Beer & Wine Winter 

This winter is shaping up to be a bonanza for Utah wine and beer lovers, with a smorgasbord of enticing dinners featuring winemakers and craft brewmasters slated for Salt Lake City, Snowbasin, Snowbird and Alta.

Kicking things off with the first of their Food & Wine Culture Series, Martine Cafe (22 E. 100 South, MartineCafe.com) will host a Small Plates, Big Glass wine dinner on Thursday, Jan. 16. The dinner will feature the wines of Obsidian Ridge Vineyard, with winemaker Arpad Molnar as the guest of honor. Three wines will be poured and paired with Chef Tom Grant’s small-plates menu of cuisine inspired by Lake County, Calif., where Obsidian Ridge is located. The three featured wines are Poseidon Vineyard Chardonnay, Carneros 2012, Obsidian Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 and Obsidian Ridge Syrah 2011. The cost per person is $50: $25 for three plates, and $25 for three glasses of wine. Phone Martine at 801-363-9328 for reservations.

Snowbasin Resort (3925 E. Snowbasin Road, Huntsville, Snowbasin.com) is hosting its second annual Brewmaster’s Dinner at Earl’s Lodge on Friday, Jan. 17, featuring beer selections from Uinta Brewing Company. The dinner menu consists of four “from-scratch” courses, each paired with craft-brewed Uinta beers. A representative from Uinta will be on hand to discuss the brews and each attendee will take home a complimentary pint-size beer tasting glass. The cost is $60 per person for food and drink, excluding tax and gratuity. Reservations are a must and may be made at 801-620-1021.

On Saturday, Jan. 18, Snowbird Resort (9600 Little Cottonwood Canyon Road, Snowbird.com) will host a beer dinner at The Lodge Bistro featuring Red Rock Brewing’s brewmaster/owner Kevin Templin. A four-course dinner follows a reception and appetizers with pairings that include halibut with clams, chorizo and tomatoes and Elephino Double IPA; Ale-braised beef short rib with Bobcat Nutbrown Ale; “Beeramisu” with Drioma Russian Imperial Stout, plus more. Dinner and beer is $89, excluding tax and gratuity. For reservations call 801-933-2145.

Then, on Jan. 25 Snowbird’s Seven Summits Club will be the location for a wine-pairing dinner showcasing winemaker Ryan Zepaltas and his Zepaltas Lake County and Russian River wines.

Sunday, Jan. 19, brings Italian wine expert Marco Stevanoni and the wines of one of Tuscany’s finest estates, Bibi Graetz, to Franck’s (6363 S. Holladay Blvd., FrancksFood.com) for a four-course dinner created by chefs Robert Perkins and Adam Vickers, paired with five Bibi Graetz wines. Included on the evening’s menu is braised oxtail agnolotti with 2011 Casamatta Rosso; brined organic roasted quail and roasted king trumpet mushrooms with 2008 Soffocone di Vincigliata IGT; and red wine- and bone marrow-braised pork shank with 2005 and 2007 Testamatta IGT. The price is $100 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Call 801-274-6264 for reservations.

Alta’s Shallow Shaft Restaurant (10199 E. Highway 210, ShallowShaft.com) has a robust lineup of wine and beer dinners this winter, under the direction of talented wine coordinator Peri Ermidis and featuring the cuisine of equally talented chef Kurtis Krause. Among the season’s guests at the Shallow Shaft dinners are winemaker Arpad Molnar of Obsidian/Tricycle Wine Company on Jan. 15, brewmaster Kevin Crompton from Epic Brewery on Jan. 29, Neil Michaelis with Delayed in Glass, Feb. 12, and March 5 features Fisher/Zacherle Vineyards. Call 801-742-2177 for pricing and reservations.

Finca (1291 S. 1100 East, FincaSLC.com) hosts winemaker Ryan Zepaltas and his wines on Thursday, January 23rd, featuring five Zepaltas wines and a five-course menu. Highlights include chicken roulade with pistou and 2011 Babushka Chardonnay served from a Jeroboam; and wood-grilled bavette steak and cabrales blue cheese butter with 2011 Rosella's Vineyard Syrah. The cost for dinner is $40 and the wine pairings are an additional $40, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations can be made by emailing Ben@FincaSLC.com. 

On Tuesday, Jan. 28, Boulevard Bistro (1414 S. Foothill Drive, BoulevardBistroFoothill.com) will be the locale for an eclectic, five-course wine pairing dinner featuring wines from Italy, California, Oregon and Portugal. Among the food and wine pairings are smoked duck breast with Adelsheim Pinot Noir 2011; and wild mushroom pappardelle with Vitiano Rosso, San Pietro 2011. The cost is $50 for food and pairing, plus tax and gratuity. Call 801-953-1270 to reserve a spot.

Finally, Solitude Resort's St. Bernard's restaurant (SkiSolitude.com) will feature the wines of Willakenzie Estate on January 29th, with special guest Bernard Lacroute, owner of Willakenzie Estate. Menu highlights include New Zealand king salmon tartar with Pinot Gris; seared day boat scallops and Pinot Blanc; hand-made ricotta gnocchi paired with Pinot Noir Estate Cuvee; and Piemontese beef roulade with Pinot Noir "Aliette" and Pinot Noir "Kiana." The cost for the five-course tasting menu is $59 and the optional six paired wines is $39. For reservations, call 801-536-5508.  

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