire: Dressy Casual (partially outdoors)
*Complimentary valet parking at Epicurean Hotel
Join us at Epicurean Hotel for our signature wine blending seminar in the Epicurean Theatre, followed by a wine country picnic on the terrace featuring wines from Ridge Vineyards. Our expert panel of Bern’s Steak House sommeliers, along with Ridge head winemaker and COO, John Olney, will guide you through the process of blending next year’s special bottling release, offering insight into the nuances of winemaking.
After the seminar, enjoy a wine country picnic on the terrace, prepared by Chef Jon Atanacio and his team from Élevage SOHO Kitchen & Bar, along with Chef Chad Johnson, Chef Brent Hunt, Chef Gerry Sizemore and Chef Hannah Thomas.
*Please note that due to the format of this event; allergies and dietary substitutions cannot be accommodated. Menu items are subject to availability and may change without notice.
All guests must be 21+ and tickets are non-transferrable.
The Laxer Family Foundation is a charitable foundation that provides the opportunity to raise money through events that foster a more inclusive and cooperative youth culture while cultivating the advancement of the next generation of culinary leaders through scholarships. Since 1997, Bern’s Winefest has been the main fundraising event for the Bern Laxer Memorial Scholarship. Through the James Beard Foundation selection process, funds are awarded to individuals from the state of Florida in one of three disciplines: Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, or Viticulture. A portion of the proceeds raised through this event will go directly to the Bern Laxer Memorial Scholarship Fund. For more information about our organization, please visit our website; laxerfamilyfoundation.org.
Menu
Family Style Picnic Lunch
Bruces’ fried chicken tacos – mirliton slaw, tajin honey, oaxaca cheese
Sweet Potato Salad – baby kale, currants, feta
Brussel Sprout Salad – dried cranberry, pistachio vinaigrette
Spicy Japanese Eggplant – ginger, cilantro, basil
Steak Tartare – bearnaise aioli, sourdough
Asparagus & Mushroom Salad – comte, rye, mustard seed, cane syrup
Pickled Shrimp – spring peas, pistachio, radish
Artichoke Empanada – poblano, basil, queso oaxaca
Spare Ribs – sweet mustard rub
Artisanal Cheeses – toma Piemontese, Cotswold, midnight moon
Charcuterie – sorghum salami, lady edison ham, dry-aged summer sausage
Roasted Romanesco – goat cheese, chickpea, apple, honey vinegar
Dessert
Strawberry Galette – sheep’s milk ricotta
~Wine selections available during the picnic~
John Olney
John began traveling to Europe at an early age where he was introduced to the culture of wine in France and Italy. He frequently visited the south of France where he spent time with his uncle, Richard Olney, the celebrated food and wine writer. While attending a language exchange program in Provence, he chose to pursue wine as a career and, in 1994, enrolled in enological studies at the Lycée Viticole in Burgundy to learn the craft of winemaking. Before coming to Ridge, John worked at Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant as well as with several European winemakers including Gérard Chave in the Rhône, Lucien Peyraud at Domaine Tempier and Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. In 1996, John began work at Ridge’s Monte Bello Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. In 1999, he was put in charge of the Lytton Springs Winery where he oversaw the construction of the innovative 17,000 square foot straw bale winery. In 2021, John was promoted to Head Winemaker & COO.
