Greer Wylder
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar just announced the 2004
"Fleming's 100," its renowned top 100 wines-by-the-glass list.
Notable wines on the list include Cakebread Cellars 2003 Napa Valley
Sauvignon Blanc, Honig 2000 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon,
Murrieta's Well 2001 Livermore Valley Meritage, Swanson 2000 Napa
Valley Merlot and Wattle Creek 2002 Alexander Valley Chardonnay. In
addition, 25 bottles have been added to their reserve list.
Fleming's Director of Wine Marian Jansen op de Haar and local
Fleming's wine managers chose the "Fleming's 100" list. They attended
a grand tasting in the Napa Valley, where more than 5,000 wines from
around the world were tasted.
The new list features popular labels, as well as many hard-to-find
boutique wines. Fleming's award-winning wine list is in an
easy-to-read format, listing wines in order of intensity (light to
full). Fleming's offers "wine flights" -- a trio of 2-ounce samples
served in miniature carafes and poured into Fleming's custom-designed
glasses. Pre-selected "wine flight" cards are available, as well as
blank cards for custom choices. The samples cost one-third the price
of a full glass of wine. This allows guests to experiment with wines
before selecting one.
Fleming's also takes the guesswork out of food and wine pairing
with its "Discovery Dinners." The educational prix fixe dinners,
priced at $75, $100 and $150, include wines that complement each
course. Fleming's "Discovery Flights" allow guests to explore
varietal (wines chiefly made from one grape) tasting, and how diverse
a varietal can taste, depending on winemakers' styles and different
grape-growing regions.
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is in Fashion Island at 455
Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach. (949) 720-9633.
http://www.flemingssteakhouse.com.
Villa Nova Restaurant features views of Newport Harbor and hosts a
happy hour in the lounge from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. They
offer half-priced appetizers and discounted cocktails -- even
specialty martinis are just $5. The Villa "Novacane" (shaken, not
stirred) is a favorite mixture of Smirnoff vodka, a dash of Tanqueray
gin and a splash of Duckhorn King Elder vermouth, served with a
twist. Appetizer selections include calamari fritta, bruschetta
pomodoro, prosciutto di Parma and melon, and stuffed mushrooms and
shrimp cocktail. Villa Nova also plays live music from two of Orange
County's favorite musicians. Mike McKenna from Pure Imagination
