{"id":7824,"date":"2017-02-24T19:48:55","date_gmt":"2017-02-25T03:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=7824"},"modified":"2017-02-24T12:52:02","modified_gmt":"2017-02-24T20:52:02","slug":"cocktail-corner-solomon-hills-estate-wines-served-at-state-department-dinner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=7824","title":{"rendered":"Cocktail Corner: Solomon Hills Estate Wines Served at State Department Dinner"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Solomon

Solomon Hills, courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

A Spirited Toast to All Things Alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Talk about a sweet honor! On Valentines Day, Santa Barbara County’s Solomon Hills Estate wines<\/a> were\u00a0served at a dinner hosted by the U.S.\u00a0Secretary of State in honor of His\u00a0Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a>, Prime Minister of the State of Israel.<\/p>\n

Solomon Hills Estate is located in the\u00a0Santa Maria Valley Appellation<\/a> of Santa Barbara County, and is owned by\u00a0the\u00a0Miller family, fifth-generation farmers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Solomon

Solomon Hills, courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

State Department\u00a0Executive Chef Jason Larkin<\/a> selected two Solomon Hills wines to accompany the winter-inspired menu.\u00a0\u00a0The 2013 Solomon Hills Santa Maria Valley\u00a0Chardonnay was paired with the first course, a Cauliflower\u00a0Velout\u00e9 with porcini\u00a0mushrooms and crispy parsnips.\u00a0\u00a0This was\u00a0followed by the main course, a Monkfish \u2018Osso Buco\u2019\u00a0served with a smoked\u00a0tomato-saffron broth and stewed heirloom beans, and paired with the 2012\u00a0Solomon Hills\u00a0Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir.<\/span><\/p>\n

Attendees enjoyed the wines, so much so that the wines\u00a0accompanied the Secretary of State on his trip to Germany\u00a0the following day, say Solomon Hills representatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"State

State Department Menu featuring Solomon Hills Estate Wines.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe are so pleased to know that Chef Larkin and the U.S. State\u00a0department sees the Solomon Hills Estate wines as\u00a0much jewels in their crown as\u00a0we see them in ours.\u00a0\u00a0To serve them\u00a0for Prime Minister Netanyahu and on Valentine’s\u00a0day at that, is\u00a0really a great honor,” said Master Sommelier\u00a0Will\u00a0Costello, Estate Ambassador for Bien Nacido and\u00a0Solomon Hills Estate Wines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Solomon Hills Vineyards takes its name from its neighboring hills named for Salomon Pico, a celebrated bandit who in the 1850’s traveled frequently along the stretch of El Camino Real that is known today as Santa Maria Valley. Pico’s life was so colorful that it is believed by many to have inspired the legend of Zorro. For more information\u00a0visit\u00a0www.biennacidoestate.com<\/a>\u00a0or www.solomonhillsvineyards.com.<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cheers!\u00a0Click here<\/a> for more cocktail corner columns.<\/p>\n

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\"Leslie<\/p>\n

When she\u2019s not busy working as the editor of<\/i>Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes<\/i>\u00a0magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a \u201cgoal-oriented drinker.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

\u00a0Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons<\/em><\/a> on February 24, 2017.<\/div>\n

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