Dr. Steven and Mary Ellen Brewington were major sponsors of L'Amour du Vin. Presenting sponsor was Lexus of Knoxville.
Gourmet food from a celebrity chef — and a lot of it! Massive amounts of great wine for liberal tastings. All in the gorgeous setting of the Knoxville Museum of Art. No wonder this event, called L’Amour du Vin, is a sellout each year.
A fundraiser for the museum, I was lucky that this event also fell on my birthday this year! How could I not go? It was like this fabulous party was being thrown just for me. (Well, a girl can pretend!)
Actually, this is the 10th year for L’Amour du Vin, the museum’s largest fundraiser each year. As far as I’m concerned, what really “makes” this event is the collaboration with Blackberry Farm, which came on board in 2006. Blackberry provides its expertise, chefs and staff — and it helps the museum find great California wineries to feature each year. This year’s featured winery was Spottswoode Estate Vineyard and Winery from St. Helena in Napa Valley.
The celebrity chef this year was Dean Fearing of Fearing’s, the restaurant in the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas. Known as “the father of southwestern cuisine,” Fearing told the packed house he was bringing them “a taste of Texas.” And he did. Fearing’s has been named “Restaurant of the Year” and “Table of the Year” by Esquire Magazine, designated the No. 1 in hotel dining in the United States by Zagat, and ranked one of the top 10 great restaurants in the world by Hotel Magazine. Fearing himself has won the James Beard Foundation Award for “Best Chef in the Southwest.”
This is an evening packed with activity, from the rounds of silent auctions, mostly of wine lots, which close every 15 minutes, creating excitement, to a live auction of more wine, trips and art. Definitely a high-end kind of evening, it also manages to not be stuffy, as some of these things can tend to be.
So, come along. Check out the 2013 version of L’Amour du Vin — and my birthday party!
Melissa and Doug White of presenting sponsor Lexus of Knoxville. Lexus has been presenting sponsor of L'Amour du Vin since 2007. (Note the Lexus logo on all the wine glasses!)
David Butler, left, executive director of the Knoxville Museum of Art, with Sharon Bosse and Laurens Tullock.
This huge ice sculpture dominated the cocktail area during the silent auction.
Stephen Wicks is the curator of the Knoxville Museum of Art. He's here with his wife, Wokie.
Craig Shelton, left, with glass artists Tommie Rush and Richard Jolley. Jolley has a major installation -- epic in size and theme -- set to open at the KMA in 2014.
Jayne and Myron Ely during the cocktail hour.
Ellen Robinson and Peter Acly. They coordinated the table at which we sat. Thanks, friends.
Bernard and Lesley Rosenblatt. He is the incoming chairman of the KMA board.
Christi and Scott Branscom during the silent auction.
My husband, Alan Carmichael, with our friend Jennifer Holder. I loved her up-do for the night!
Here's a selection of wines from the featured winery, Spottswoode Estate.
Pretty label
Barbara Apking, left, and Sheena McCall
Scott and Mary Bogert. Mary is general manager of the Knoxville Convention Center.
Melanie Wood and Kent Farris
Here was my discovery of the night: Cuvee Stephi Rose' "Ebullience" from Burgundy, France. "All the women love it," the representative from D&V Distributing told me.
Melissa and Ron Feinbaum
Michelle Jubran, right, and her friend Sheri Church Maxwell
Joe and Ruth Fielden
This great package included a bottle of Far Niente 2007 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley, a tour and tasting at sister winery Nickel & Nickel, plus a luncheon at Far Niente this summer. Wow.
Finally, dinner time! The settings were simple and lovely.
I adored the centerpieces.
Featured chef, Dean Fearing, greets guests.
Dean's tortilla soup with south of the border flavors was paired with Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, 2011.
My favorite course was the barbecued shrimp taco with mango/pickled red onion salad and smoky citrus vinaigrette. It was paired with Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, Napa Valley, 2009.
Cheers!
Chicken-fried quail, if you can believe it. Served on sweet corn pan stuffing with greens, bacon drizzle and pickled red onions. Paired with Beaux Freres Pinot Noir from Ribbon Ridge, Willamette Valley, 2010.
I couldn't believe there was a beef course on top of all that! Maple black-peppercorn-soaked buffalo tenderloin on Anson Mills jalapeno grits and crispy butternut squash taquito. Paired with Spottswoode Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2010.
State Sen. Becky Massey with David Gensterblum
Sharon and Dr. Joe Pryse
Kreis Beall of Blackberry Farm making a few remarks.
Vintner Mary Novak, left, and her daughters Beth Novak Milliken, center, and Lindy Novak who help her run the winery.
My special dessert! It was warm apple buckle with caramel sauce. Paired with Mer Soleil Late Harvest Viognier, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, California, 2004. Delicious!
A close-up of that fabulous buckle. Alan was in hog heaven!
Allison Burchett, right, has a new look. Still a great look, of course! She's here with Melissa McCoy.
I LOVE THIS EVENT! It’s my favorite in town. We had a great table — and the meal and wines, holy smokes! Thanks for joining us and for having a birthday!
Hey, Ellen: It was the best birthday ever! Thanks for putting the table together. I agree about it being one of the best times in town.
Truly a swell event!
Gay: Well worth the price of admission!
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