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The National Presented the TERRY HOAGE VINEYARDS GROUNDHOG DAY DINNER on February 2, 2010 and it was fabulous! (photos too!)
Posted on 02/06/2010 by Cheri Leavy |
Kimberly Rogers, Terry Hoage and Wes Rogers
The National- “Terry, UGA star football player and hard workin’ renaissance man, came to the National to host a great wine dinner! Terry continues to make some fantastic wines at his eponymous winery in Paso Robles.”
They said it would be a great event whether or not the groundhog saw his shadow and it was! And luckily the ground hog did not see his shadow so springtime is on its way! And this was a great way to celebrate its pending arrival. Terry and his wife Jennifer are charming and worked the room and visited with everyone throughout the five courses. Their 2100 case production includes estate red and white Rhone style wines. Varietals planted on our estate include Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Counoise, Cinsault, Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc and Roussanne. They shared a little about what goes into producing their selections and of course there was some football lore shared as well.
The service and food was flawless so hats off to The National for making it look easy to do such an extensive menu and presentation to a full house. The wines were perfectly matched of course.
(left-right) Mike Mills, Melissa Roberts, Bertis Downs, Katharine Downs, Jennifer and Michael Ripps
My husband Vance and I dined with Kelley and Mike Blanton who are big Bulldog and NFL football fans so they really enjoyed meeting Terry Hoage. We try to catch up with the Hoages at one of their southern stops. We went to their dinner at Sea Island’s Retreat Club year before last so it was nice to catch up again. They were traveling there after the dinner at The National.
(left-right) Mike Blanton, Kelley Blanton and Terry Hoage
Georgia head coach Vince Dooley called Hoage “the best defensive player I’ve ever coached and maybe the best one I’ve ever seen.” Hoage told us that night he dedicated his first vintage of “The Hedge” to his former coach Vince Dooley. Vance pulled out the ole handy iphone and we googled him at the table so we got a quick wikipedia lesson on Hoage:
He finished 5th in the voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1983. Hoage was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 1984 NFL Draft.3 His NFL career spanned 13 seasons and six teams: the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Houston Oilers, San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals. His professional football career ended in 1996.
Click here for photos of some folks who attended
Also look out for photos in the statewide issue of Bulldawg Illustrated on February 16th.
1. sauteed tiny wild Maine shrimp with garlic and chili over toast
Terry Hoage Vineyards, The Gap Cuvee, Paso Robles 2008
2. cauliflower soup, caramelized fennel and pearl onions, lemon oil
Terry Hoage Vineyards, Bam Bam Estate Rose, Paso Robles 2008
3. crisp Berkshire pork belly, giant white beans, ham jus, roasted red pepper salad
Terry Hoage Vineyards, Skins Grenache, Paso Robles 2007
4. red wine-braised Piedmontese beef cheeks, mushrooms, watercress
Terry Hoage Vineyards, The Pick Cuvee, Paso Robles 2007
5. grilled American baby lamb chops, pilav with merguez sausage and chestnuts, eggplant chutney, pomegranate jus
Terry Hoage Vineyards, The Hedge Syrah, Paso Robles 2007
6. apple cake, poached figs, buttermilk cream
