Photo courtesy of Hotel Red
Have you heard about Madison’s first luxury boutique hotel? Hotel RED is primo for wine lovers, with a carefully curated wine list and outdoor seating that’s a stone’s throw from Camp Randall Stadium and far enough away from the buzz on State Street and Capitol Square. A couple nights ago, I relaxed with friends and tore through the menu, sampling beet and crab ravioli, fries with three house made dips, duck-confit sliders and scallops, followed by olive-oil cake topped with blueberries and mascarpone. But what got me was the glass of Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyards Roussanne, a rare find in this state. If you like to hang at Iron Horse Hotel in Milwaukee then you will love Hotel RED – Iron Horse’s former front-office manager Jason Ilstrup is doing his best to emulate that hip, urban vibe as Hotel RED’s general manager. And I have to say he has nailed it.
WINE EVENT OF THE WEEK
As part of this year’s Bastille Days celebration in Cathedral Square Park, naturally, wine will be poured. (Remember, this is an ode to all things francaise!) Wines poured are not just from France; they also come from Italy, Australia, New Zealand and California. As your wine correspondent, I was able to obtain some details on the wines that will be poured. On Friday, the wine tasting is hosted by Goelet Wine Estates and will include Clos du Val Chardonnay, Domaine de Nizas Rose and Taltarni Brut Tache. Saturday’s tasting is hosted by Kobrand Corp and will include Caposaldo Moscato, Salviano Orvieto Classico Superiore and Chateau d’Aqueria Rose. Tastings are from 5:30-7 p.m. and 8:30-10 p.m. both days. Get your advanced ticket ($25) – which includes eight tasting pours and light hors d’oeuvres – by visiting the festival’s website. Or, if you are more of a last-minute planner, don’t fret: Tickets cost $35 at the festival.
WINE DEAL OF THE WEEK
Normally I’m not a fan of chain restaurants. But I make an exception for Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, which is on Bluemound Road in Brookfield. That’s because the wine list is top-notch – and perfect for when you don’t want to splurge on a bottle but you still want to sip great wine. There are 100 wines available by the glass, which is practically unheard of at most restaurants and even wine bars. The restaurant chain just introduced a deal that is pretty sweet: The “5 for $6 ‘til 7” promotion means you can choose from five appetizers, five cocktails and five wines by the glass for $6 each. Dr. L Riesling (Germany) and 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington) are included in the deal, which happens nightly until 7 p.m.
WINE OF THE WEEK
This time of year I often daydream about California’s Central Coast: the Mediterranean red-roofed homes dotting the shoreline in Santa Barbara, or a leisurely drive along Highway 1 as it bends and dips all the way up to San Francisco. And, of course, all the crisp Chardonnays and mellow Pinot Noirs produced in this region. Recently I took a mental vacation to Monterey County when I sipped 2010 Talbott Vineyards “Logan” Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow Vineyard (Santa Lucia Highlands, California, $22.50), which is a buttery style Chardonnay ripe with apricots and tangerines, and made from estate-grown fruit. It earned 90 points from Wine Enthusiast. (www.talbottvineyards.com)
