Cayman Cookout 2015: And There was Wine, Too!

If you’ve read the previous blog post about the Cayman Cookout by my friend Kay then you know that the Cayman Cookout was a huge success last weekend. It was an absolutely incredible event!

In addition to culinary events, I attended the annual Wine Fair and Winemaker’s Lunch (two anticipated events of the Cayman Cookout), and I wanted to expand on Kay’s post with a small feature on these events that are a little piece of heaven for wine lovers! The fair was sponsored by Jacques Scott and the chefs of the Ritz Carlton Hotel. It was held in the ballroom of the Ritz and showcased a wonderful collection of wines that were paired with culinary selections from the chefs of the Ritz. There was a live wine auction and a silent auction that benefited an area Arts Scholarship and the Cayman Islands Cancer Society.

The wine tasting station that I spent most of my evening at was that of Marchesi di Barolo, a wine maker out of Barolo, Italy. There they have historic wine cellars in a building that overlooks the Castle of the Marquis Falletti. The manager Valentina Abbona was serving wine at their station and telling us all of the notes and details of the Marchesi di Barolo wine which she was very proud of. All of the vendors were extremely knowledgeable and friendly.

The Winemaker’s lunch at the elegant restaurant, Luca, was also a wonderful treat. This year Jon Conover from California’s Plumpjack, Cade and Stags Leap wineries hosted a delicious contemporary Italian lunch accompanied by wine parings from the three Napa Valley wineries. He described the wines in great detail and also shared the history of the wineries as he served us during lunch. 

I had a wonderful time at all of the Cookout events I was able to attend this year, and as you can see, the Cayman Cookout is not only a foodie paradise, but also a haven for wine lovers! I’m hoping to have the opportunity to return next year to once again enjoy amazing food, wine and friends.