Coastal Wine Market patrons enjoy ‘bubbly’ food pairing event

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Lobster ravioli, roasted lamb lollipops and grass-fed veal sausage-stuffed portobello mushrooms – all paired with Jacquart champagnes – were among the culinary delicacies enjoyed by guests at Coastal Wine Market & Tasting Room’s recent “Bubbles & Food Pairing” event.

Held Sept. 20 at the popular Nocatee wine shop and tasting room, the special food-and-wine event attracted nearly 50 guests, who enjoyed a plated gourmet experience prepared by Coastal Wine’s new chef, James Wargo. Also on hand was Jacquart representative Benoit Petillon, who shared insights into each of the evening’s champagnes.

“It was a very interactive event,” said Steve Lourie, who owns Coastal Wine with his wife, Shaun. “Everything was housemade by Chef James and the whole staff really pulled it all together.”

The evening began with a reception featuring a gourmet charcuterie spread paired with Foucher Lebrun Sancerre. Then came the first course – housemade lobster ravioli with a champagne citrus beurre blanc paired with Jacquart Brut Rose. The main course featured the roasted lamb lollipops and potato pancake with cinnamon apple chutney – all paired with a 2013 Jacquart Blanc de Blanc.

“It had been quite some time since we’d done a ‘bubbles’ tasting,” Lourie noted. “People were asking us, ‘When’s the next event?’”

Adding to the ambience of the evening was Coastal Wine’s newly expanded lounge space – the focal point of which is a striking, oversized crystal chandelier. Custom-designed for Coastal Wine by Oregon artist Jonquil LeMaster, the piece features nearly 2,000 crystals crafted to represent intertwining grapevines.

“Having the new space helped us welcome more people and really rounded out the experience,” Lourie said. “It created a relaxed atmosphere with guests sitting underneath the chandelier. It really was just the perfect venue for this food-and-wine-tasting experience.”

Based on the compliments received from the event, he added, Coastal Wine plans to host similar events on a quarterly basis. Details of upcoming food-and-wine-pairing evenings can be found on Coastal Wine Market & Tasting Room’s Facebook and Instagram pages, or by signing up for its email list at CoastalWineMarket.com.

“We just love doing these kinds of events for the community, which has been so supportive of us,” Lourie said. “Our goal is to keep bringing these kinds of experiences to them.”