With the Feb. 2-4 Super Bowl weekend in high gear in the Orange state of Florida, the Georgia Peach state was holding its own first-ever type Super shin-dig.

Food and wine were the star attractions, not football.Luminaries converged from around the world to Atlanta to wow those who paid $1200 per couple for the platinum package that included a 2-night stay at Hilton Hotel’s executive suites in downtown Atlanta.

Everyone was greeted with a fine bottle of wine upon arrival, caviar and champagne receptions, panel discussions wine tastings, a cooking class, spectacular dining experiences, and making new friends.Creating this first-ever “Straight to the Heart” event was organizer Tasted Magazine who donated substantial proceeds to the American Heart Association.Arriving at Atlanta from New York City with Super Bowl on the brain, I decided to look upon this truly unique wine/food experience as my own Super Bowl of sorts.

But first the player introductions. Although, there’s never been a French-born quarterback in American pro football, I couldn’t help but think of master sommelier/restaurateur, Hervé Pennequin as the one. A quarterback calls the plays, and triple threat ringleader Herve did just that—dazzling the guests with his sommelier skills, buoyant energy, and razor sharp wit. Introduced to Hervé for the first time reminded me what Winston Churchill said about Franklin Roosevelt: “Meeting him is like popping your first bottle of champagne!” As great as Pennequin was, surrounding him was a team packed with All-Pro talent.

The wine panel contained three Master Sommeliers with iconic credentials :


Roger Dagorn, “Master Sommelier” Chanterelle Restaurant, N.Y.C. This soft-spoken, charming gem of a guy reminded me of a field goal kicker with the expertise to kick game winning goals from virtually anywhere. In the wine biz, All-Pro Roger is legendary.


Andreas Larsson “Master Sommelier,” “Best Sommelier of Europe 2004” “Best Sommelier Starwine 2006” and about to compete for Best Sommelier in World 2007.
Put a helmet and shoulder pads on this 6’5” strapping young guy, and he’d fit right in with NFL lineman!


Hervé Pennequin “Master Sommelier,” “3rd Best Sommelier of the World 2004” Dining Room Manager/Wine Director of Nikolai’s Roof, Hilton, Atlanta


Also lending their expertise was :
Nora Favelukes of Quantum Wine Consultancy, with an expertise in South American wines.
Joe Davis, owner and Winemaker of the award winning Arcadian Winery, Santa Barbara, California.
James Kellaris—Managing Director of Rudi Wiest, renown for their Riesling wines.


The weekend of heaven-sent food was prepared by Nikolai’s Roof Executive chef, Belgium-born Olivier De Busschere and his precision kitchen staff. The Russian-themed Nikolai’s Roof is not just Atlanta’s Big Daddy of restaurants but world class with the awards to prove it :
AAA Four Diamond rating since 1993
member of DiRONA (distinguished Restaurants of North America) since 1992
The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year since 1995.
Stellar ratings in the Zagat Survey since the book’s launch in the mid 1990s in Atlanta, etc.


Helping out de Busschere was Celebrity Chef Christope Eme, who flew in from Los Angeles where he’s Executive Chef and owner of Ortolan Restaurant (Selected by Food and Wine Magazine as Top Ten best Young Chef in North America and Best Chef in California in 2005).
As in football, a successful team needs a great coach and that was Tasted Magazine editor, Anthony Chicheportiche, who jetted in from France just in time for the opening kickoff. Though his presence was felt throughout the event, there was no need for him to offer last-minute advice to his meticulous team who knew their tasks well.Following are the events that scored one touchdown after another.


This opening event truly took one’s breath away. Being from Manhattan, I have my share of spectacular city views. Nikolai’s 28th floor rooftop of downtown Atlanta could be well appreciated. This lovely city of the South has skyscrapers going up everywhere with innovative architecture. Certainly if Rhett Butler and Scarlet O’Hara had not Gone With the Wind and had attended this event, they would be a loving couple overlooking this romantic view.



Strolling around noting the stellar wines and champagnes, I observed the guests attending the event. Most were strangers to one another, but that ice was breaking. With all of them having a love of wine, food and adventure, I sought to get their “rating” of this event.

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Smith, a handsome and young retired couple from Atlanta said, “I heard about this package and thought it was too good to pass up. Fine wines? Great food? Donating money to A.H.A.? Another chance to dine at our favorite Georgia restaurant, Nikolai’s Roof ? Sign us up!”
The Smith’s were dazzled by the display of live music, seductive appetizers and the lineup of 16 booths with 70 highly rated wines and champagnes offered. Those in the know will find the list below impressive indeed. The eager guests moved about the spacious area on a tasting spree of the following wines with world class quality:


Korband
2004 Chardonnay, Les Beaux Cailloux—Craggy Range (Hawk’s Bay, New Zealand)
2002 Castello del Tassinaia (Tuscany, Italy)
2001 Tempranillo Reserva- Roda (Rioja. Spain)

Rudi Wiest
2003 Pinot Noir “Dry”—Hegar (Baden, Germany)
2004 Riesling, “Armand Kabinett”—Von Buhl (Pfalz, Germany)
2004 Riesling, “Haart to Heart”—Reinhold Haart (Mosel, Germany)
2005 Riesling “Spatlese, Diva”—Gunderloch (Rheinhessen, Germany)
2005, Ungsteiner Herrenberg, Spatlese” –Pfeffinger (Pfalz. Germany)

Prestige
2003 Merlot—Rombauer (Napa, Calif.)
2003 Cabernet Sauvignon – Rombaur
2005 Shiraz/Vignier—The Black Chook (Australia)
2004—Red Bland—Can Blau (Spain)

Diageo
2005 Chardonnay—Acacia (Carneros, Calif.)
2004 Pinot Noir—Chalone Estate (Monterey, Calif.)
2004 Shiraz “Snow’s Lake Vineyard”—Jade Mountain (Red Hills County, Calif.)
2004 Cabernet Sauvignon—Provenance Winery (Rutherford, Napa, Calif.)

Moet Hennessy
2004 Chardonnay—Domaine Chandon (Carneros, Napa, Calif.)
2005 Arneis “Blange”—Ceretto (Langhe, Italy)
2002 “Summa”—Marques de Grinon (Valdepusa, Spain)
2004 Shiraz Reserve—Green Point (Yarra Valley, Australia)

Grapefields
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon—Lawson Ranch, Monterey, Calif.)
2004 Syrah—Lawson Ranch
2003 Bravante—Trio (Howell Mountain, Napa, Calif.)
2003 Cabernet Sauvignon “Stagecoach”—Veraison (Napa, Calif.)
2005 Chardonnay—JJ Vincent (Burgundy, France)
2005 Pinot Noir “Autograph”—R. Stuart (Willamette Valley, Oregon)
2004 Zinfandel “Southern Exposure”—CG di Arie (Shenandoah Valley, Calif.)
2005 Albarino—Legado del Conde (Rias Baixas, Spain)
2000 Reserva—Baron de Ley (Cigales, Spain)
2004 Mencia “Baltos”—Domino de Tares (Bierzo,Spain)
2005 “La Planella”—Joan d’Anguera (Monstant, Spain)

Atlanta Wholesale Wine
2005 Suavignon Blanc—Duckhorn (Napa, Calif.)
2002 Cabernet Sauvignon—Duckhorn
2002 Merlot-Duckhorn
2003 Dominus (Yountville, Napa, Calif.)
2001 Napanook (Yountville)

Marques et Domaines
2004 Chardonnay—Pio Cesare (Langhe, Italy)
2002 Nebbiolo Barolo—Pio Cesare
NV Deutz Champagne Brut
1998 Deutz Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs

Atlanta Wholesale Wine
2005 Chardonnay—Pride (Napa, Calif.)
2004 Viognier—Pride (Sonoma, Calif.)
2004 Merlot—Pride (Napa and Sonoma counties, Calif.)
2005 Sauvignon Blanc—Spottswoode (Napa, Calif.)
2004 Chardonnay “Hyde”- Ramey (Napa, Calif.)
2003 Cabernet Sauvignon “Diamond Mountain”- Ramey
2002 Syrah –Ramey
2000 “Chateau d’Ampuis”- Guigal (Cote Rotie, Rhone, France)

CSW (Randall Roberts)
2004 Sauvignon Blanc—Chatelain (Sancerre, Loire, France)
2002 “Reserve” – Sullivan (Rutherford, Calif.)
2004 Rasteau—Domaine de Beaurenard (Rhone, France)
100` Cabernet Sauvignon- Javier Asensio (Navarra, Spain)
2003 “Kaiser Cuvee” Kaisergarten (Austria)

Quality Wine & Spirits
2005 Gruner Veltliner “#1”- Hirsch (Kamptal, Austria)
2005 Riesling, “Dragonstone”—Josef Leitz (Rheingau, Germany)
2004 Pinot Gris—The Four Graces (Oregon)

NV Blanc de Noirs Sparkling—Gruet (New Mexico)
Quality Wine & Spirits
2003 Pinot Noir “Estate” – The Four Graces (Willamette Valley, Oregon)
2002 “VMS” – Ben Marco (Mendoza, Argentina)
2002 Cabernet Sauvignon – Chateau Lagarosse (Leres Cotes de Bordeaux)
2002 Cabernet Sauvignon – Ristow (Napa, Calif.)

Ultimate Distributors
2005 Gruner Veltliner, “Velt” – Graf Koenigsegg (Burgendland, Austria)
2005 Sauvignon “Cero” – Venica & Venica (Collio, Italy)
1005 Moscato d’Asti- Quaranta (Piedomont, Italy)
2003 Cotes du Rhone Village Chusclan “Les Genets” (France)
2001 “L’Arco Pario”—Luca (Veronese, Italy)
2003 “Senibus Roos” – Brunner (Fruili, Italy)


8:00 P.M.
Relaxed Dinner at Trader Vic’s
After the tasting, everyone continued getting into the swing of things by moving to the Hilton’s lobby level Trader Vic’s Polynesian-themed restaurant with its tropical island feel and Mai Tai drinks flowing freely.
Sure, with the lay around my neck, I felt like a tourist but it worked to get me into a further festive mood. Trader Vic’s is also a lively nightspot spot for locals.


I sat at a table with three couples. One, Ed and wife Mary, were celebrating her birthday. Ed’s sense of humor was intact when saying, “I live about two hours from Atlanta, up in the mountains. Drinking all these fine wines is a great change of pace from the ‘moonshine’ they serve up there!” For Ed and his wife, partaking a wine tasting at Nikolai’s Roof and a six-course dinner the next day sounded heaven-sent.





Although most guests showed up raring to begin the long day of events offered, several were at half-mast with that “look.”Asking a gregarious man who has his own radio show in the area how he was holding up, he answered, “My table was having so much fun with some of the sommeliers that we left Trader Vic’s and went to Nikolai’s Roof to continue drinking great champagnes until the wee hours!”
He gave a tired wink, adding, “Just need a nap some where today, and I’ll be fine.”I don’t know where he found the time because the day was filled with the following events:

9:30 -10:30 A.M.:
Conference and Tasting of White Wine from “up and coming” wine countries.
As Wine consultants Nora Favelukes and James Kiraulis joined in with Master Sommeliers Hervé Pennequin and Andreas Larsson, the humor of Hervé became infectious about the panel while tasting white wines such as Torrontes from Argentina, Albarino from Spain, Vetliner from Austria, and a dry Riseling from Germany.

11 P.M.—12:00 P.M.:
Conference and Tasting of Bordeaux and a “Meritage” from Napa Sommeliers Dagorn, Larsson and Pennequin handled the discussion that had the guests not only learning but laughing. Andreas Larsson, from Sweden, is one very articulate guy who also has his own brand of humor, as does Roger. They played off each other well to keep the hour-long discussion lively indeed.

12:15—1:30 P.M.:
Cooking Demonstration with Christophe Eme. The guests surrounded a make-shift kitchen to watch Christophe work his magic creating a sumptuous meal with a creative design. Lunch was provided with creative delicacies.

2:30-3:30 P.M.:
Conference and tasting of Pinot Noir
An intriguing event comparing pinot noirs from Napa, the Central Coast, and also a new and surprising wine growing region—Patagonia, Argentina. Joining Pennequin and Favelukes on the panel was Winemaker Joe Davis who makes a stunning Central Coast pinot noir –2000 Arcadian “Pisoni.”

3:45—4:45 P.M.:
Conference and tasting of Spanish/Chile/Argentina red wines
The team of 3 sommeliers—Herve, Roger, and Andreas were again joined by Ms. Favelukes. With an expertise in South American and Spanish wines, her insight was invaluable as we tasted Malbec, Tempranillo, Syrah, and Carmenere.

5—6 P.M.:
Conference and tasting of Cult red wines
With “Cult” meaning in the wine world “rare,” “hard to find,” “a collectible.” the two we tasted had the ratings to prove why they were highly sought after:

2000 “Emeritus” Marguis de Grinon—Valpenas (Spain) 96 pts. Wine Spectator
2003 “Clos Apalta”- Casa Lapostolle (Chile) 94 pts. Wine Spectator

Including yesterday’s tasting of quite a few knockout 90 + rated wines Emeritus stood out special for those at my table. Its Cabernet, Syrah, and Petit Verdot blend was an absolute pleasure—a wine that kept us refusing to use the spit bucket! Emeritus means deserving in Latin. And Winemaker Julio Lopez Mourelle and consultant Michel Rolland have put sheer artistry in a bottle.

6:45 P.M.:
Caviar and Champagne reception at the Point of View with Ruinart Rose Brut Champagne
The guests were dressed formally for this event and, by that time, everyone seemed like old friends.


Nikolai’s Roof is a true gem, a capstone resting atop the Hilton. It has a true personality run by a dynamic duo: manager/sommelier Mr. Pennequin and Chef de Cuisine Olivier De Busschere. Sitting down with my newly found friends, I was transported at once to another time, the deep red architectural design in the ceiling with the 1970’s grand chandelier, gave the room a warm and grand aspect.

The wonderful glow provided by the lighting made everyone look beautiful. With so much glass, one clearly appreciates the twinkling lights of this growing city.I’ve been waited on attentively while dining, but Nikolai’s takes it to another level.

Waiters dressed as Cossacks, clad in red jackets with brass buttons and royal blue crests, their one hand behind them, glide effortlessly through the room as if on ice skates, attending to the guests’ every need. Long before flavored spirits became all the rage. Nikolai’s Roof was already making its own infused vodkas. And different flavors every month, in keeping with the ever-changing kitchen menu. I mean, who anywhere makes drinks such as ginger and Fresh Mint Vodka, Orange Tea, Pineapple, Lime, and Peach?


It had the feel of an Iron Chef Contest, but the two great chefs actually harmonized together in perfect tune.Resident Chef De Busschere opened his kitchen to Guest chef Christophe Eme.

Instead of trying to out-do one another, egos were set aside and they joined forces to create an unforgettable culinary experience, perfectly balanced with exquisite wines.


The prestige menu is as follows:




Sitting at a table alongside me was Rabinder Sira who had flown in from New York for the event. Like me, a part of his mind was on the Super Bowl party he was missing back in Manhattan.

However, after experiencing this sumptuous meal, he said, “So I’ll miss the first half of the game. But no way did I want to miss this event.”Adding to Rabinder’s reasons for flying to Atlanta was to dine with his lovely dinner companion, Suchita Vadlamani.

During dessert, it felt like the conclusion of a hit Broadway show. Mr. Pennequin called out from the kitchen the real stars of the evening—those who created this masterful dining experience. Chefs Eme and de Busschere, Nikolai sous chef for 20 years Harriet Senaya, and the half dozen other specialists who lent their artistry to create the meal. Like seasoned Broadway actors amidst a clapping standing ovation, they bowed in appreciation.



Just when we thought that our palates experienced heaven the night before, brunch in the Grand Ballroom served at various stations was also incredible. Sculptures made of ice and fruit complemented the exquisite food displays:

As my plane took off that evening to return to New York, I looked upon downtown Atlanta whose lights were glistening jewels spreading wide and high,locating the Hilton standing proudly among the other skyscrapers. Having attended countless wine and food events, none has sustained such excellence over an entire weekend as this one.

I do hope these type affairs become the rage, and their contribution to causes such as the American Heart Association, make them all worthwhile.The paying guests asked me to keep them in the loop if similar events move to other cities across the nation. I agree with them, it’s worth every penny.
Super Bowl. What Super Bowl?

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