Vintage
HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA | AUGUST 2023
Healdsburg has long been considered the sleeper of California’s Wine Country; a slower-pace, lower-key alternative to Santa Rosa or Napa, a place where community still feels strong, sustainability leads the way, and small farms burst with bounty grown in that plentiful California sunshine.
On a (very warm) early August afternoon, we gathered at the beautiful Rodney Strong Winery in Healdsburg for a special Supper celebrating our long-time wine partner. It was an honor to see the vineyards and get to meet the people behind the wines we’ve shared at tables across the country at so many Suppers. With incredible South American fusion food from Chef Carlos Mojica, who runs a family-owned restaurant in Healdsburg, working closely with the local farming community to source his ingredients. The whole afternoon felt like being welcomed into a friend’s backyard for a family reunion, completed by a group of guests from our recent Culinary Pursuit who reunited around the table!
WELCOME
We started off the hot day with icy Rodney Strong Rose and Sauvignon Blanc. We sipped them in freshly planted vineyards before heading into the dappled shade of the tasting room lawn for Supper. The wines were perfect with Portuguese bolinhos and Venezuelan empanaditas, crispy bites to prime everyone’s palates for an exciting meal to come.
A MENU BY CARLOS MOJICA
Chef Carlos Mojica started his tiny Healdsburg restaurant, Guiso Latin Fusion, at the age of 24. His mom helped to make pupusas while his now-wife managed the front of house. The restaurant remains a family-run affair, and has become a community favorite. They source only from farmers markets to show off the incredible agricultural community in Sonoma County, utilizing local ingredients to create delicious Caribbean-Central American fusion dishes.
MENU
WELCOME
Bolinhos de Bacalhau fried salted cod and potato dumpling with chipotle aioli
Empanaditas de Platano y Frijol sweet plantain empanadas stuffed with savory red bean puree
Tempura Fried Prawn with Tomato Purée
Wines
2022 Rodney Strong Rose of Pinot Noir 2022
Rodney Strong Sauvignon Blanc
FIRST
Guisos Salad passion fruit vinaigrette, baby gem lettuce, queso fresco, piloncillo candied walnuts, radishes, seasonal fruit
Wine: 2021 Davis Bynum Rose of Pinot Noir
SECOND
Cachapa sweet corn pancake, mozzarella, mushroom, squash blossom, epazote, Thai basil, chili oil
Wine: 2020 Rodney Strong Reserve Chardonnay
Surprise! 2019 Davis Bynum Dutton Ranches Pinot Noir
MAIN
Borrego en Barbacoa American Lamb rack with chile barbacoa sauce, cilantro lime quinoa, avocado
Wine: 2017 Rodney Strong Symmetry Red Wine
Surprise! 2018 ROWEN Wine Co. 2040 Cabernet Sauvignon
DESSERT
Quesadilla Salvadorena rice and cheese shortbread, strawberries two ways, vanilla ice cream, toasted coconut, coffee foam
2014 Rodney Strong Gentleman’s Port
WINE PAIRINGS
Of course we were going to pour Rodney Strong wines at their own winery! We were able to try a broad range from their portfolio, from their classic Pinot Noir to selections from Davis Bynum and ROWEN Wine Co.
NIGHTCAP
To pair with Chef Carlos’s twist on a Quesadilla Salvadorena, we shared a special pour of Rodney Strong’s 2014 Gentleman’s Port, named for one of the wineries good friends and advisors, Dick Klein. The bright red fruit flavors of Malbec and Zinfandel highlighted the two different preparations of strawberry on the plate.
SECRET LOCATION: RODNEY STRONG VINEYARDS
Rodney Strong was founded in 1959 after the winery’s namesake, a former professional ballet dancer, decided to produce wine in Sonoma County. Rodney Strong was particularly inspired by the characteristics of this special place, and has built a reputation based on quality wines and sustainable leadership in the industry.
Since 1989, the Klein family have lead vineyard operations. After pouring Rodney Strong wines all over the country, it was a joy to get to see where the grapes are grown, and to share a few bottles right at the source.
