Chef/Owner Tom Collichio, Craft Atlanta.
I made a trip out to Atlanta, GA last month and attended a fabulous wine dinner at Craft Atlanta. We were hosted by noted “celebrity” chef and Top Chef Judge, Tom Collichio, who flew out from NYC for the event. Tom was very thoughtful and cool, and he is an avid guitar player, so we’ll plan a concert portion next year with Don Lange!
This was one of the nicest all around wine dinners I’ve ever been a part of. There were 130 guests and the event was sold out three weeks prior to the event! Very well thought-out pairings, and well constructed menu. I brought soil samples from Freedom Hill and Lange Estate Vineyards to illustrate the effect different soil types have on the wine, especially Pinot Noir. People were taking notes on the wines/food, which was great to see folks that involved. Suffice to say that I lost my voice for the next day!
Lange Wine Club Members, The Campbells & Mark Kirkley enjoying the first course.
Several Lange Estate wine club members were in attendance, so nice to have some homers in the crowd! The five course meal included raw tuna, chorizo, pork belly, octopus, duck, and lamb loin… delish! During the main course, I poured the single vineyard designate Pinot Noirs from Freedom Hill and Lange Estate Vineyards side by side. Using the dirt to highlight terroir differences was well received. I love educating people who really want to learn!
Me, Director Derrick Borte, and Chef Tom Collichio.
I also found out that there were two “celebrities” in the crowd! A Hollywood director, Derrick Borte, enjoyed the food and wine pairings as well. It was great to meet him and hear about his new movie, The Joneses, now in theaters.
All in all, this was a fabulous event, and I can’t wait to do it again! Thank you to everyone who helped put it on, and a special thanks to Lange’s own Shani Roesner for getting the dirt samples out to Atlanta!
Cheers!
Jesse Lange
GM/Winemaker
Photography by Sara Hanna.
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