Daryl Groom is coming to town!

I've been lucky enough to have hosted well over one hundred wine dinners during my ten plus years at Wildfire as the Wine & Spirits Director. We've had some amazing food, wine and guest speakers that have been truly memorable throughout the years. Knowing what Daryl Groom has meant and brought to the wine industry in the United States and Australia, the upcoming Groom Wine Dinner at Wildfire Lincolnshire on Friday, April 23^rd , promises to be one of our very best events to date!

I first met Daryl and his wife, Lisa at their spectacular home in Healdsburg back in 2000. I was on vacation with my sisters and one of my wine distributors set the three of us up to meet and have dinner with the Geyser Peak winemaker, Daryl Groom. I am embarrassed to admit that at the time, I had never heard of Daryl Groom and to this day my sisters and I don't know why we were thinking that this dinner might be stuffy and boring but, we couldn't have been more wrong with our prediction! The wine (Insignia & Penfolds Grange- to name a few) was flowing, the food never stopped coming, the juke box was blasting tunes from the 70's and 80's, we danced on the tables and we laughed until our sides hurt. It was a night that I will never forget for many reasons, but the one that means the most is the friendship that began that night between myself, my sisters, Daryl and Lisa Groom- it was life changing!

Daryl Groom has been involved in the wine industry, both is the USA and Australia for more than 28 years. Currently he is engaged in a number a wine related projects, both in Australia and the USA.  He is the Owner/ Winemaker for Groom Wines in Australia, which is a very successful ultra premium brand focusing on Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc. In addition to this he has launched two new wine projects in California, DXG a limited release range of unique, individual wines and a Pinot Noir and Napa Cabernet with Jonathon Cain from the band Journey. 

Prior to his current ventures, Daryl was Senior Winemaker for Penfolds in Australia where he oversaw the making of Penfolds famed red wine, Grange.  He was the Executive Winemaker for Peak Wines International that owned both Geyser Peak and Wildhorse Wineries. (1990-2005) and then Senior VP of Operations and Winemaking, for Beam Wine Estates (2006/2007). 

Daryl's passion for wine sees him judging at 6 international wine shows. He has been a guest speaker on the Queen Mary 2 and Seabourne cruise lines. He has also been a repeat guest on E television in the USA.

In addition he has received the following accolades:

Quarterly Review of Wines - Winemaker of the Year

San Francisco Chronicle - Winemaker of the Year

Dallas Morning News - Publishers Award, Winemaker of the Year

Houston Chronicle - Winemaker of the Year

Los Angeles Times - Winemaker of the Year

Mead on Wine - Winemaker of the Year

Food & Wine - One of 11 Visionaries to Change the World of Wine

Dallas - TV Munson Award for International Accomplishment

IWSC - International Winemaker of the Year

I am extremely proud to say that we carry the Groom Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz on the Wildfire wine list and if you haven't tried either of these wines, you don't know what you're missing! The Groom Sauvignon Blanc '09 (Wine Spectator- Highest Rated Aussie White- April 30th issue- 89 points) has fresh fruit aromas of apple, pineapple and grapefruit dominate, enhanced secondarily with passionfruit and citrus- a perfect wine with most of our appetizers or shellfish. The Groom Shiraz '07 (Wine Spectator- 93 points- the #1 Australian red) has flavors and aromas of intense cherries, anise, white pepper, chocolate, and toasty vanilla notes. This wine is great with the Wildfire Baby Back Ribs and any of our signature steaks. In addition to these exceptional wines being served at the Groom Wine Dinner, we will also be featuring the Groom Bush Block Zinfandel which displays spicy aromas and bright red fruits of strawberries, cranberries and pomegranate. As if that weren't enough, there will be, not one, but two very special "treats" that Daryl is graciously bringing in exclusively for the Lincolnshire wine dinner. The wines are the very limited released DXG Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir (only 100 cases produced) and DXG Atlas Peak, Napa Valley Cabernet (only 97 cases produced). If you read my last blog from my most recent visit to Sonoma, I singled out the DXG Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir as one of my favorite wines that I tasted while I was in wine country. This wine has flavors of juicy raspberries, cream, smoke and leather. The texture is velvety, silky and very balanced. The DXG Atlas Peak, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas and flavors of juicy blackberries, currants and chocolate. The wine is plush, rich, concentrated and complex. To tantalize your taste buds even more, here is the menu for the upcoming Wildfire Lincolnshire Groom Wine Dinner:

Reception

Shrimp Tempura

ginger-garlic chile glaze

&

Assorted Sushi Rolls

wasabi cream & soy sauce

Groom Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc '09

First Course

Herb Crusted Alaskan Halibut

lobster butter, spring vegetable medley

DXG Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir '08

Second Course

Beef Wellington 

mushroom pate, Madeira wine sauce, roasted potatoes

 Groom Barossa Valley Shiraz '07

Third Course

Selection of Artisan Cheeses

 hand selected by Executive Chef Moreno Espinoza

DXG Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon '07

Dessert

 Flourless Chocolate Raspberry Torte

raspberry crème anglaise

Groom Barossa Valley "Bush Block" Zinfandel '08

Space is limited so, if you'd like to make a reservation for this rare and wonderful event, please contact me, Brad, at 773-398-6960.

I'm extremely proud to be able to say that Daryl is a personal friend of mine and he is also friends with Wildfire partners, Bob Loeschorn and Ross Buter. Not only is Daryl one of the most gifted winemakers that I've ever had the privilege meeting, he is also one the funniest and most engaging people that I know. Those guests that are fortunate enough to be a part of the Wildfire Lincolnshire Groom Wine Dinner on April 23^rd will have a rare opportunity to experience for themselves the exceptional wines, hilarious stories and the overall irresistible charm of Daryl Groom.

Cheers to you,

Brad Wermager