This Wine Maker Lives in Monmouth County; Wine Tasting Coming Up

This wine dinner looks like it'll be a fantastic evening featuring Fulcrum Wines. It's being held in Sea Bright on Dec. 3rd!

My friends over at Drifthouse by David Burke in Sea Bright are hosting a "Fulcrum Wines Dinner" on Thursday, Dec. 3rd, at 6 pm.

It takes place at the gorgeous Drifthouse restaurant, located inside the Driftwood Cabana Club, 1485 Ocean Ave.

This California winemaker/owner, David Rossi, is a resident of Monmouth County! And he is leading this one-of-a-kind wine dinner featuring his Fulcrum Wines.

Fulcrum Wines have received many impressive accolades and grades of 92 and above from renowned wine experts. Fulcrum wines (7 in total), including 3 award-winning Pinot Noirs (my favorite!) will be featured along with the 4-course menu prepared by internationally awarded chef (and I am a huge fan!) David Burke to complement and showcase these wines.

This amazing taste experience will include a Q&A with David Rossi and is sure to be a sell-out, so make sure you reserve your place right away! Call (732) 530-9760 or email info@drifthousedb.com.

David Rossi chose the name Fulcrum for his winery when he founded it in 2005 -- years before the word 'balance' became an essential element in any discussion about great New World Pinot Noir. For David, a fulcrum represented the style of winemaking he spend years refining. It was also the perfect metaphor for his belief in using the finest grapes to create balanced, complex and age-worthy Pinot Noirs.

Photo courtesy of David Rossi

David's approach to coaxing the vineyard character from each wine is gentle and thoughtful, but it is not 'hands-off.' From harvest decisions to fermentation techniques and oak influence, David is responsible for every one of the countless actions that ultimately shape his wines.

I think it's crazy cool that a Monmouth County guy makes his wine in Napa, California, with his tasting room in Sonoma. He flies back and forth quite a bit. So how did David get into the winemaking business? In the late 90s he started making small lots of wine in his basement. More than being just a simple home winemaker, he soon began flying in Riesling and Gewurztraminer grapes from Washington, Malbec from Argentina, and Petite Sirah, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir from California, ultimately making up to forty 10-gallon lots of wine each vintage.

He also formed relationships with local winegrowers in Monmouth County, helped to plant new vineyards and gained extensive hands-on viticultural experience.With a basement overflowing with professional winemaking equipment, a fully outfitted winemaking library and laboratory, and a shelf full of national amateur winemaking awards, David recognized that it was time to take the next step. As a self-taught winemaker, he had been able to develop his own style and palate. And when it came to California Pinot Noir, he felt there was a void in the style of wine he loved. He saw an opportunity to contribute something worthwhile and distinctive, and in 2005, he founded Fulcrum Wines.

And now you have an amazing opportunity to experience a special dinner and wine event and learn from the winemaker himself what makes an ideal Pinot Noir while sampling an amazing menue created by yet another taste master, the amazing Chef David Burke. Two great Davids in one room? Doesn't get better than this.

This pandemic has affected wine-makers and their businesses just as much as everyone else, so here's an opportunity to show some love and support for a winemaker who lives in our community. David Rossi says he is really looking forward to this event after a tough year. Both his restaurant wine sales and his retail wine sales have been negatively impacted due to state-imposed Covid-19 virus restrictions.

The cost of this dinner and wine tasting is $95 per person. Here's the menu:

Reception

Passed Hors D’oeuvres

2018 Rose

1^st course

Sea Scallops in shell with Rock Shrimp and Black Truffle

Cloisonne 2019, Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

2^nd Course

Minute steak of salmon “ mi cuit” w cauliflower ravioli and red wine and rosemary

Fulcrum 2018 On Point Winemaker's Selection Pinot Noir

Fulcrum 2017 Durell Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast

3^rd Course

Beef cheek ragout, dry –aged sirloin with celery root and truffles

(Side by side)

Fulcrum 2018 Gap's Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir

Fulcrum 2018 Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir

4^th Course

Pear and Mascarpone Tart with crispy sable, candied orange and toasted almonds

Fulcrum 2019, Dry Gewurztraminer Anderson Valley

For more info on Fulcrum wines and David Rossi CLICK HERE.

For more info on Drifthouse restaurant CLICK HERE.

For more info on celebrity chef David Burke, CLICK HERE.

(Liz Jeressi and Chef David Burke at Drifthouse in Sea Bright for Sunday Suppa)

PS...Drifthouse by David Burke is one of my favorite restaurants. I recently took my boys there for Sunday Suppa (which I highly recommend!) and even had the pleasure of running into Chef Burke!