Guests September 20, 2018 were greeted with these lovely table scapes of apples and candles.

A Taste of Chardonel, Anyone?

A friend has decided I need lessons in retirement. One of our favorite evening past times is to go to Meramec Vineyard’s monthly pairing dinner where they demonstrate what to cook with one of their wines. Taking my assignment seriously, I take photos of the various courses and lovely table scapes and make sure leftovers make it home for later taste testing. (Well, someone has to do it!)

This particular evening it was all about apples and pears, the two fruits that provide Meramec Vineyard’s Chardonel its special notes. I prefer my wines on the red and dry side but the two bottles I took home argued that maybe I had quickly developed a fondness for this lovely white.

And with good reason, Chardonel is a “medium bodied, dry white wine with apple and pear aromas.”

Meramec Vineyards Chardonel is a delightful refreshing match to pork medallions.

As we have become to expect, Michelle Boulware, one of the “new” owners, went out of her way to set the stage for the pairing dinner with lovely table scapes. This evening, pieces of hand cut wood served as trays for a pile of candles and apples of all sizes, including charming 1-inch ones that came from Michelle’s back yard. She warned us not to eat them, they were bitter. We took a closer look, passed on taking a bite and all agreed those tiny apples were till very cute!

The evening kicked off with a french onion soup that reminded me of Famous Barr in St. Louis, which used to have a restaurant with a great french onion soup. Anybody remember that soup? How about the store. We used to make a day of it to shop, having lunch, then make a leisurely trip home. I’m starting to sound like my mother.

Meramec Vineyards french onion soup kicked off their apple-themed dinner.

After french onion soup, Meramec Vineyards offered lovely salad with fresh greens and apple and pear pieces. I though the colors really made the salad come alive!

The homemade salad dressing was made with - you guessed it, the Chardonel.

Those table scape apples almost don’t look real, do they. It’s the candlelight!

The main course was pork medallions on pasta, a nice combination with an apple-based dry wine.

Pork medallions in pasta was a great main course with the white wine with fruity undertones.

Dessert. An apple crisp topped with ice cream, perfect ending to a trip through apple land.

Michelle kept mentioning the table decor one of her assistants had put together but I didn’t get to see it until we were leaving. This could be a spot in my garden, I am always knocking a bucket with flowers over as I walk by.

Another part of the apple-themed table scape with local wildflowers.

Two-fisted drinker? Sort of, I was treated to a preview of Silvio’s red wine.

Meramec Vineyards Silvio’s Red has a special story all of its own. It’s one of their signature wines and the star of their next pairing dinner scheduled for Thursday, October 11. You will find the upcoming pairing dinner menu and other events on their website.

Ok, so who knows the story behind this Silvio person?!

Charlotte