Wine tasting/dinner now monthly event

Stockman's Steakhouse had so much success with the wine dinner and tasting it hosted in April, it plans a repeat performance at 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 20.

The steakhouse has over 50 wines on its wine list and this will be another chance to taste some excellent selections.

Until the mid-1900s, wine drinkers were limited to purchasing wines from mass wine-producing countries like Italy, France, Spain and Germany. These days, wineries have been established and are producing very drinkable wines all over the world and the number of wine lovers has increased to match the production. The United States is ranked fourth in wine production worldwide.

Marketing for wines has changed as well. Bottles in the U.S. carry some names which years ago would have been perceived as outlandish and would never have been seen in the European wine market.

Now, Old World and new world wineries have followed marketing for the ambient culture from the U.S. and carry labels like "Clean Slate," "Stellina de Notte" (Little Night Star), "Protagonist," "Razor's Edge," "Peace Maker," "Master Peace," the list is long.

White wines for this event will come from California and New Zealand and the reds will come from Chile, Washington and California.

One wine in particular for cabernet lovers comes from Chile and is grown on original cabernet rootstock, which is unusual.

History tells us that in the 1890s, an insect called Phylloxera almost totally destroyed wine production in Europe. Without going into detail, suffice it to say most grapes are now grown on grafted rootstock making the grape vines more highly resistant to the infestation of the insect. The hybridizing through grafts has changed the original grape -- and the flavors.

Several countries in the world have no Phylloxera, thus the vines are not grafted and are grown on the original rootstock. The cabernet to be tasted at the upcoming event is one of those novelty productions of true cabernet from a country up and coming in the world of wine.

Dinner is a compliment to the evening. On the menu is a choice of shrimp scampi with angel hair pasta or a flat-iron steak cooked to order, garlic mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley.

Each entrée will come with either soup or a fresh salad and a complimentary glass of one showcased wine of choice.

Tickets for the event are $40 per person and reservations are limited.

Call the Stockman's Steakhouse, 751-6500, for more information and to make reservations.