It’s Wine Wednesday and time to discover something new. I got to hang with winemaker Susie Selby last night and have to share her wines with you. The Selby Wine Dinner at The Other Side Bistro in Bonita Springs was outstanding in every way. Bistro chef and owner Brian McCarley always does a great job at pairing food and wine and last night was no exception. He put together a five course dinner with a variety of Selby wines. Chef talked about the food and Susie talked about the wines. Guests, including me, sat back and enjoyed every bite and every sip.
I met Susie a few years ago and was so impressed by her story. She grew up in Texas where her father was a prominent surgeon and was introduced to the art of food and wine at a young age. Susie is the very first female cellar master in California which is a pretty big deal. She drove forklifts and big equipment in wineries so she really got her hands dirty in the process of establishing the business.
Selby Wine Dinner
Selby Winery is in Sonoma. Susie makes a chardonnay that is more Burgundian in style. It has great minerality and freshness. So does her pinot noir. It was a big hit at the dinner with a pork dish. I really enjoyed the sauvignon blanc which had great acid but not too much. It also had these lovely tropical notes including pineapple. It was amazing with foie gras and scallops. The acid really cut the richness of the dish.
Russian River Valley in Sonoma is known for many things, including great zinfandels. Susie’s are made from 100 year old vines. The zin is lush but not overly sweet or jammy. It was served for dessert with a mouthwatering black berry crisp.
In case you missed last week’s Wine Wednesday feature, it also highlighted the work of another female entrepreneur and vineyard owner. She just also happens to be a famous race car driver, Danica Patrick. Click here for that story and keep scrolling for photos from the Selby Wine Dinner at The Other Side Bistro.
