This September, however, head chef Philip Tessier invites guests not into the convivial dining room, but out into the Oakville vineyards for its inaugural Between the Vines dinner. Hosted on September 20, the occasion will honor the wines of the Rudd Estate, which was founded in 1996 by the late Leslie Rudd – the same hospitality mogul that opened Press restaurant.
His daughter Samantha now owns both the winery and the restaurant, duly upholding her father’s reputation. Guided by Samantha, the evening will begin with a walk through the by-appointment-only Rudd Estate, discovering both the vineyards (best-known for their Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec) and the adjoining gardens, often used for entertaining.
For the first Between the Vines dinner, chef Tessier and his team will cook in the open air, over fire. The menu reflects Press’s more refined regular offering, but nudges toward an informal edge, inspired by the al-fresco setting. Served family-style at a long table slotted between the regimented rows of vines, dishes will include jars of trout rillette, scorched octopus with eggplant, charcoal-roasted potatoes and hunks of grilled tomahawk steaks, alongside smoked mushrooms.
Dessert will be served by the lake and made by Under-Study, a newly-opened experimental local bakery, cafe and marketplace (also under the Rudd family umbrella). Expect a Napa Valley pear and almond tart with poached grapes and piles of the chantilly cream.
For the occasion, Samantha will delve into the Rudd family cellars to retrieve some rare vintages and large-format bottles, each sensitively paired with Tessier’s dishes.
After a near sell out, a limited run of extra tickets have been released, including a number of VIP packages. Available for two, this zhuzhed up offering includes the entire Between the Vines dining experience, as well as transportation to and from the winery, in partnership with BMW. For VIP guests, there is also the option to get behind the wheels of the newest BMWs in an exclusive test drive experience.
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For now, September 20 remains the only date in the Between the Vines calendar, but more events are promised.
Book here: opentable.com