Consider Chef William Oliver your one-man eHarmony of food and wine hook-ups. His simple idea: Wine tastes better with food, and even more so when the food and wine share flavors like cherries, pineapple or earthy mushrooms. Find the common bonds between them, and you’ve got a tasty love connection.
Because while it’s easy enough to throw together a Vegas-weekend coupling of lusty zinfandel and BBQ pork loins, wallflowers like chenin blanc or a quirky malvasia bianca need a more thoughtful matchmaker to generate sparks.
Recently tapped to head up the kitchen at Vine Tastings Wine Bar and Bistro in Windsor, he’s a seasoned veteran when it comes to coaxing complimentary plate to glass combos. His seven-course food and wine pairings at the Reserve Room of Mayo Family Winery went way beyond stale crackers and spit buckets to bring a white-tablecloth dining experience to the tasting room.
Vine Tastings owners (and popular Windsor fixtures) Bill and Cathy Fallis saw
the potential in Oliver, who they affectionately call Billy, and the
previous Town Green tasting room which they’ve recently transformed
into a hybrid gathering spots that’s part tasting room, part wine bar, part bistro and part social hub. Not the kind of place for dusty swirling and aggrandizing, but a casual week-night hangout to eat, drink and be merry. With a trusty group of wine-loving friends, they suss out affordable, small-production local wines (Dane
Cellars, Deux Amis, Branham, Blacksmith Cellars, J. Lynne) while giving
Oliver free reign to come up with impressive three-course food flights
(each $14.50).
The resulting menu features four distinct food flights
featuring the likes of dry Alexander Valley sparklers with seared royal
scallops, veggie lasagna and King Salmon gravlox; aromatic whites with
Chinese chicken meatballs, French onion soup and crab cakes; or beefy
local cabernet sauvignons, syrahs and zinfandels with braised beef,
pork confit and wild mushroom risotto. Did I mention the that each
flight of three tasting courses is $14.50?
Mindful that
not everyone appreciates the subtleties of love story between food and
wine, its just as easy to cut through all the ethereal mumbo jumbo
about mouth-feel and lychee notes, and sidle up to the bar for glass of
wine, mix and match small plates, or stop by for Sunday brunch and play a game of Scrabble on the patio. Your call. Chances are good, however, that whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find a tasty match at Vine Tastings.
Vine Tastings, 9058 Windsor Rd. Windsor, (707) 620-0833, www.vinetastings.us
Hi Nick or whoever you are.
I had decided not to respond to this but after going back and reviewing our security tapes and what entree’s were sold that day it has come to my attention that this review was a personal attack on our chef. The dishes you said you had that day were not even served and every customer for that day we knew. Hmm no Phil or Nick there either days sounds like someone has a beef with chef Adair. I have never had a complaint about his food and he is very well established in Sonoma county. Shame on you it’s to bad people use these posts for personal attacks
Mark,such a cynic you are! I am NOT a friend of Bill and Cathy’s, but I must say, they seem like wonderful people. They have been supporters of Old Downtown Windsor long before they opened Vine Tastings. I’m thrilled that they have a business here now and I wish them all the best. This is exactly the type of place downtown Windsor needs–somewhere friendly to relax and enjoy the food, wine and company!
I too had the same problem with the same chef. It was last Sunday I tried the crepe and needless to say I was not impressed. The sauce was cold and chunky and the crepe was very bland. They used to have this young chef work there his brunch was great. I haven’t seen him there for months now though
I really used to like this place.. But about a week or two ago they hired this new chef Garrett Adair is his name but I believe. Me and my wife tried it I had the french toast. It was brunt and not very flavorful. I couldn’t believe it because it has always been one of my favorite places to eat. So I went in the day after that Monday and to my surprise the same chef was there. I ordered some scallops and Risotto. The scallops were under cooked and the Risotto was soup. So i am never going in for brunch or when that chef Adair is working!
Hi Nick or whoever you are.
I had decided not to respond to this but after going back and reviewing our security tapes and what entree’s were sold that day it has come to my attention that this review was a personal attack on our chef. The dishes you said you had that day were not even served and every customer for that day we knew. Hmm no Phil or Nick there either days sounds like someone has a beef with chef Adair. I have never had a complaint about his food and he is very well established in Sonoma county. Shame on you it’s to bad people use these posts for personal attacks
This comment was found to be the (now fired) “chef” of Vine Tastings. Chef Adair was brought in to lend a hand and clearly Chef William Oliver was intimidated by the presence of a talented and established chef. Chef Adair lent a hand to this establishment for a mere few weeks.
It’s so sad when people stoop to this level because of their insecurities. BiteClub should really remove this proven slander in the name of “Nick” and “Phil” aka William Oliver.
Also, see the reply in this thread by Cathy, the owner of Vine Tastings.
What do you say, Heather, how ’bout you clean up the comments on this unfortunate thread?
A group of my friends and I stumbled in to this place about a week ago. You wouldn’t know at first they even had food but the staff qickly supplied us with a wine menu as well as a food flight menu. Yes food flight! It seems their chef has paired different foods to be eaten with a glass or flights of wine.For $24 I got three small plates paired perfectly with the wine flight of three 2 oz pours. Great evening out at a resonable price.
Just to clear up the confusion Our wineries do not pay to be in our wine bar We buy our wine from small boutique local Sonoma County wineries
Most of the original wineries paid to be in the tasting room concept. Not sure if this is still true, bt should be mentioned why there are limited wines offered.
Sorry to be so repetitive… but Cathy and Bill really do make me feel like family. Delicious food and no d-bag attitudes. Vine Tastings is my favorite hangout when I’m in Windsor!
(real review – not d-bag)
Gee Rick you sure got my number on that one…Say hi to your “bff’s” Cathy and Bill for me will ya? lol
All I said was it seemed FAIRLY obvious that family and friends of the owners were posting to help them out. That doesn’t help you on a foodie blog, in fact it’s quite a turn off.
In case you hadn’t noticed, this IS an opinion blog where people can post…well…Opinions…Matter of fact, I look forward to trying the place out regardless of what’s been said in here because it sounds pretty nice. =)
Been there on several occassions and each time has been wonderful. Fun atmosphere, good wine and great food!
why does it matter either way??
I had two friends in town visiting and was going to take them to Jackson’s on the Square, but after reviewing the hit-and-miss reviews on Yelp, I didn’t feel confident in that choice. This review came up that morning and I switched dinner locations. Very glad I did. The three of us each had a flight of wine and we ordered ALL of the food flights – even dessert (which was a happy accident). I will post a full review on Yelp later today, I hope. But, the shorter story is that while some improvements can be made, this place is tasty and a great value. I hope the community comes out to support this place.
Wonderful people, incredible food!! I love this place. Bill and Cathy are fun, loving people, but most of all they enjoy getting to know their patrons. Oliver is just as friendly and his food is delicious.
A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine as they say. Tastings combing foods and wines are a great idea.
Korinn, you’re missing my point. It’s been a common theme on BiteClub when a new establishment opens, all the friends of the owners and the owners themselves have been known to post “rave reviews” of the place. But when it’s blatantly obvious, all it does is turn people off. Trust me, it’s probably MORE sophisticated than where I normally go lol. And I’m not doubting the quality of the restaurant. Just saying, when everyone chimes in all at once about how fantastic “Cathy & Bill” are it seems a bit sketchy.
This place might not be sophisticated enough for you and may be too friendly but you really should try it…I’ve been there three times and have always had a great experience, both fun and relaxing. Am I friends with Cathy and Bill now? I like to think so…
Call me silly, but the first 3 “reviews” sure seem to have a common thread.
Not doubting the place may be fantastic, but don’t over-do it folks…That goes to the owners and/or friends of the owners who commented thus far.
We went to Vine Tastings to have a glass of wine. We find not many places are service oriented now days but Bill and Cathy the owners personaly greeted us as we came in the door and made us feel very comfortable. We had a wonderful evening and danced the night away to their DJ music. They played music we hadn’t heard for years and everyone seemed to be having a great time. We haven’t tried the food yet but plan to go back. The food sounds wonderful and if we are treated as good as last time this will be our new hang out.
My husband and I had brunch there on Sunday. The sparkling wine flowed, my crepes and his eggs benedict were outstanding. The atmosphere was perfect for a laid back Sunday, the live jazz vocals soft and sultry…casual sophistication at it’s best! After brunch I had a lovely glass of Chardonnay and my husband had a local microbrew. We enjoyed chatting with the owners and other customers and are looking forward to returning soon…
This is a wonderful place! Cathy and Bill are such fun hosts and make everyone feel welcome,afficianado or novice, local or tourist! The food is deeelicious and the wine offerings are diverse and very tasty! They also have some great beer…