Play Innocent at Woodfire Grill Wine Dinner This Thursday

You may not know this, but Woodfire Grill Wine Director Nicolas Quinones and sommelier Catherine Hatch have been stocking the restaurant's cellar with biodynamic wines for quite some time, and now, the two wine experts are partnering with St. Innocent Winery of Willamette Valley to host a five-course wine dinner on Thursday, July 12. The evening starts at 6 p.m. with a sparkling wine reception, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. featuring five savory courses paired with five different Pinot Noirs from five different vineyards. The cost for this feast is $115 per person, including tax and gratuity. Seating is limited to 20 guests, so hurry up and call 404-347-9055 to make a reservation.

Woodfire Grill Appreciates the Pinot: Wine Tasting June 21

The Woodfire Grill wine cellar is a perfectly cool reprieve from the harsh Atlanta summer heat. With a temperature set between 45° F and 65° F, it also happens to be the ideal environment for storing wine according to Wine Spectator . This Thursday marks the next wine tasting where eight different Pinot Noir wines have been carefully selected by Sommelier Cate Hatch. Together, Hatch and Woodfire Grill Co-Owner and Wine Director Nicolas Quinones have planned this month’s third Thursday tasting around Burgundy Pinot Noir, the standard to which all other Pinot Noir is compared. Guests will discover flavors from rich Grand Crus to the lighter Bourgogne Rouge. While the tasting takes place concurrently with dinner, it is not considered a pairing so guests may order as they please. The cost is $15 per person and the event is limited to 30 guests. Reservations are required; call 404-347-9055 and specifically mention the wine tasting. Looking ahead, summer whites of Vouvray, Muscadet and Sancerre will be offered at the next tasting on July 19. 

A Woodfire Grill Wine Tasting That You Simply Can't "Ig-Noir"

Searching for some wine wisdom? Woodfire Grill has you covered with the restaurant's third Thursday wine tastings. In case you haven't already guessed, Pinot Noir is the star at next week's May 17 wine tasting, which will take place in Woodfire Grill's main dining room during regular dinner service. Wine Director/Owner Nicolas Quinones and Sommelier J. Cate Hatch will guide guests through a tasting of American Pinot Noir wines, which have grown in quality and quantity in western wine country over the last 40 years. The cost of this wine tasting is $15 per person, and guests must mention the wine tasting when making dinner reservations by calling 404-347-9055. The wine tasting is limited to 30 guests, so don't "ig-noir" the ticking clock! And while we're on the topic of wine wisdom, it must be noted that Patrick Guilfoil, a server at Woodfire Grill, has just earned the top score on his certified sommelier exam administered by the Court of Master Sommeliers in early April. His high score nabbed him a $500 scholarship for the Advanced Sommelier exam. Guilfoil joins the team of three other certified sommeliers at Woodfire Grill: Quinones, Hatch and General Manager Rick Blumberg.

Go “Hog Wild” at Ray’s on the River for “Pig & Pinot”

On Saturday, July 23, Ray’s at Killer Creek and Ray’s on the River are teaming up for a “Pig & Pinot” tent party at Ray’s on the River from 1-4 p.m. Ray’s will be hosting a mouth-watering feast including a whole roasted pig, pork belly tacos, pork & beans, fingerling potato salad with warm bacon vinaigrette, bacon bit brownies and much more. Along with all the pork you could dream of, guests will receive a special tasting glass to try five different Pinot Noirs. “Pig & Pinot” isn’t just an event for pigging out; Ray’s is also bringing in beach music by A1A featuring Jeff Pike. In addition to the summer jams, Ray’s will host a silent auction of wines and more, a raffle for dinner for four customized by Ray’s at Killer Creek Executive Chef Tracey Bloom with wines selected by Sommelier Phillip Cooper and a raffle for a Fat Tire 2011 cruiser all to benefit the Primus Sanders Foundation.

Tickets for the event are $35 per person and must be purchased in advance by calling Ray’s at Killer Creek at 770-649-0064.

Ray's on the River: 6700 Powers Ferry Road; 770-955-1187

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.

Pinot Noir, Ce Soir? Try 15 at Toulouse Wine Tasting on October 22!

If you're like me, you enjoy a good glass of wine from time to time but really know much about what you are actually drinking. I have come for find out that I like Pinot Noir but, where does it come from? What gives it that fabulous color? What types are best? The list goes on and on. Well, I'm in luck because Toulouse American Bistro has an informative and entertaining night school opportunityfor those of us who want to learn more. Toulouse, the cozy French-American bistro overlooking Peachtree Creek, has earned a big name and a plethora of accolades in wine tasting circles since opening in 1994. This month's Pinot Noir tasting on Wednesday, October 22 follows in that tradition. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., guests may sample 15 wines accompanied by palate cleansers for $30 per person. Toulouse holds monthly wine tastings, ranging in price from $30 to $45 per person depending on the featured wines. Reserve your spot now by calling 404-351-9533. Toulouse: 2293 Peachtree Road; 404-351-9533.