The Omaha
DECEMBER 2022
Event Report: Pacific Northwest vs. Napa Valley Upcoming Events
What’s New Gather in Omaha is a relatively new restaurant in the Old Market where the club has never staged an event. I had been there once before on my own and knew it was a great dining pace. After all, Marinated Bison was going to be on our menu. But I was most intrigued by the wine theme. The iconic Napa Valley, which arguably makes the best wines in the country, was compared to wines from the Pacific Northwest many miles north of Napa, at a latitude of many of the greatest French appellations. Which would I prefer? I had to go and find out. A reminder. Be kind, a mark of a gentleman. Reply to event invites by using the online system to accept or decline an invite. This helps the event producer immensely. Also, if you attended, respond to the survey afterwards. It helps the producers and the Board home in on what you want and enjoyed. The survey will now only be sent to those who attended. Some members have had trouble reading the Gazette on issuu.com. Or they don’t want to sign in, which means you can’t even read the Gazette at all. They prefer a PDF since all you must do is click it open. We have decided to offer it in both formats. In your email, a PDF will be sent along with the issuu. com link. The advantage of issuu.com is that you can see both right and left pages, like a paper magazine. Our PDF only lets you view one page at a time. Cheers! Tom Murnan
“I have more trouble with D.L. Moody than any other man I know.” D.L. Moody Best of the Cockle Bur compiled & edited by Harry B. Otis, 3rd President 1973-1974
Event Report: Pacific Northwest vs. Napa Valley Written by Tom Murnan, Photos by Tom Murnan & Ron Policky It was too bad John Matthews couldn’t attend the event he so carefully planned. John broke a femur in one leg and detached a muscle in the other in a stairway accident. We pray for a speedy recovery. We also thank Mike Wilke for picking up the event so it could be executed. I very much enjoyed the wine theme, comparing a variety of wines from the Pacific Northwest (PNW) to many wine lovers’ benchmark, Napa Valley. Gather in Omaha proved it could handle both meat and vegetarian dishes. Maybe all our members are not aware that they are unique in Omaha by being an on-site urban farm, growing much of the produce and herbs in the basement for use in the restaurant above by using grow lights, perfect humidity, and ideal growing conditions. Things started out a little slow, with quaffing wine only, then finally a charcuterie plate on every table, but got on track once the food started coming out. On the first course, Gather Urban Farmed Greens, Goat Cheese Blistered Tomatoes, Roasted Corn, and Pickled Fresno Chilis, we compared Sauvignon Blanc. The PNW choice was Aquilini 2020. Aquilini is an Italian wine family whose vineyards are in Washington State. The above came from the Red Mountain AVA, one of the smallest in Washington. I found it elegant compared to the (Californian) Gamble Family Vineyards 2021, which to me was brash, bossy, and bordering on grassy. I mistakenly took a bite of the chili pepper and instantly found my mouth on fire, which couldn’t be put out by either wine. I had to beg a tablemate for a crust of bread as my fire extinguisher! The Truffle Pasta was my favorite course, comparing Pinot Noir this time, which has great affinity to truffles and the mushrooms found on the dish. If just pairing the mushrooms alone, I liked the Lucienne Doctor’s Vyd 2016 from Napa, which was big and full bodied. But with the dish as a whole, I preferred the Bergstrom Cumberland Reserve 2018, which was lighter and more Burgundian. Red Wine Marinated Bison Striploin had us compare another Aquilini, this time the Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 to a Hall Winery 1873 from the 2013 vintage. Both had mouth coating tannins and similar Cab flavors, but the Hall was a bit more acidic and sharper. We ended with Jackson Donut Holes with Chocolate, Blackberry and Vanilla dipping sauces and a Myrat Sauternes 2009 from France. Overall, my opinion was that the PNW wines were surprisingly elegant and flexible with food. Napa, being from a warmer climate, produced more full-bodied wines. It was all a matter of taste in which AVA you preferred.
2022 UPCOMING OMAHA BRANCH EVENTS
DEC
JOINT EVENT WITH THE COUNCIL BLUFFS BRANCH
JAN
52ND ANNUAL STAG
11
7
FEB
Holiday Wine Dinner Happy Hollow Club Event Producer: Duke Matz Producer: Duke Matz
Fleming’s Mike Wilke and Tad Singer
25
2023
SPENCER’S FOR STEAKS AND CHOPS
post-Valentine’s Day couples’ event Joint event with the Council Bluffs Branch Producers: Hasan & Michelle Hyder