aria . wine dinner | randall grahm of bonny doon vineyard

On Tuesday November 5th at 7pm, Aria welcomes the legendary Randall Grahm of California’s Bonny Doon Vineyard.
Chef Gerry Klaskala will prepare five courses to pair with five of Randall’s wines for a delicious evening.

$100.00 per person (includes tax and gratuity)

Limited seating; for reservations, please call 404.233.7673

Featured wines include:

¿Querry? Sparkling Hard Cider, California 2011
Albariño, Central Coast 2012
Le Cigare Blanc, Arroyo Seco, Monterey County 2010
Le Cigare Volant, Central Coast 2008
A Proper Claret, California 2012

A word about Randall Grahm:

Photography by Alex Krause

Randall was born in of Los Angeles and has been a champion of sustainable agriculture, and an ambassador of Rhone Varietals grown in the Santa Cruz Mountains since the mid 1980’s.  He released the first vintage of Le Cigare Volant (an homage to Chateaneuf-du-Pape) in 1986.  Since then, his passion and work have been recognized with multiple awards from the James Beard Foundation, Wine & Spirits Magazine and Bon Appetit Magazine among others.
Randall lectures all around the country, writes a witty winery newsletter, and is the author of the book Been Doon So Long.

aria . wine dinner | quintessa, faust, and the great wines of Agustin Huneeus

Please join us on Wednesday May 15th at 7pm as we welcome Master Sommelier Larry Stone (estates director for Huneeus Vintners).  Chef Gerry Klaskaka will prepare a six-course menu paired with five wines from the Huneeus estates.

Featured wines include:

Ritual, sauvignon blanc, casablanca valley, chile 2011
Illumination, sauvignon blanc, napa valley 2011
Ritual, pinot noir, casablanca valley, chile 2011
Faust, cabernet sauvignon, napa valley 2010
Quintessa, napa valley 2009

$100.00 per person (excludes tax and gratuity)

To reserve your seat, please call 404.233.7673


About Agustin Huneeus:

Agustin and his wife, Valeria, founded the Quintessa estate in the Rutherford District of Napa Valley in 1990.  Today, the Huneeus legacy includes over ten different wineries from terrific vineyards in North and South America. Visit Huneuss Vintners.

About Master Sommerlier Larry Stone:

Larry Stone grew up in Seattle and became the 9th Master Sommelier in the US in 1988; that same year he became the first  American to win the title of International Best Sommelier in French Wines. He is also a James Beard Award Winner for his work at Rubicon Restaurant in San Francisco.  See a recent profile of Larry on the Wall Street Journal.

Dining Out for Open Hand

The 21st annual Dining Out to benefit Project Open Hand is this coming Wednesday, April 24th .  

Open Hand prepares, packages, and delivers 5000 meals daily (2 million a year) to people in metro-Atlanta with health complications which impair their ability to prepare meals for themselves.

On this evening, Aria will donate 25% of your check to Open Hand. 

- We hope you will join us!

To make reservations please call 404.233.7673

James MacPhail - Wine Maker Dinner

On Wednesday February the 20th at 7 p.m., we will proudly welcome acclaimed Pinot Noir producer James MacPhail from Mac Phail Family Vineyards and Sequana Vineyards.

After working with California Pinot Noir leaders like Merry Edwards and Garry Farrell, and with a firm belief in traditional, old world techniques and minimal intervention, James launched MacPhail Family Vineyards in 2002 focusing on the cooler regions of the Sonoma Coast and Anderson Valley in Mendocino County.

Later in 2007, he launched Sequana Vineyards to focus on Pinot Noir from the Green Valley of Russian River Valley, and Santa Lucia Highlands.

Featured wines include:

MacPhail Rosé of Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2011
Macphail Gap’s Crown’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2010
Sequana Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir, Green Valley of Russian River Valley 2010
MacPhail Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2010
MacPhail Wildcat Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2010

Guest will enjoy five courses prepared by Chef Gerry Klaskala paired with each wine.

Cost is $100.00 per person (excludes tax and gratuity).  To reserve your seat, please call 404.233.7673.

We look forward to seeing you.

Bouchon Bakery Book Signing and Tasting with Thomas Keller & Sebastian Rouxel

On Monday, December 3, 2012 at 11:00 a.m., we will welcome Chef Thomas Keller of The French Laundry, Per Se, Ad Hoc, Bouchon and Bouchon Bakery for a meet and greet to celebrate the release of his fifth book, Bouchon Bakery, which features recipes from the bakery’s five locations in California, New York and Las Vegas.

Co-Author Sebastien Rouxel, who is the executive pastry chef for the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, will also be in attendance and will join Aria Pastry Chef Kathryn King to prepare some sweet treats found in the cookbook. King is highly regarded for creating innovative twists on classic American desserts, and, as one of the city’s top pastry chefs, she produces a memorable grand finale at Aria.

Guests will have the opportunity to meet Keller and Rouxel while enjoying their pastries and desserts along with bubbly and coffee. The cost to attend this event is $35, which includes pastries and beverages. Copies of the book are available for purchase at the event for $50.

To purchase tickets, please visit Xorbia.com!

Released on October 23, Bouchon Bakery (Artisan Books) is a dazzling amalgam of American and French baked goods, including all the classics that Keller fell in love with as a young chef apprenticing in Paris.

“I do know this: a bakery is an anchor; it draws a community around it. Whether we visit them for croissants in the morning or for cookies and an afternoon coffee, bakeries have a central place in our lives.” – Thomas Keller

Neil Ellis Wine Dinner on May 23

Please Join us at Aria for an evening of delicious food and wine as we experience the wines of the South African districts of Stellenbosch and Elgin with wine maker Neil Ellis.

Wednesday May 23 at 7pm.

Neil Ellis began his career at Groot Constantia Estate and Zevenwacht, and before at KWV, a South African co-op.  In 1986, he set out on his own as a negociant, buying and vinifying grapes,  and selling  the wines under his own label .  That same year, Hans Schroder purchased Oude Nektar Farm, 98 acres of vines in the deep, red clay soils of Jonkershoek , Stellenbosch.

In 1993, after great demand and accolades, Neil and Hans formed a joint venture to produce Neil Ellis Wines.  Today Oude Nektar is the primary source for Neil Ellis reds.

Reception

Groenkloof, Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Dinner

first course

Georgia White Shrimp

georgia peach, vidalia onion salad

white balsamic vinaigrette

Elgin, Chardonnay 2009

second course

Pan Roasted Carolina Quail

foie gras and brioche

Stellenbosch, Pinotage 2008

third course

Garganelli with Ragu of Wild Boar & Mushrooms

reggiano parmigiano

Elgin, Shiraz 2008

entree

Porcini Crusted Loin of Spring Lamb 

creamy leeks and fava beans

Stellenbosch, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

dessert

Blueberry Creme Fraiche Cake

lemon custard  buttermilk ice cream

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Dinner will be $100.00 per person (includes tax and gratuity).
For reservations, please call 404.233.7673.

We hope to see you then.

Cheers

Peay Vineyards Wine Dinner on March 26

A tremendous thank you to Andy Peay and to everyone that joined us on Monday, March 26 for our Peay Vineyards wine dinner; what a great evening!

reception

Rosé of Pinot Noir, Cep Vineyards, Russian River Valley 2011

first course

Seared New Bedford Jumbo Sea Scallop

passion fruit, serrano and red onion

Sauvignon Blanc, Cep Vineyards, Hopkins Ranch
Russian River Valley 2011

second course

First of Spring White Asparagus

butter poached maine lobster and blood orange hollandaise

Chardonnay, Peay Vineyards, Sonoma Coast 2009

third course

Slow Braised Berkshire Pork

green olives, preserved tomatoes and crispy egg

Pinot Noir, Peay Vineyards, Scallop Shelf
Sonoma Coast 2009

Pinot Noir, Peay Vineyards, Ama
Sonoma Coast 2009

entree

Grilled Sliced Kobe Flank “Cheese Steak”

portabello, aged gruyere, celery hearts &  chips, syrah foie gras sauce

Syrah, Peay Vineyards, La Bruma, Sonoma Coast 2009

dessert

Early Georgia Strawberry Angel Cake

peppermint ice cream

Our next wine dinner will be on May 23 with South Africa's own Neil Ellis.  Hope to see you then.