It was a perfect summer night at the Alexis Bailly Vineyard in Hastings, Minnesota, when Jack and I attended a fund-raising dinner there. We could hear the quartet playing Irish tunes as we drove down the dirt road to the vineyard.
I’m not sure what kind of grapes these are, but don’t they make a pretty photo with their dark-purple (almost black) color? Could they be Pinot Noir grapes?
Immediately upon arrival, we were offered a glass of the winery’s Country Red, Country White or Rosé Noir wine. We chose the Rosé with the following tasting notes: “The sweetness of the wine is well balanced with our cool climate acidity, so it is never cloying and allows the wine to match well with food.” And, it did—match well with the food, that is!
Tables were set among the rows of grape vines – just a little bit of Napa Valley, right here in Minnesota.
We were served a Low Country Shrimp and Sausage Boil. (Click on the link for a recipe and the history of this dish.) I’ve made a dinner like this every summer when corn-on-the-cob is in season and sold at road-side stands. My recipe doesn’t have sausage in it but I thought they were a nice (and very tasty) addition.
All of the ingredients (shrimp, sausages, corn on the cob and potatoes) are boiled with lots of spices in a large pot. Then the pot is drained and the contents are poured onto a pan in the center of the table. Everyone just reaches over and grabs what they want to eat. Along with the boiled food, we were served coleslaw and cornbread.
You can see Jack at our table, enjoying himself.
