Critically Acclaimed Winemaker Raul Perez hosts wine Dinner June 15, curated by Caroline Styne, paired with End-of-Spring Menu by Suzanne Goin.
A.O.C. by Chef Suzanne Goin and Business Partner / Wine Director Caroline Styne, 3rd Street, Los Angeles, California, and Winemaker Raúl Pérez, Bodegas y Viñedos Raúl Pérez.
A.O.C. Chef Suzanne Goin and Business Partner / Wine Director Caroline Styne
A.O.C., Los Angeles’ ground-breaking small plates restaurant at the forefront of the city’s best dining since 2002, presents an extraordinary evening celebrating the wines of the revered Raúl Pérez on Thursday, June 15, 2023. The wines are curated by Caroline Styne and paired with Suzanne’s end-of-spring menu which is inspired by her love of the Pérez collection. Raúl Pérez will be in attendance to meet and greet guests.
Raúl Pérez Pereira is highly regarded as one of the world’s most visionary winemakers. He gained recognition for his winemaking skills and innovation from an early age. Born in Valtuille de Abajo, a village in the Bierzo region of Spain, Pérez comes from a family with a long history of winemaking. He produced his first vintage for his family’s winery in 1994 when he was just 22 years old, showcasing his talent and passion for the craft.
In 2005, Pérez decided to venture out on his own and established Bodegas y Viñedos Raúl Pérez, a winery that quickly became renowned within the Bierzo appellation. Bierzo, located in northwestern Spain, is known for its distinctive and high-quality wines, particularly made from the Mencía grape variety. Pérez’s wines gained critical acclaim for their unmatched quality, capturing the essence of the Bierzo terroir. Over the years, Pérez expanded his winemaking activities beyond Bierzo to other appellations in Spain. He ventured into Rías Baixas, known for its Albariño wines, Ribeira Sacra, recognized for its steep vineyards along the Sil River, and Tierra de León, an emerging wine region. Despite his expansion, Valtuille de Abajo remains close to his heart and serves as his home base.
Pérez’s winemaking approach is characterized by a deep respect for the land, a commitment to organic and sustainable practices, and a focus on expressing the unique qualities of each vineyard and grape variety. His wines are often described as terroir-driven, showing a sense of place and reflecting the distinct characteristics of the regions where the grapes are grown.
With his innovative techniques and dedication to quality, Raúl Pérez Pereira has significantly impacted the Spanish wine scene. His wines continue to be highly sought after by wine enthusiasts and collectors worldwide, cementing his reputation as a visionary winemaker.
Caroline is enthusiastic about introducing these exceptional wines to their guests. “I discovered Raul’s wines when opening Caldo Verde, and I haven’t turned back,” states Caroline. “His wines are so well made and diverse with a through-line of beautiful minerality and balance.”
Pricing for the four-course dinner with paired wines is $150 per guest, excluding tax and gratuity. Guests dining à la carte can experience a flight of three Raúl Pérez wines to pair with their dinner selections. Prepaid reservations can be secured via OpenTable Experience; limited availability for this exclusive event.
A Celebration of Raúl Pérez
June 15, 2023
kanpachi & bay scallop ceviche, stone fruit, urfa & pistachios
endive, radishes, meyer lemon cream & oil-cured olives
2021 la vizcaina, la del vivo, godello, bierzo
***
spring greens, broccoli kibbeh, avocado, favas & feta
spanish fried chicken, romesco aïoli & chili-cumin butter
2022 los arrotos del pendón, rosado, leon
***
scottish salmon, fennel-potato gratin & beet chutney
sugar snap peas, pea shoots & green butter
2020 castro candez, mencia, ribiera sacra
***
grilled hanger steak, braised leek butter & fried leeks
italian broccoli, green harissa & douro almond dukkah
2020 la vizcaina, las gundiñas, bierzo
***
bittersweet chocolate torta
pecan cookie brittle & coffee syrup
$150 per person, including wine pairing
WHEN:
Raúl Pérez Winemaker Dinner at A.O.C.
Thursday, June 15, 2023
5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Pricing for the four-course dinner with paired wines is $150 per guest, excluding tax and gratuity. Guests dining à la carte can experience a flight of three Raúl Pérez wines to pair with their dinner selections. Prepaid reservations can be secured via OpenTable Experience; limited availability for this exclusive event.
WHERE:
A.O.C. 3rd Street
8700 W. 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048 – 310.859.9859
ABOUT RAÚL PÉREZ
In addition to numerous other accolades, Raúl was named “Winemaker of the Year” by German publication Der Feinschmecker in 2014 and “Best Winemaker in the World” in 2015 by the French publication Bettane+Desseauve. In the February 2018 Decanter, Master of Wine Pedro Ballesteros wrote, “Raúl Pérez is the archetype of the intuitive winemaking genius.” A picture of Raúl in that same article is captioned, “Is this the best winemaker in the world?” Raúl would certainly not self-apply any of these superlatives. His humility and generosity of spirit far exceed his genius, and that humility comes through in his wines. These are not “winemaker” wines so much as they are unadulterated expressions of the villages and vineyards they hail from.
ABOUT THE LUCQUES GROUP:
With the opening of Lucques, their flagship restaurant, in 1998, James Beard Foundation award-winning Chef/Author Suzanne Goin and award-winning Restaurateur Caroline Styne planted the seeds for The Lucques Group, a Los Angeles hospitality company that comprises two fine dining restaurants – A.O.C. in both Los Angeles and Brentwood. Along with these culinary enterprises, the company also owns the Larder Baking Company and oversees Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine, which curates all the food and beverage outlets at L.A.’s iconic music venue. The duo also operates two new restaurants – Caldo Verde and Cara Cara, and the new Dahlia cocktail bar at the Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel. The Lucques Group is dedicated to seasonally influenced cooking and focuses on sourcing local, organic produce from which Goin creates soulful dishes that are bold in flavor, vibrant, layered and complex.
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Andrea Rossi, President of the Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulcino
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“Alboreto” Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2020
“Alboreto” Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2020
From Fattoria della Talosa made from 100% Sangiovese.
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Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2020 docg from Dei
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2020 docg from Dei
Made from 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo.
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“Asinone” Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione 2020
Made from 100% Sangiovese.
The vineyard is at 380 – 400 meters. The soil is clay and silt with embedded fossils. Fermentation is in stainless steel vats for 20 to 25 days with cultured yeasts from the vineyard. Malolactic fermentation in 6,000 to 8,000 French oak vats.
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“La Braccesca” Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2020
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“Vigna d’Afiero” Vino Nobile di Montepulciano docg Selezione 2020 from Tenuta Valdipiatta
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Made from 100% Sangiovese.
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Vino Nobile di Montepulciano docg 2020 Boscarelli
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Made from 85% Sangiovese and 15% Canaiolo.
Alluvial and sandy lime soil with silt, clay and stony structure. The grapes are picked manually. After de-stemming and soft pressing, they are fermented in oak vats. Indigenous yeast is used in the fermentation process that lasts about a week. Aged in Slavonian oak casks, where malolactic fermentation occurs. Maturation takes from 18 to 24 months, then aged in the bottle for several more months before the release.
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Luca de Ferrari of Boscarelli
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano docg 2019 Avignonesi
100% Sangiovese.
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“Tenuta Calimaia” Vino Nobile di Montepulciano docg 2020 Marchesi Frescobaldi
90% Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile) and 10% red grape varieties.
Maturation in oak barrels for 24 months. Bottle aged for 4 additional months.
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“Silineo” Vino Nobile di Montepulciano docg 2020 from Tenute del Cerro
Fermentation and maceration at controlled temperature with daily pump overs.
Goes through malolactic conversion then 18 months of aging.
Cherry and red currant on the nose. Earthy, cedar, vegetal.
Pairs well with roasted chicken, and sharp cheddar.
“Messaggero” Vino Nobile de Montepulciano docg 2018
“Messaggero” Vino Nobile de Montepulciano docg 2018
95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo Nero.
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The nose is pronounced with black currant, blackberry, blueberries, spice and leather. Full body, medium tannin, long finish.
Would pair well with aged pecorino, ribeye and game
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano docg 2018 from Villa S. Anna
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano docg 2018 from Villa S. Anna
85% Sangiovese, Mammolo Canaiolo, 8% Colorino, 7% Merlot.
Fermented with a 20 day maceration. Then 24 months in Slavonian oak barrels, French Oak, barriques. After bottling, kept in bottle for another year.
Ruby in the glass, Dark cherry on the nose with tobacco and licorice. Light body, medium tannin, dried cherry, raspberry, crushed herb, medium finish.
Pairs well with game meats, venison, seasoned cheese.
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Ada’s Wine Bar, Ms Kat Thomas
A fave bottle of sweets for the sweetie:
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2018 Sauternes, Château Gilette ‘Les Justices’, Bordeaux, France
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MV Rolland Champion , Champagne
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Domestique Wine Shop’s Eric Moorer
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2019 Domaine Dupasquier, Mondeuse, Savoie, France
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Vitis Wine Bar’s Vanessa Phillips
Fave store pic:
2019 Beaujolais Villages, Jean Foillard
2019 Beaujolais Villages, Jean Foillard
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Valentine’s Day Wine in Charleston
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About Sommelier Jaime Smith
Sommelier Jaime Smith
a drone in the Sommelier Brain Collective. Jaime Smith loves wine. He’s currently in DC causing havoc.
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But be warned, Beetle house is not affiliated with or in partnership with any one specific, film, studio, Producer, or television program. All of their productions are inspired by or parody versions or original creations, and in no way should be misconstrued as a direct affiliation or partnership with any film studio or Producer.
Can you bring your kids?
Kinda. Yes, you can. However some of the characters and entertainers could be scary to children under 10 years old so do so at your own risk. Hundreds of families and small children eating here and have had good response from them.
Learn more at: https://www.beetlehousela.com
