Did You Miss One Heck Of a Party?

By: Andrea Guzman, Promotions and Partnership Manager

This past Saturday, September 20th, the Napa Valley Wine Train celebrated our 20th anniversary with 150 very special dinner guests. We had a lot of friends and family on that night, and serious number of other birthdays; including Executive Chef Kelly Macdonald’s.

The party started with a glass of sparkling from Mumm Napa in the station. Guests then boarded the train and were greeted with Jericho Canyon Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2008. The wine was paired with a sweet corn soup served with foie gras toast. Course two followed: Quail and Paella served with ZD “Founders Reserve” Pinot Noir 2007. Brett de Leuze told us a story about the wine, named in honor of his late father, Norman de Leuze.

The next course, beef short ribs with a tomato apricot jam paired with Judd’s Hill Cabernet Sauvignon “Wine Train 20th Anniversary Cuvee” 2006 was another hit. This was my favorite course. Chef started cooking the ribs at 5:40am and it was melt in your mouth goodness. Judd and Holly Finkelstein of Judd’s Hill Winery were delightful.

Two more courses to go and I was starting to feel stuffed. The final meat course of the evening, cinnamon spiced lamb chop with a savory churro wrapped in prosciutto was paired with Salvestrin “Napa Valley Wine Train 20th Birthday Cuvee”. The Salvestrin’s took time to create a special label for this occasion. Rich & Shannon Salvestrin dropped by and chatted with us. Her three little girls rode their bicycles out to the train tracks and waved from the winery when the Birthday train passed by. To top off the evening, the final course was a warm chocolate pot pie.

If you missed it this time, this special, leisurely full-train gustatory experience will be repeated during the holidays, when Chef unveils the “Seven Courses of Christmas.” We certainly hope you can join us.