Take Time To Toast Tuscany at Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery

Yesterday, I got the chance to visit the beautiful Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery in Dahlonega. Even after a torrential thunderstorm, the winery was such a peaceful and pleasant sight. You can experience this breathtaking travel destination for yourself by making reservations for Wolf Mountain’s upcoming "Tribute to Tuscany" Sunday brunch event. Throughout June, the winery is offering delicious dishes such as Mediterranean salad tossed in white balsamic vinaigrette; house-made minestrone soup; roasted red pepper and olive tapenade; tomato, basil and mozzarella tapenade; garlic bread and bruschetta; prosciutto eggs Benedict; chicken Marsala; linguine with clam sauce; mini vegetable stromboli with pomodoro sauce; and a carving station with leg of lamb. Save room for tempting desserts of tiramisu trifle, mini Key lime tarts and cheesecakes and chocolate-covered strawberries. Brunch is $30 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and wine by the glass or bottle is also available at an additional cost. Brunch is offered every Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

On Father's Day, June 20, Wolf Mountain Vineyards puts Tuscany on hold to honor fathers with its 8th Annual Father's Day Gourmet BBQ.

Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery: 180 Wolf Mountain Trail in Dahlonega; 706-867-9862

It's Easy Being Green - Sokol Blosser Wine Dinner at Aria

There’s no rule that says you can’t enjoy a glass of excellent wine and be a good steward to the environment at the same time – Oregon’s Sokol Blosser Winery has been letting people do just that by making their winemaking program green, including farming organically and being the first winery in the country to earn the prestigious LEED certification!

Now Atlantans will have a great opportunity to enjoy the Sokol Blosser line of wines with an intimate wine dinner at Aria on February 18th. There will be six Sokol Blosser wines featured, along with six deliciously paired courses for $80 (excluding tax and gratuity). Perfect way to warm up a February week!

ServeHAITI Fundraiser at Toulouse

On Tuesday, February 9, Toulouse Restaurant offers a great chance to combine fine wine, fine art and a good cause by hosting a Steve Penley Wine Dinner to benefit the ServeHAITI Foundation. The dinner will feature a five-course meal with two glasses of wine and the chance to meet artist Steve Penley and view his artwork.

Throughout the evening, you'll be able to view and purchase Penley’s paintings, reproduction posters and book with illustrations, as well as view photographs of Haiti from Donna Williams, a photographer who has been working with ServeHAITI. Meet the artist and get books autographed starting at 6:30 p.m. and be ready for dinner by 7:15 p.m. The menu will feature a field green salad with red wine vinaigrette; seared scallops served with broccoli and sundried tomatoes in a rosemary-citrus reduction; wild mushroom ravioli atop arugula sprinkled with gorgonzola cheese, cranberries and pistachios drizzled with a white balsamic sauce; beef tenderloin filet with mushroom cream sauce coupled with grilled salmon in a balsamic beurre blanc; and flourless chocolate cake with chocolate glaze for dessert. The cost is $125 per person and includes tax and gratuity. A portion of the art proceeds as well as a sizeable portion of the nightly proceeds will be donated to the ServeHAITI Foundation. To make a reservation, please call 404-351-9533.

Aria Hosts Winemaker Dinner Featuring Schug Carneros Estates

On Monday, August 31, Aria will host a winemaker dinner featuring Schug Carneros Estate wines. The dinner is $85 per person, not including tax and gratuity, for a five-course dinner paired with five wines. The featured guest for the evening is Alex Schug, son of Winemaker Walter Schug. Seating is limited. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 404-233-7673. Aria is located at 490 East Paces Ferry Road.

Wine and More at Morton's The Steakhouse

Last night, I enjoyed an evening of elegance with Morton’s The Steakhouse in Buckhead. I was a fly on the wall at an exclusive party where wine lock holders selected wine to stock their lockers for future visits. Party attendees moved from station to station, tasting wine and discussing quantities. As an added bonus, representatives from Cartier were there to showcase jewelry from both new and classic collections, all of which were amazing. Men who are fourth generation cigar rollers, have been rolling cigars for 25 years and speak very little English made me my first hand rolled cigar. All day, I have been pondering the perfect upcoming occasion to break it out.

The evening was also an opportunity to meet the restaurant’s newly assembled management team. Anthony, the general manager; Alex, assistant general manager; Sarah, sales and marketing manager; and Joel, food and beverage director, all came out and spent some time getting to know the regular guests and their families. By the end of the night, it was clear that the foundation had been laid for long term, and delicious, relationships between Morton’s new managers and their guests.

Time for Wine

The Atlanta area has some great wine events this month. Whether you want to learn more, eat a perfectly paired meal or just try new kinds of wine, we have it all covered.


Share your dinner with eight "Pinots from Burgundy" at Woodfire Grill's first wine tasting of 2009 on Wednesday, January 21. During regular dinner hours (6 - 10 p.m.), guests can sample eight Pinots from different communes and vintages, poured blind, for $15. Nothing to hide with a blind pour, it happens to be the best way to learn how to assess body, flavor and aroma. Sample wines at your own pace, at your table or at the bar. Reservations recommended.


There's a plethora of wines out there from Australia and New Zealand or so it seems to us in the southern part of the Northern Hemisphere. Mates, we're hopping to Toulouse Bistro at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 25 to sample a variety of wines from Down Under and to find out what the Toulouse Wine Guy has to say. The price of $30 per person is a pittance, considering we'll taste 15 wines and freshen our palates with light bites in between. Toulouse Bistro: 2293 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-351-9533.


Reap the benefits of a bountiful winter harvest, wine included, by dining at Aqua blue's Winter Harvest Wine Dinner on Wednesday, January 28 at 6:30 p.m. The night's line-up of four courses with wine pairings is only $45 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Start with the sun-kissed, tropical flavors of maki served with mango, kiwi and Mandarin oranges; ease into Muscovy duck breast served with pan-seared winter greens and sweet roasted pecans followed by a hearty beef roulade stuffed with sun- dried tomatoes. Dessert melds together antioxidant rich plums and dark chocolate in a plum and decadence bombe served with a dark chocolate mousse. Specially selected wines include Adami Prosecco, Colberldo, Italia NV; Bouchaine, Pinot Noir, Carneros 2006; Edge, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa 2006; and Michael David's Zinfandel, 7 Deadly Zins, Lodi 2006. Reservations required. Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell; 770-643-8886.

The Cook's Warehouse in Midtown Hosts Pre-holiday Sale and Celebration November 14

Two weeks until Thanksgiving then it's a blink until New Year's Day! Perfect timing for the Friday, November 14 pre-holiday sale at The Cook's Warehouse Midtown, featuring discounts on Wusthof Trident knives and 10 percent off on Staub enameled cast iron cookware. Shoppers who stop in between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. that evening can sample wine and appetizers, watch cooking demos by Chef Michael Harnage from Toulouse and Chef Tony Ballester from Morton's Buckhead, and meet Staub Cookware Marketing Manager Matt Mozzer. Harold Wüsthof, seventh generation knife maker and president of Wüsthof Trident knives, will be at the store throughout the day. Add some $5 raffle tickets to your shopping basket for chances to win prizes and help Open Hand.

Open Hand helps people prevent or better manage chronic disease through Comprehensive Nutrition Care, which combines home-delivered meals and nutrition education as a means to reinforce the connection between informed food choices and improved quality of life.

The Cook's Warehouse - Midtown: 549-I Amsterdam Avenue; 404-815-4993.

Les Dames Afternoon in the Country

The 8th annual Afternoon in the Country event was held this past Sunday at Serenbe, near Palmetto, Georgia. More than 35 chefs from Atlanta's best restaurants, select retailers and local wineries set up tastings inside the tents on this beautiful property. This is certainly not your run-of-the-mill food and wine event, instead of wearing formal attire, jeans and boots were encouraged! It was a gorgeous day to be outside, and especially enjoying tasty cuisine and fine wines.

Other highlights of the event included live music, a one-of-a-kind cake auction, hayrides and silent auction. Among my favorite tastings of the day were bbq sliders from Holman and Finch, braised beef from White Oak Pastures, Low Country boil with pickled okra (yum!) from the restaurant on Serenbe and desserts from Joel. Proceeds from the event went to benefit the Atlanta Chapters of Les Dames d'Escoffier.

South City Kitchen's "Power of Pinot" Wine Dinner

Tomorrow night, South City Kitchen Vinings will host “The Power of Pinot” wine dinner - covering the range from the rich berry red of Pinot Noir to mellow golden Pinot Gris - and the real estate from France through New Mexico to California and Oregon. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Fifth Group Restaurants® are known for their dedication to wine education, and there’s no exception here! The four-course prix-fixe dinner costs $55 per person, plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 770-435-0700. On the menu: passed hors d’oeuvres of chopped chicken liver profiteroles, pickled beet and country ham skewer with pear accompanied by Domaine-Schlumberger, Pinot Blanc, Alsace, France ’04. The first course brings to the table pan-fried Georgia mountain trout with grapefruit-butter sauce and crisp capers and Solena, Pinot Gris, Oregon ’06. Move on to the second course of “Country Captain” braised lamb shoulder with roasted tomatoes, cured olives, dried cherries and Carolina plantation mushroom risotto served with Domaine Alfred, “Goss Creek,” Pinot Noir, Central Coast ’06. Dessert ends on a sweet note with warm pear crisp with cardamom sorghum ice cream and Greut, Brut Rose, Sparkling Pinot Noir, New Mexico NV. South City Kitchen Vinings: 1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700.

Drink Up For the November Wine Specials

You won’t hear any complaining from me this month! Atlanta restaurants are offering some fabulous wine specials this November. It is a perfect time to go out and enjoy great food and even better wine specials!

Morton’s The Steakhouse Buckhead enjoys Wine Down Wednesday on the first Wednesday of each month from 5:30 – 7 p.m. in the bar area. Today’s November 5 tasting features Italian wines -- Donnafugata Anthilia, Frescobaldi Nippozzano and Guado al Tasso. For $12 per person you get to sample all three wines and nibble on complimentary appetizers. Can’t make it to the wine tasting? November is full of drink specials at Morton’s The Steakhouse! Drink specials include $5 glasses of Canyon Road California Cabernet or Chardonnay and $3 Samuel Adams “Octoberfest” every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 5 – 6:30 p.m.

Morton’s The Steakhouse-Buckhead: Peachtree Lenox Building, 3379 Peachtree Road, NE;
404-816-6535.

Toulouse American Bistro will host two Sunday wine tastings this month: Reserve wines ($40) on November 9 and Port/dessert wines ($35) on November 30. In just two hours the Toulouse Wine Guy will have you walking away feeling like a wine sommelier! Both tastings consist of a sample of 15 wines accompanied with palate cleansers.

Toulouse American Bistro: 2293 Peachtree Road, NE;
404-351-9533.

Tony LaRocco’s VITA hosts weekly Tuesday Tastings from 6-8 p.m. in the bar area. Branch out and go for the Italian feel by tryingTerre Valse Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Vagnoni Vernaccia di San Gimignano, La Monesca Verdicchio di Matelica, Illuminate Riparosso Montelpuciano d’Abruzzo, Silver Palm Cabernet Sauvignon and Dona Paula Malbec. $15 per person includes 5 to 6 featured wines and of course delicious complimentary appetizers.

Tony LaRocco’s VITA: 2110 Peachtree Road at Bennett Street; 404-367-8482.

Woodfire Grill will offer up their advice on completing your Thanksgiving meal with the perfect feature wines. On Wednesday, November 19th at 6 p.m. for $15 per person you will have the chance to sample eight different wines! The perfect way to taste test for the upcoming holidays!
Woodfire Grill: 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road; 404-347-9055.

Aqua Vino at The Georgia Aquarium

Last night I attended the 3rd annual Aqua Vino event at the Georgia Aquarium. The event invited guests to enjoy the entire Aquarium and the Grand Oceans Ballroom from 7-9:30 PM. Throughout the night, guests were invited to sample from more than 200 exceptional wines from around the world and gourmet fare from some of Atlanta's top restaurants.

One of my favorite samplings was from Dogwood restaurant -- they served up the best shrimp and grits I've had in awhile. Guests were also able to bid at the remarkable Silent and "Get Hooked" auctions. Proceeds went to benefit the Aquarium's state-of-the-art Veterinary Services facility and the Correll Center for Aquatic Animal Health.

Woodfire Grill Serves Locally Raised White Oak Pastures Beef At October 23 Dinner

A while ago, when Team MLA joined Whole Foods Market’s Eat Local Challenge, I was introduced to Will Harris's White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, GA, through the beautful flank steak I grilled (which was also delish). Tomorrow, October 23, Harris’s grass-fed beef will be the star of the show at Woodfire Grill’s four-course dinner, where guests will dine on three beef courses and cap the night with a delectable dessert. The White Oak Pastures dinner, which is the first in a series of dinners planned to benefit Slow Food Atlanta, costs $60 per person (excluding tax and gratuity) and $25 for wine pairings. Slow Food Atlanta will receive 10 percent of the evening's proceeds. Reserve your seating from 6 p.m. on; call 404-347-9055.

Woodfire Grill: 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road; 404-347-9055.

The 7th Annual Taste of Atlanta

Chefs and food-lovers of all ages will find something to sink their teeth into at this weekend’s 7th Annual Taste of Atlanta on the streets of Atlantic Station. The Southeast’s most anticipated epicurean bonanza ventures beyond the ordinary to embrace green eats, kid-friendly treats, helping others, cleaning our earth and sipping fruits of the vine. With more than 70 restaurants participating in the October 11-12 event, there’s something to tempt you at every turn. Amica Insurance Kid’s Avenue provides hands-on culinary activities for young chefs, cooking demos and “Knights of the Realm” Medieval Times battle re-enactments between demonstrations. Country Road supports local and organic ideologies of the Slow Food Movement through fun and educational opportunities. The Green and Leafy team assures no leftovers, showing eco-friendly cookware and accessories, holding on-site recycling, and making sure extra food goes straight to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. VIP ticket holders can take in the Expanded Wine Experience in TWELVE Atlantic Station and Bowling and Brews in Ten Pin Alley, and all adults can enjoy the Discover Wines with Robert Mondavi Wine Tour (formerly Crush in the City).