Vine of the times: What to know about wine dinners and what you can learn from them
Wine and fine-dining seem to exist in a symbiotic relationship.
Rarely will you find one without the other, but for those who don't know how to pair wines themselves or who may be novices to the wine world, sometimes knowing what wine to choose with a meal can feel intimidating.
That is why, whether you're already a big fan of wine, or looking to learn more about it, wine dinners can be a great option.
What is a wine dinner?
A wine dinner is a coursed-meal served by a restaurant for a set price that includes wine pairings. Tasting or prix fixe menus may come to mind, however those meals typically have optional wines selected to go with the courses for an additional price whereas wine dinners are meant to highlight the wines being paired with the food.
Often a representative for the wine brand or its distributor will be on hand during a wine dinner to discuss the details of the wine and help educate guests about various aspects of paired wines ranging from details about the brands, to aspects of grape varietals, and the actual process for making specific wines.
More: Eat your heart out: Festivals where food is a major attraction in Oklahoma
A wine dinner can be any number of courses and the wines chosen can pair with a single course or multiple depending on the will of the chefs, restaurateurs and wine brand reps.
Navigating the world of wine dinners
When choosing a dinner, you will have little control over the menu being served — much like with a tasting menu or prix fixe dinner, the meal is custom set by the chef in advance for the evening, based on the available wines — making wine dinners best suited for those without numerous dietary restrictions, allergies or proclivities toward rejecting certain foods.
Wine dinners in and around OKC
There are a lot of wine dinners you can attend at restaurants across the greater Oklahoma City area. Some restaurants offer monthly iterations, while others choose to do dinners more seasonally.
The following restaurants are known for doing regular or occasional wine dinners on site. Known upcoming wine dinners with prices are included, please check restaurant websites, social media, or call the restaurant directly for more information.
Holloway Restaurant Group (Sparrow Modern Italian & Boulevard Steakhouse), 505 & 507 S Boulevard in Edmond
Website: https://hrgok.com/events
Phone: Sparrow: 405-815-3463; Boulevard Steakhouse: 405-715-2333
Social Media: Sparrow Instagram | Facebook ; Boulevard Instagram | Facebook
Stella Modern Italian Cuisine, 1201 N Walker Ave.
Website: https://stella-okc.com/
Phone: 405-235-2200
Social Media: Instagram | Facebook
FLINT Kitchen & Bar, 15 N Robinson Ave.
Website: https://www.flintokc.com/
Phone: 405-605-0657
Social Media: Instagram | Facebook
Piatto Italian Kitchen, 2920 NW 63 Street
Upcoming: Eleven Wine Group Wine Dinner, April 17, cost: $98
Reservations: http://www.piattookc.com/reservations/
Website: http://www.piattookc.com/
Social Media: Instagram | Facebook
Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse, #7 Mickey Mantle Drive
Upcoming: ZD Wine Dinner, April 18, cost: $125
Tickets: Call to make reservations
Website: https://mickeymantlesteakhouse.com/zd-wine-dinner-okc/
Phone: 405-272-0777
Social Media: Instagram | Facebook
The Tasting Room, 4322 North Western Ave.
Upcoming: Trefethen Wine Dinner: An Evening Of Fine Dining And Exceptional Wines, April 25; cost: $175
Reservations: https://thetastingroomokc.com/oklahoma-city-the-tasting-room-events
Website: https://thetastingroomokc.com/
Phone: 405-604-3015
Social Media: Instagram | Facebook
La Baguette, 7408 North May Ave.
Upcoming: Vintner Dinner - Domaine du Vieux télégraphe, April 29; cost: $165
Cheese & charcuterie wine pairing, May 18; cost: $39
Reservations: Call 405-840-3047 to make reservations.
Website: https://www.labaguettebistro.com/
Phone: 405-840-3047
Social Media: Instagram | Facebook
Pepperoni Grill, Three Locations
Reservations: https://www.pepperonigrill.com/wine-dinner-reservation-info
Website: https://www.pepperonigrill.com/
Phone: Edmond - 405-285-5454; Memorial Road - 405-467-9500 ; Penn Square Mall - 405-848-4660
Social Media: Instagram | Facebook
This story has been updated to include additional locations with options for wine dinners.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Wine dinners in OKC: What restaurants are offering them?
