With the first grapes coming off the vines, crush season is officially underway in wine country. To celebrate the harvest, Kenwood Inn & Spa is offering a series of multi-course pop-up dinners, available exclusively to overnight guests of the elegant inn in Sonoma Valley. The dinners will be presented nearly every Saturday night from late summer through fall.
The new dinners are the creation of Guest Chef LeeAnn Geneve, owner of The Gilded Grape Catering in Sonoma, whose cooking has delighted wine country diners at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone and offshoot CIA at Copia, as well as numerous private events. Chef Geneve specializes in distinctive wine country fare that is locally sourced, from artisanal cheeses and meats to the region’s abundant produce, seafood and, of course, wine.
Though items from the small-plates menu at Kenwood Inn & Spa are available for purchase throughout the day, and guests enjoy daily complimentary breakfast and an afternoon wine and cheese tasting, the property does not have a regular dinner restaurant. However, the European-style Centro Courtyard and adjacent Cucina provide an intimate garden setting for special pop-up dinners, with diners seated at private tables surrounding a trickling fountain.
Prices for the Saturday night pop-ups at Kenwood Inn & Spa range from $135 to $150 per person depending on the featured menu, and include a four-course meal plus wine pairing with each course. The menu — and highlighted winery — changes each Saturday.
Overnight accommodations are required to participate. For more information, call Kenwood Inn & Spa’s concierge at 707-833-1293. Seating is socially distanced and limited.
