Photo: Merry Edwards Winemaker Dinner at Rancho Pinot

Last evening we went to a winemaker's dinner at Rancho Pinot in Scottsdale, one of our favorite restaurants, featuring Merry Edwards wines, one of our favorite wineries.

Merry Edwards and her husband were there, and the event was sold out.  We went to Merry Edwards Winery in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County last year with a group of 9 friends for a special tasting.

Merry Edwards is known as the "Queen of Pinot," and the Robb Report rates her pinot noir as the best in the country.  She is a pioneer in a male dominated industry.

When we began our wine tasting at the winery, they first served a sauvignon blanc. Several people in our group commented about how they never drink white wine.  After tasting the wine, everyone ordered it.

The photos at the left are the first two courses.  On top is a lobster & scallop salad, with mache, fennel, avodaco and meyer lemon-olive relish, which was paired with Merry Edwards Russian River sauvignon blanc.

The next course was grilled quail, with roasted sunchoke, apple and fennel-bacon relish, paired with Merry Edwards 2006 Sonoma Coast pinot noir.

Rancho Pinot is also owned by a woman and features farm-to-table fresh food from local sources.

This week we are showing photos featuring the people of Papua New Guinea on our  Viva la Voyage travel photo site.