The Spirit of Texas: A William Chris Wine Dinner

October 4th at 7:30pm in The Blue Room

Join us on Saturday, October 4th at 7:30PM for an extraordinary evening in The Blue Room as we welcome William Chris Vineyards, one of Texas’ most acclaimed wineries. Guests will have the rare opportunity to share the evening with Chris Brundrett, Co-Founder & Owner of William Chris, and Chris Hillin, Vice President of William Chris, who will guide the dinner with stories of their craft and vision for Texas wine.

This intimate five-course dinner, curated by Executive Chef Preston Paine, will highlight the artistry of both food and wine. Dishes include Mussels Escabeche with grilled sourdough and confit garlic aioli, Seared Duck Breast with polenta, roasted mushrooms, and pumpkinseed gremolata, and a decadent finale of Double Chocolate Cake with espresso buttercream and whipped Mill-King cream. Each course will be paired with William Chris’ most expressive wines, including the vibrant Petillant Naturel Rosé, elegant Mary Ruth White, bold Mourvèdre from the Texas High Plains, a Crescent private label red blend, and a sneak preview of an unreleased port-style wine.

As part of the evening, guests will also be among the very first to experience The Crescent Hotel’s exclusive private label red wine, created in collaboration with William Chris Vineyards. Earlier this year, Chef Preston Paine traveled to the winery, spending two days with the William Chris team to taste and blend this one-of-a-kind wine. Crafted solely from Texas-grown fruit, the wine is styled after a classic Bordeaux blend, showcasing the depth and character of Texas. This label is not available for retail purchase and cannot be found elsewhere, however, guests of the dinner will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase a bottle to take home as a keepsake of the evening.

Reserve a Table

 

Menu

First Course

Mussels Escabeche with Grilled Sourdough and Confit Garlic Aioli 

Second Course

Fall Beans & Peas with Tahini, Whipped Yogurt, and Herbs

Third Course

Seared Duck Breast with Polenta, Roasted Mushrooms, and Pumpkinseed Gremolata

Fourth Course

Texas Wagyu with Charred Fennel, Braised Leeks, and Pumpkin 

Fifth Course

Double Chocolate Cake with Espresso Buttercream and Whipped Mill-King Cream

William Chris Vineyards

What began as an acquaintance as winemakers in the Hill Country became a collaboration between William “Bill” Blackmon and Chris Brundrett; one that’s based on a shared winemaking philosophy and a vision for what the Texas wine industry is capable of. Bill and Chris agree that great wines are not made, but grown in the vineyard. They also believe that wine should be inspired by the pleasure that is shared with an extended community of friends and family over a bottle. The creation of each new vintage depends greatly upon these two priorities.

Today, William Chris Vineyards continues to reach for a level of quality that represents the very best of Texas in each new vintage. It is with confidence in their process and pride in their team, community, and the special place they call home, that they inscribe each bottle of William Chris Vineyards wine with this greeting: “We are pleased to share a piece of our world.”

Executive Chef Preston Paine

Preston Paine is a Dallas, Texas, native and the Executive Chef at Emilia’s. Preston most recently competed in Food Network’s newest cooking competition, Ciao House, where he made it to the finals.

Starting at a young age, after spending time in the kitchen with a close family friend, Preston knew he wanted to create exquisite cuisine for people to enjoy. After graduating from Tulane University in New Orleans, where he studied business development with a focus on restaurant design, Preston returned to Dallas where began developing menus and design concepts for restaurants. He also had the opportunity to spend a year working as an onboard chef and traveling extensively along the Coast of Italy, which enabled him to develop his craft creating authentic Italian cuisine.

Prior to beginning his role at Emilia’s, he was the Executive Chef for Exxir Hospitality, working at Paradiso, Tejas, Mermaid, Botanist, and Casablanca, all found in the Bishop Arts District of Dallas. Preston is also the co-founder of Shug’s Bagels, one of Dallas’ best bagel shops. He has also served as the Culinary Director at Apheleia Restaurant Group, Chef De Cuisine at Catbird Restaurant, and was Chef de Partie at Eleven Madison Park, which retained its 3-Michelin Star status during his time with the restaurant.

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