Vino on the Verandah Wine Dinner – The Boulevard Hotel
Disclosure: I was invited along to the The Boulevard Hotel for this wine dinner. All opinions are my own honest wine-slurred words.
Oh Tuscany, my dear beloved Tuscany. It’s everything and more than you imagine. Mr.Spittoon and I backpacked through Italy in 2011 and despite getting lost numerous times in the famous wine region it will forever by one of my absolute favourite wine travel experiences.
So it’s safe to say when The Boulevard Hotel team invited me and Jayde from Toward Music along to their Tuscan themed long table wine dinner I couldn’t turn down a night of Italian vino and food.
The Location
This was my first venture to the Perth suburb of Floreat. I’m slowly getting around town after being here 4 years now! The Boulevard Hotel Restaurant is part of the Floreat Forum Shopping Centre. Hence why there’s a trolley in the below photo (sorry Jayde, I couldn’t resist!). 
What an uber cool venue with a lovely out and indoor area. Large comfy looking cushions and tucked away little nooks to enjoy a vino or two. I really want to go back during the day to give it a proper gawk (hint hint Mr. Spittoon).
The Arrival
At events I do think that initial impression is important. The Boulevard Hotel staff greeted us with perfectly chilled glasses of Prosecco and OMG those salmon and potato canapés with smoked mayo were to DIE FOR!
I seriously wanted to snatch a bottle of Prosecco and a plate of those canapés and spend all night with them.
I could tell from the initial welcoming we were in for a good night of free-flowing Italian vino. Really I’m a pretty easy date to please 😉
The Wine Dinner
I have to admit, it’s friggen awesome to see so many wine dinners and wine appreciation sessions popping up in Perth. This city is severely lacking wine education classes (and I know you all keep pointing your fingers at me to do something about this, but hey I’ve got a face for blogging!).
Which is why dinners like this are good. They are a relaxed setting to enjoy good food and wine whilst accidentally learning a few things about vino at the same time. If you’re one of those annoying people who like to ask questions like me, then ask to be seated nearly the host/speaker so you can grill them for all their winey knowledge.
This particular dinner was hosted by Dave Mullen and Paul Maley who did a wonderful job. The wine chatter was definitely aimed at those already familiar with the wine world, aka the wine geeks out there. And having traveled and drank my fair share of Italian tipples meant the convo was easily digestible and I learnt a few new things too!
Equally even if you’re not keen on a wine lesson but love good food and wine you’ll definitely enjoy something like this. Just try not to talk over the speaker please!
Actually there was a couple of points when Dave was talking when I nearly wolf whistled (I’m the classiest wine blogger out there as you know).
Here’s my paraphrased versions:
Approach each and every wine with an open mind”
Many wine connoisseurs do too much ‘tasting’ of wines but not enough ‘drinking’ of them”
Seriously a big fat yes to the last one. Hence why as you know I give 100% to my wine drinking and have no shame in admitting to experiencing several cases of wine flu.
The set-up
As mentioned, this was a long table affair. There were two tables with approximately 20 people per table out on the verandah. When we sat down we were presented with a lovely menu and our first two tipples were poured. I love getting stuck into it straight away.
The wine
Indulging in Italian wines for the evening was a real treat. It did bring back many memories of our Italian travels and it was great to try something new.
The wine matching with the food was done well and between you and me the generous pours definitely kept the tables live with chatter all night.
The wines were served up side by side for the courses which was great to help you understand the different dynamics of each wine. Plus it made trailing the different wines with the different food elements really fun.
At the end of the night we had the chance to place orders for the wine too, which was a great touch. There was no pressure to buy which is always appreciated.
We ended up sipping on:
- Canella Prosecco NV ($28 per bottle)
- Toscolo Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG 2014 ($21 per bottle)
- ColleMassari Melacce DOC Vermentino 2013 ($28 per bottle)
- Toscolo Chianti DOCG 2013 ($21 per bottle)
- Frascole Chianti Rufina 2012 ($28 per bottle)
- Monte Antico IGT Rosso di Toscana 2011 ($21 per bottle)
The menu
For this dinner it was a sharing affair. The entrees were shared between our table of four with the remaining courses between pairs. There was so much food!!
Jayde and I felt terrible as it hardly looked like we made a dent in our mains. I was seriously tempted to ask for the bistecca alla fiorentina (massive 800g steak) in a doggie bag to take home for Mr. Spittoon but I was attempting to have my classy pants on. I totally regret not throwing caution to the wind there. Obviously I needed another vino!
Out of all the dishes served at the table (those canapés are no doubt the highlight of the night for me) the clams with prosciutto and parsley were divine. I’ve never really indulged in clams before but they were simply gorgeous. A close second had to be the roasted porchetta and cabbage – absolutely perfect crackling! And the cheese…. Okay maybe I just liked everything.
Both Jayde and I were rammed by the end of the night. With the amount of food and wine we got, it’s safe to say these Vino on the Verandah wine dinners are for those serious wino and foodies amongst us. Order an uber and enjoy the night is my advice!
A big thanks to The Boulevard Hotel for a fabulous night. The best news is that this wasn’t just a one-off event but a series of Perth wine dinners over the coming weeks. Here’s what you’ve got to look forward to:
Upcoming Vino on the Verandah Wine Dinners:
- April 27th with Katnook Wines
- May 18th with Tomfoolery Wines
For more information please check out The Boulevard Hotel’s website.
