December Means Winemakers Dinners
By Traci O'dea
The Virgin Islands Winemakers Dinners take place from December 1st to December 7th. Guests hop to a different island destination each night to sample unique dishes, prepared in the BVI by internationally renowned chefs, paired with some of the top-rated wines in the world. Each location boasts Caribbean charm coupled with the inherent subtle chic of our islands.
Peter Island R esort's Falcon's Nest Villa hosts one of the 2010 Winemakers Dinners. Photo by YachtShotsBVI.com.
Wednesday, December 1: Giorgio’s Wine Restaurant in Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda brings a little bit of Tuscany to the Virgin Islands. The cosy restaurant, decorated mostly in racks and racks of Italian wine, provides an ideal setting for sampling the wine-inspired dishes that the chefs have created.
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Thursday, December 2: With a view of the sheltered waters of the North Sound and the neighbouring islands of Prickly Pear and Mosquito Island, Leverick Bay Resort and Marina provides guests with fun, relaxed luxury. At night, the resort sparkles—lit by the stars, fairy lights and the glow from the fresh water pool.
Friday, December 3: Peter Island Resort, recently voted in 2010 as 4th Best Resort in the Caribbean by Condé Nast Traveler, exemplifies the concept of a luxurious island retreat, and the exclusive Falcon’s Nest Villa sits atop the private island overlooking the immaculate White Bay beach. In addition to other hidden surprises, the villa’s sprawling pool features an enclosed grotto, complete with a waterfall.
Saturday, December 4: The boulderstrewn pool of Virgin Gorda Village evokes the unique beaches of the island. The Baths, Devils Bay and Spring Bay all boast these striking, granite monoliths, and the designers of Virgin Gorda Village incorporated the natural wonders into the exteriors of this elegant community. Local flora also abounds and perfumes the setting with the scent of frangipani, oleander and ixora blossoms.
Sunday, December 5: The impressive and contemporary H. Lavity Stoutt Community College is dedicated to promoting culinary expertise to Virgin Islanders. This is proven by the recent groundbreaking for the HSLCC Culinary Arts Centre, a $2 million project that will provide the highest level of equipment and instruction for chef aspirants in the territory. The college also provides courses on wine and food pairings.
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Monday, December 6: Rosewood Little Dix Bay was originally owned by Laurance Rockefeller in the 1960s as his Caribbean hideaway. Since then, the resort has maintained the feeling of exclusivity with buildings Architectural Digest mentions as being “tucked away among coconut palms and sea grape trees and altogether camouflaged by the lush vegetation.”
Tuesday, December 7: Peg Leg Landing, above the beach at Nanny Cay Resort & Marina, features several open-air rooms for dining that allows guests to feel like they’re in an intimate, cosy setting almost reminiscent of an English Inn, except for the fact that they’re warmed not by a fire but by the breezes off the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Frommer’s calls Nanny Cay “artfully and deliberately raffish.” Perfectly BVI.
In addition to the world-class dinners, each day will feature a luncheon where the chefs and winemakers will split into intimate groups for relaxed noontime meals coupled with delectable wines. Lunch locations include The Jolly Roger Restaurant in Sopers Hole, The Mineshaft Cafe near the copper mine ruins in Virgin Gorda, Myett's in Cane Garden Bay, The Tamarind Club in Josiah's Bay, Brandywine Bay Restaurant on Tortola’s south shore, and an afternoon wine and cheese event with German wine critic Richard Groesche at the always charming Mad Dog Cafe near The Baths in Virgin Gorda.
For more information, visit www.winemakersdinners.com.
