Spinach Salad with Spicy Tomato Vinaigrette and a Visit to the Chef’s Garden and Wine Cellar at Keswick Hall
Visit with the Food and Beverage Director, Scott Meynig
Roger and I are always up for a great bottle of wine with fabulous food, so we were excited to meet with Keswick Hall’s Food and Beverage Director, Scott Meynig. Scott is not only very knowledgeable about food and wine (especially Virginia wines and producers), but he also has an incredible sense of humor and we had one heck of a good time with him!
Scott took us on a tour of their vineyard and beautiful new wine cellar (a working cellar) which can be reserved for private dinners for up to 16 people. Before having the event, you meet with the chef and sommelier to choose your entire menu (a 7-course meal) and wine selections for the dinner. It is the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion and get a lot of special attention. 🙂
What a perfect setting for a memorable evening!
We also sat on the patio area outside of Fossett’s Bar and had a wine tasting with Scott of mostly local wines and a charcuterie and cheese board to compliment the selections. We were very impressed with the local wines and actually chose to have them over other options while we were in Virginia.
Some of our favorites were Edith’s Reserve Viognier Virginia, 2009, Barboursville Chardonnay, Virginia 2009 and the Edith’s Reserve Petit Verdot Virginia 2009. Viognier and Petit Verdot are two of the grapes that grow particularly well in this area. The views…the food…the wine…the people…can I just move in?
We really enjoyed many of the local white wines
If you are looking for Virginia wine in your local wine store, odds are you won’t find it. Virginia consumes most all of the the production from the region. Based on what we tasted, I understand why. I wouldn’t let it get away either.
Fossett’s has been a Wine Spectator Best of Award Winner 2004-2011, Wine Enthusiast Award of Distinction 2008 Certificate of Recognition and been recognized by the Virginia Wine Board 2011. “Good Wine is a Daily Necessity for me.” – Thomas Jefferson. We happen to agree with Mr. Jefferson on that one. 😉
The red wines were quite lovely as well
Really nice, Gwen! I’m going to show this to my Virginia blogging buddy, Anne, in case she is interested in visiting with me in a couple of weeks!
what an amazing trip & visit…and oh, the salad looks so delicious, with such rich, layered elements of flavor
Ooh, lovely! I know what we are having for dinner 🙂
What a beautiful place…what an amazing visit. I loved seeing those growing greens and those ornate chairs and dining sets. And then of course…the salad looked fabulous and fresh. Thank you for sharing such an inspiring recipe. I want to get into my kitchen now. I hope you are having a beautiful and bountiful Monday!
What a stunning place. Thanks for sharing all this beauty:) The salad looks fantastic: I love the idea of spicy tomato vinaigrette!
This is a very interesting post, and a lovely trip. going to make that dressing. Like that it’s sweet & sour, which is the ideal kind of dressing for a hot summer day and cold white wine.