Winemaker's Dinner with Brian Freeborn at the Wine Cottage Bistro in Old Orcutt

Monday night was spectacular!

Brian Freeborn, Casa Cassara winemaker presided over an amazing Winemaker's dinner at the Wine Cottage Bistro at 285 South Broadway in Old Orcutt (about three miles West from the freeway on Clark Avenue and turn left.) I attended simply to shoot a few photographs of Brian holding forth, touch base with General Manager John Krska and Olive House owner Jeff Feeley, and be gone. But when Brian saw I did not have a glass of wine while others were having the appetizer of smoked salmon with wood oven roasted asparagus and spicy lemon Beurre Blanc, he made sure I had a taste of the 2004 Riesling that had been paired with it while he shared with us some of his thoughts on the tiny little winery on the top of the Santa Rita Hills off Mail Road between Buellton and Lompoc. And he was just warming us up!

Smoked Salmon with wood oven roasted asparagus and spicy lemon Beurre Blanc

Oh, oh,

and don't let me forget the wonderful discussion of the stemware by the Riedel rep. Finally, all the important information about why it is we like to drink wine out of better glasses that are actually made to enhance our experience by someone who knows!

So we moved onto the salad, local organic baby greens and pine nut crusted baked goat cheese salad paired with 2004 Sauvignon Blanc. I have never been a big fan of goat cheese but I made the leap of faith and had a small taste ... it was superb! For all you Real Men who don't try this sort of high brow fare, let me tell you, TRY IT! And with a little wine it is heaven ... sheer delight!

John Krska, Casa Cassara General Manager and Farmer, then took a moment to talk about his sense of the vineyard and how it has evolved, as well as filling us in on the Babcock tradition involved with Casa Cassara.

Table waiting for diners

Then came the Entree,

pan broiled filet mignon with wild mushroom ragout paired with the utterly delectable 2004 Pinot Noir, Estate. By this time Brian had me sitting with a couple of his lady friends leaving my camera sitting back at the wine bar. I have had a lot of beef in my day. I love Jocko's in Nipomo. But this was simply stunning ... a study in minimalism of the most delicious kind. I was truly awed. And, of course, Casa Cassara Pinots are the very best in the Santa Rita Hills apellation. I cut smaller pieces and savored every one.

Local organic baby greens and pine nut crusted baked goat cheese salad

I was chatting with Cathy Krska

as John was off talking to some other winery folks ... Cathy wanted my daughter to come to her daughter's birthday party on Saturday up at the ranch so we I didn't notice when the desert arrived, although somewhere in the back of my mind I did notice new activity at all the tables and Brian was once again standing back by the wine bar waiting for everyone's attention. That's when I noticed new plates and new glasses of wine. Chocolate mocha tart with an orange brandy caramel sauce paired with the 2003 Syrah ... my wife's favorite! It was amazing. If you have not done a winemaker dinner either with Casa Cassara or one of the monthly events at the Wine Cottage Bistro, do it. Bring your significant other. It is the epitome of romantic. The people are all special. The atmosphere is special. The food is special. And the wine is special. It is a well deserved treat.

[Review by Dwight McCann, photographer and friend of the Casa Cassara Vineyard & Winery.]