When a friend told us about a MollyDooker wine pairing dinner at the Undercurrent Restaurant1.in near-by Greensboro, North Carolina we just couldn’t resist. Several years ago we were introduced to Mollydooker wines at a Mollydooker wine pairing dinner where we did a side-by-side comparison tasting after the dinner which added to the fun and made it really clear which wines we liked best. We like many of the Mollydooker wines (see our reviews of several Mollydooker wines) and had never been to the Undercurrent Restaurant so we quickly made our reservations to attend. The Undercurrent Restaurant held the wine pairing dinner in their Wagner Room, a private dining facility, that offers seating accommodations for up to 40 people and is separate from the main dinning area. When we arrived the tables were set in a very large rectangle that worked perfectly for efficient service and easy access to the speaker as each wine was described.
Dave Cozzens, Marketing Director for the Mutual Distributing Company, presented the background on each wine. His personable speaking style, sense of humor, and depth of knowledge enriched the enjoyment of each wine as well as adding to the fun of the entire evening. Dave was a very friendly raconteur with a wealth of experience in the wine industry and gave lots of personal attention to each guest. The four course dinner was paired very well with five Mollydooker wines.
Course 1
Tempura fried shrimp, watermelon radish-pineapple relish, daikon-carrot salad and lemon-white soy shoyu
Wine: The Violinist Verdelho 2017
Course 2
Peppercorn crushed venison loin, parsnip puree, dried blueberry-charred lemon harissa and, hickory caramelized bacon cocoa nibs
Wine: Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz 2016
Course 3
Oxtail ravioli, braised cabbage, cave aged cheddar, shiraz reduction
Wine: The Boxer Shiraz 2017
Course 4
Savory Chocolate-berry terrine, saucisson, preserved fennel, peppercorn baguette, cherry-cabernet reduction
Wine: Gigglepot Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
and
The Maitre D’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
The food and its presentation were nothing short of OUTSTANDING and right up there with the best we’ve had at wine pairing dinners. As each course was served everyone commented that the food was very special. Our reaction was that if it’s this good for a large group, we can’t wait to come back and experience their daily specials and wonderful items on the regular menu. We also want to make a note about the venue. The separate room and unique table arrangement was, without question, one of the best we’ve had for a wine dinner. It was quiet, spacious, facilitated speaker access for everyone and really enhanced serving and clearing of the tables. And for $75/person the wine dinner was an EXCELLENT value.
After tasting the Mollydooker wines you could tell we liked them…we purchased four to put in our cellar: 2016 Mollydooker Cabernet Sauvignon Gigglepot ($52.00), 2016 Mollydooker Shiraz Blue Eyed Boy ($48.00), 2016 Mollydooker The Maitre D Cabernet Sauvignon ($27.00) and 2016 Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz 2016 (25.00). (See our review of these and other Mollydooker wines.)
Host Wes Wheeler, Chef Michael Harkenreader and the entire Undercurrent staff did an outstanding job of creating an unforgettable wine pairing dinner. The flow of wine and food courses was smooth and uninterrupted, the wait-staff was attentive and non intrusive and everything about the dinner was a “fine-dining” experience. Undercurrent frequently hosts these events and we give them a strong recommendation. If your in the Triad area of central North Carolina don’t miss an opportunity to join one of these wine pairing dinners or if you just want a very special lunch or dinner…call Wes Wheeler at the Undercurrent Restaurant for information and/or reservations.
1. Undercurrent Restaurant
327 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, N.C. 27401
(336) 370-1266
undercurrentrestaurant.com