We have attended many of the events at Gray Ghost Vineyards in the past and were looking forward to the Garden Party event. On May 5th we had the chance to attend the their Garden Party to celebrate the highly awarded 2006 Gewurztraminer.
Gray Ghost does such a wonderful job of setting the stage for great events. The garden party was no exception. Beneath outdoor tents were tables alight with candleabrum to set a romantic yet springtime mood. A jazz ensemble serenaded diners. As we mingled with other guests, we were able to sample all Gray Ghost wines at the open bar and nibble on artisanal cheeses. Of course, we took advantage of the open bar and sampled new releases that included the 2006 Seyval Blanc and the 2006 Vidal Blanc. In the process, we met other wine enthusiasts who enjoy cool jazz, fine wine, and delightful cuisine.
Al and Cheryl Kellert spoke briefly about the wines; of course, the 2006 Gewurztraminer was the star of the evening, and it was paired with dishes prepared by The Inn at Meander Plantation. And what a treat awaited us—shrimp creole with spicy andouille sausage, baked turkey, and rolls with herbed butter. These proved to the perfect partners for the star attraction, the 2006 Gewurztraminer. A highly aromatic wine with notes of tropical flowers and fruit, it delivers a spicy finish that is tailor made for Cajun food. If at a loss as to what to serve with Thanksgiving turkey then consider Gray Ghost’s 2006 Gewurztraminer, but buy it now as this is a limited production wine that is destined to sell quickly.
The evening seemed to fly by as we dined and became acquainted with our tablemates. The conversations at our table centered around Virginia wines, wine cellars, and favorite wines including the Gewurztraminer. We finished the evening with desserts and Adieu, the late harvest Vidal dessert wine that has earned Gray Ghost an amazing Best of the East award for four straight years. As the evening came to an end, we thanked our hosts for a wonderful evening and said goodbye to our new wine friends. Of course, we also purchased several bottles of wine. We couldn’t leave without chatting with Al about the wines and what’s coming up in the future. Believe it or not, we were the absolutely last guests to leave the event. We had such a wonderful time enjoying the food and wine, we just didn’t want to leave.
You must visit Gray Ghost Vineyards. They produce some of the best wines in Virginia. If you find yourself at Gray Ghost, please tell them you read about them on Virginia Wine Time.