MORRISTOWN- It started with a dream to produce exceptional, award-winning wines in a place where the ground is fertile, and the trees are so tall they almost reach heaven.
The dream has come to fruition: the winery is Wentworth Vineyards in California. The vintner, Mark Wentworth, introduced himself to the crowd in the private dining room at The Morris Proper with his East and West Coast charm. Wentworth opened the evening by thanking the team at The Morris Proper for hosting this extraordinary event.
Wentworth said he grew up in New Jersey and was influenced by his French grandmother’s love of wine. She took him to France to introduce him to the gift from the grape gods, beginning his journey.
“I was chasing an unshakeable dream,” Wentworth said. “I wanted to make food-friendly wines.”
Wentworth stated they planted the original vines in 2015 and 2016. They planted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other cool-climate varietals in the vineyards. The Wentworth Estate includes 80 acres and comprises three distinct vineyard locations: Abel Vineyard and Nash Mill Vineyard in Anderson Valley, and Wentworth Vineyard in Mendocino Ridge.
According to the vineyard’s website, “They grow all the grapes they ferment, using regenerative farming practices and always prioritize responsible stewardship of the land that gives us so much.”
Starting off with a tease of what was to come was the 2024 Wentworth Vineyard Chardonnay, a crisp, not buttery white wine. They served it with a surprising East Coast Oyster from Cape Cod, which featured ginger and citrus, on a bed of ground pink peppercorns. The taste of the chilled wine only exceeded the visual of the oyster on the palate.
A 2024 Nash Mill Vineyard Chardonnay accompanied the first course, Hamachi Crudo, with cucumber, petit pois, and strawberry-syrup broth. The winery planted these vines 3.5 miles from the ocean, and they have stored the liquid since 2011. 2021 was the first vintage. They fermented this wine in stainless steel, not French oak. There are two creeks running through the vineyard, home to Coho and Steelhead trout, making it a paradise.
The 2023 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir accompanied the second course, Seared Scallops with sweet local corn, prosciutto, and buttermilk. When asked about his choice to serve red wine with fish, Wentworth stated that this Pinot Noir perfectly paired with the scallops because of its balanced fruit profile. The pairing was superb.
The third course, Gnocchi Parisienne, featured beets sauteed in vanilla paste, pistachios, and fennel, and the restaurant served it with a dual pour. This side-by-side tasting allowed guests to explore two vineyards through a single dish. A 2023 Nash Mill Pinot Noir and a 23 Abel Vineyard Pinot Noir were amazing. And the Gnocchi, well, there were no leftovers.
There was more to this mind-blowing evening. The chef served a Heritage Pork Chop with spring onion, pommes, and sauce choucroute (a braised sauce) alongside a 2023 Wentworth Vineyard Pinot Noir. The pork chops were like butter. The wine received 100 points from Wine Enthusiast. What more could anyone add?
For dessert, if you had room, there was an Apricot Crostata with almond streusel, honey, and Creme Fraiche. Most plates at the table were empty in 5 seconds.
Everything about this evening was 100 percent. The Wentworth Pinot Noirs had powerful depth. The Chardonnays were crisp and mouthwatering. Guests remarked that this type of event could only happen at The Morris Proper. The Morris Proper has culinary gifts found nowhere else. Wentworth Wineries produces world-class wine found nowhere else. It’s the perfect pairing.
