Each year for less than $100 per person, the Donauschwaben hosts Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Liz Fillippi have promised guests a wonderful evening. A different vineyard is featured each year. This year, it was the Wente Vineyards, Livermore California.  Mr. Fillippi, President of the Olmsted Falls Donauschwaben, emails friends and family and the good news is in the Club’s newsletter and website. The tasting is limited to fewer than one hundred guests who are treated like royalty.  The first year, I had the pleasure to tour this culture and family friendly German club, which, by the way, offers German language lessons.  Much is offered for one’s membership.

 Every detail is addressed at this sit down dinner and wine tasting (and the parking is right next to the entrance). Entering the room, guests are greeted by soft music and the warmth of the room with candles and fresh flowers at each dining table. The warmth of the fireplace was inviting on the snowy February night. The first impressions and appearance of the room lets one know that this is not your ordinary wine tasting dinner. The white linen tablecloths, napkins and what appear to be hundreds of various sized spotless wine glasses on each table for eight announces what is to come.  Guests dress comfortably and men wear sport coats while women wear dressy trouser and sweater outfits, but no sequins and formals.

The Donauschwaben’s chef spends months prior working with the winery to match wine and food for this event. Upon learning of this preplanning stage, one of the guests at our table commented, “I’d love to be at that tasting.”  I agree. Wine and food are enjoyable, but if you have ever brushed your teeth and then eaten something, tastes can change with food, wine and toothpaste. I will leave all but the tooth brushing to experts.  And this Fifth Annual Wine tasting was perfect match of wonderfully prepared food and wine. 

Pan-seared sea scallops with wild mushroom strudel topped with balsamic vinegar and honey was my favorite. How does one take a traditional strudel recipe and make it different? The mushrooms blended in a creamy smooth delicious taste with the fine pastry of the strudel. I’m not a chardonnay lover, but the winemaker nailed it. The Wente Riva Ranch Reserve with mango, papaya and guava and smell of vanilla and coconut paired well, again, with this course.

 
Beef Medallion and Lamb Chop
A mango sorbet with three scoops prepared us for the meat course—beef medallion and lamb chops with duschess sweet potato topped with a wild mushroom demi-glace. Duschess sweet potato I’ve never had but hopefully will again. Picture a big Dairy Queen swirled custard  of white and orange. Thus, white and sweet potatoes. Yum different and delicious. Our wine a cabernet sauvignon, Charles Wetmore Reserve with green olive and black fruit taste strong but capable to compete with lamb and beef (my favorite of the wines).

I wonder what is black fruit. Perhaps the taste of elderberry, black raspberries and plum but light and not dry.

Assorted Cheese and Fruit Tray
Just when I thought I had eaten and drank all that could be enjoyed by one person, the waiter served our table a plate of assorted cheeses and fruits. Our wine, a pinot noir with all of the great layering of tannins, fruits and acidy in strawberry and plums brought us to taste and comment, “delicious.”

Nearing the end of our evening our hosts presented each of us with a long stemmed and ribboned wrapped rose. No, I did not forget to mention the desserts. I want to relive it.  Chocolate Volcano Cake served with a Petite Sirah Port. The dessert was the size of a deep dark chocolate cupcake lightly “bammed” with powdered sugar (Emirl would have been awed by this tasting, too).  As my spoon cut and opened the cake inside the cake was a thick deeply rich chocolate that  attached to my spoon and the cake. Awesome and something I wished I would have saved half for breakfast the next day. My dessert craving took hold and nothing was saved for the next morning.

But the port wine.  Now, most of us at my table remember the port wines our grandparents enjoyed, ugh, and almost relinquished this  tasting.  Then, this was a tasting we all reminded ourselves so we asked for a small pour. Thank goodness. This port was not your grandparent’s wine. Nope. A smooth oak ruby red heavenly tasting port that will be etched in my taste buds forever with the excellent pairing of rich chocolate dessert (and at $35 per bottle well worth the purchase).

The upcoming Sixth Annual Society of the Donauschwaben is on my dates to check before planning any trips. The Fifth Annual wine tasting made it clear trips can come and go, but wine tastings are an art and Olmsted Falls Donauschwaben’s is exceptional.  Hope you consider the Sixth Annual, too.