Ray’s at Killer Creek and Rombauer Vineyards Unite for October 26 Wine Dinner

Napa Valley’s Rombauer Vineyards stretches its vines to Alpharetta and Ray’s at Killer Creek for a Rombauer Wine Dinner on Wednesday, October 26. Executive chef Mike Fuller is orchestrating a five-course dinner paired with a selection of wines from the award-winning, family owned vineyard. The evening begins with an amuse-bouche of grapes rolled in pecans and Stilton blue cheese and a toast of 2012 Frank Family Brut rosé. First course follows with cast-iron roasted Brunswick shrimp served with chicory salad, pickled Gala apples and spiced pecan vinaigrette paired with 2015 Rombauer Napa Valley sauvignon blanc. Next comes fennel and ginger-cured wild salmon with rice paper crisp, toasted sesame and arugula joined by 2015 Rombauer Carneros chardonnay. Third course brings paper-thin duck prosciutto with brûlée fig, preserved lemon custard and grilled walnut raisin bread alongside 2014 Rombauer zinfandel followed by pumpkin seed-crusted Colorado lamb rack with cauliflower grits, sundried cranberry, sunchoke chips and barrel-aged cider gastrique paired with 2008 Napa Valley Le Meilleur du Chai, Bordeaux blend. Dessert of sweet potato-maple doughnuts and sea salt-caramel gelato with 2015 Joy Late Harvest chardonnay round out the evening. Rombauer Vineyards’ Southeast sales manager Jeff Papa will be in attendance to discuss pairings and answer questions. Cost is $95 per person (plus tax and gratuity); call 770-649-0064 for reservations. Fun foodie trivia: Rombauer Vineyards founder Koerner Rombauer’s great aunt Irma Rombauer was the original author of “Joy of Cooking,” which is widely considered the greatest teaching cookbook ever written. For the last 80 years, the family has continued to update the book’s recipes and reference materials to reflect current culinary trends.

The Midweek Wow: Cotton Calf Kitchen Wine Dinner July 20

Cotton Calf Kitchen chef Javier Viera and the wine wizards at United Distributors are setting the table for an oenophile’s delight on Wednesday, July 20 -- an intimate four-course dinner with wine pairings at the contemporary, classic American steakhouse in historic downtown Braselton. A quick peek at Viera’s menu shows tempting unions of wild cobia sashimi and chilled tomato consommé with Stag’s Leap Karia chardonnay, Napa Valley; pan-roasted rabbit filet with saffron mashed potatoes, Romesco sauce, braised Brussels sprouts and crispy prosciutto served with Villa Maria pinot noir, Marlborough; 10-ounce Manhattan steak with risotto croquettes and sautéed wild mushrooms with Conn Creek cabernet sauvignon, Napa Valley; and dulce de leche trifle with Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne, France. Seats are limited for the 6-9 p.m. dinner; $135 per person (includes tax and gratuity). Call 706-684-0410 for reservations.

Kick Back at MAX’s “Sunday Supper at the Chef’s Table”

MAX’s Wine Dive puts a new spin on the usually pretentious chef’s table with its laid-back “Sunday Supper at the Chef’s Table.” On Sundays beginning July 12, four guests will be privy to a four-course dinner with wine pairings prepared by executive chef Patric Bell-Good. The inaugural supper menu boasting classic summer ingredients features chilled butterbean soup with corn relish; heirloom tomato and peach salad with mint; grilled flank steak with watermelon salsa and grilled corn with basil pesto; and buttermilk panna cotta with cantaloupe consommé for dessert. “Sunday Supper” runs 7-9 p.m. with a new menu each week. Cost is $55 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 404-249-0445.

Dine Al Fresco in Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails Garden Dinner June 14

Put this event on your “Honey, be there” list -- the monthly Garden Dinner at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails on Sunday, June 14. Only butterflies alight closer to the veggies at this true seed-to-table dining experience in historic Crabapple. Chef Derek Dollar and his crew plant tablescapes amid the peas and beans of Milton’s Acre -- a source of garden-fresh produce and herbs for Dollar’s four-course dinner with wine pairings. Arrive at 5 p.m. for a reception with hors d’oeuvre, libations and a garden tour led by resident grower Peter Kohm then settle in for a communal meal as the sun sets and stars rise. If this month’s off the table, zero in on future dates: July 19, August 23, September 20 or October 11. $125 per person (includes tax and gratuity). Purchase tickets online. More information? Call 770-817-0161. 

Meet Nature’s Harmony Farms Owners and Head Cheesemaker at Article 14 Monthly Cheese Dinner June 10

Nature’s Harmony Farm owners Mark and Julie Schoen roll their handmade artisanal cheeses into Article 14 for the Midtown restaurant’s monthly cheese dinner on Wednesday, June 10. The two are leaving their Elberton, Ga. farm that afternoon to open the evening at 6:30 p.m. and present an overview of their Old World-style craft. Head cheesemaker Turner Reynolds knows the “whey” and he’ll be there to answer questions and discuss the various cheeses featured in the night’s four-course dinner with wine pairings. You’ll want to be there to savor appetizers of bacon-wrapped dates with Elberton Blue, pimento cheese fritters with Clothbound Cheddar, cheddar cheese straws and ditalini macaroni and cheese bites with Cherokee Rose and Clothbound Cheddar. A seasonal salad transitions into roasted Fatback Pig Project pork tenderloin with Elberton Blue, figs and port wine served with wilted Bloomsdale spinach and cheese biscuits. Apricot tart, Elberton Blue and local honey deliver sweet closure. Reservations: 404-443-8432.

Bottoms up at The Mill Kitchen & Bar for Wine Dinner on June 26

Chef Ben Castro is taking visitors on a culinary tour without ever leaving Roswell at The Mill Kitchen & Bar on Wednesday, June 26. The six-course menu with wine pairings begins with a duo of oysters -- chickpea crusted and fried with lemon, crème fraîche mousse and micro wasabi accompanied by raw half-shelled oysters with crispy hog jowl, glass shallots and a liquid nitrogen pomegranate granita. Next up, a pasta course of country ham, butter bean and fromage blanc ravioli in a Georgia peach and thyme brown butter sauce followed by salad of seasonal baby field greens with local radishes, goat cheese-stuffed piquillo peppers and an heirloom tomato tartlet in a preserved lemon and pink peppercorn vinaigrette. Course four brings tilefish with a cornmeal and thyme dumpling, sautéed fiddlehead ferns, onion and golden raisin foam, and a salad of mixed micro greens and pickled ramps. A red meat course features lamb lollipops with basil and mint roasted Brussels sprouts, cauliflower purée, garlic and chili oil. A fresh sampling of rhubarb rounds out the evening for dessert. Each course comes paired with a complementing wine. $60 per person and $100 per couple; tax and gratuity are not included. Menu items subject to change due to seasonality. For reservations, please call 770-817-9345.

Friday Forecast Calls for Sunset Wine and Cheese Pairings at Ray's on the River

I'll be honest, I am not a fan of this cold weather. That's why when I saw Friday's forecast calling for sunshine and warmer temperatures, I immediately began making plans for the weekend. The first thing on my list is to visit Ray's on the River for their Friday night Sunset Wine & Cheese pairings. From 5:30-7:30 p.m., the Sandy Springs restaurant is pouring hand-selected wines and offering plenty of cheese to go with that whine  wine.  The cost is $25 per person and includes tax and gratuity - gorgeous sunset views of the Chattahoochee River are free of charge.

Aria Transports Guests to South Africa At Their Neil Ellis Wine Dinner

On Wednesday, May 23, Aria invites guests to discover and tastes Neil Ellis Wines from the South African districts of Stellenbosch and Elgin paired with Gerry Klaskala’s five-course menu. Just like Aria, Neil Ellis Wines are known for their high quality standards and dedication that leads to their luscious wines. Believe it or not, it’s been four decades since Neil Ellis entered the South African wine world. Now Ellis, his son Warren and a team of growers and winemakers work with four distinctly different kinds of terroir to produce wines that have earned accolades and are in great demand. The five-course dinner is preceded by a reception at 7 p.m. featuring a Groenkloof, Sauvignon Blanc 2010. Dinner begins with Georgia white shrimp and Georgia peach and Vidalia onion salad with white balsamic vinaigrette paired with Elgin, Chardonnay 2009. Patrons continue their journey with pan-roasted Carolina quail, foie gras and brioche with Stellenbosch, Pinotage 2008; garganelli with ragu of wild boar and mushrooms with Reggiano Parmigiano paired with Elgin, Shiraz 2008; and porcini-crusted loin of spring lamb with creamy leeks and fava beans paired with Stellenbosch, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008. Blueberry crème fraîche cake with lemon custard buttermilk ice cream perfectly ends the evening on a light, fruity note. The cost is $100 per person; tax and gratuity are included. For reservations, please call 404-233-7673.

Fleming's Uncorks a Month of Specials for Wine Enthusiasts

To celebrate the debut of this year’s Fleming’s 100 wine list, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is offering a variety of wine specials for the month of September. Come every week and you’ll work your way through the collection by September’s end! On Friday “Opening Nights” -- September 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 -- Flemings will feature 20 different wines from the Fleming’s 100 list from 5:30 - 7 p.m. $25 per person covers wine samples and an exclusive preview of Fleming’s new Small Plates menu. Space is limited; call early to reserve your place.

On every “Winesday" (translation Wednesday) in September, guests can savor 25 percent off any bottle from the new Fleming’s 100 and/or complimentary corkage of their own wine. And guests who take advantage of either of these offers will receive a special Fleming’s card good for 25 percent off any Fleming’s 100 bottle or for complimentary corkage on a future visit before December 30.

Midway through the month, on Saturday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m., Fleming’s will host a five-course Silver Oak Wine Dinner with pairings for $125 per person (excludes tax and gratuity). Five wines from the “twin sister” wineries of Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars will be poured, including a side-by-side vertical tasting of 2006 and 2007 vintages of the Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley. Here’s how the menu flows: passed hors d’oeuvre of roasted red pepper and arugula flatbread with goat cheese served with Twomey Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, 2010; tuna carpaccio with crispy capers, red onion, baby greens and Dijon vinaigrette paired with Twomey Merlot, Napa Valley, 2006; petite lamb chops with polenta fries, mint pistachio pesto and Fleming’s proprietary F-17 sauce served with Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2006; Newport Club ribeye with thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, sautéed mushrooms and bacon-shallot butter accompanied by a Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley vertical tasting of the 2006 and 2007 vintages. A truffle trio caps the evening in flavors of white chocolate-Meyer lemon, Valencia orange and dark chocolate-cabernet. Don’t let this remarkable evening escape -- make reservations today.

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: 4501 Olde Perimeter Way in Perimeter Place Village; 770-698-8112.

Recession Proof Drink Deals

Who doesn't love a good time, or a night out on the town? Lots of restaurants in the area are making it more affordable than ever to head out and enjoy one of your favorite cocktails or a glass of wine. Here are some of the great deals hitting the Atlanta area. This way, you won't have to skimp on your beverages, or a night out with the girls.

Good times at Eclipse di Luna - Miami Circle are affordably endless. Bottomless, you might say, when you consider the $10 bottomless glasses of sangria on Sundays followed by buy-one-get-one-free Monday Mojito Madness. Friends can easily find their way to Buckhead's congenial tapas restaurant and bar where laughter flows as readily as the sangria, and sharing specialty tapas is a cinch.

Midway through the week you may find yourself in need of some relaxation. What better way to enjoy a Wednesday night than with Aqua blue Restaurant's wine flight? The $14 wine flight will consist of 3 different types of wine paired with a delicious cheese plate. Each Wednesday, a different wine and cheese pairing will be offered so don't be afraid to go more than once!

Half-off wine can never go wrong in my book, that is why I am so glad I heard about Woodfire Grill's deal to offer their wine list at half price every Thursday night through March! This 50 percent discount will be taken off every wine, both by the glass and by the bottle. The diverse list changes weekly to stay current with the best new releases from all over the world as well as to complement Chef Kevin Gillespie's ever changing menu.

Eclipse di Luna - Miami Circle: 764 Miami Circle; 404-846-0449.
Aqua blue Restaurant: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road; 770-643-8886.
Woodfire Grill: 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road; 404-347-9055.