Potomac Point Winery held their annual Wine Maker’s Dinner this past June on their beautiful patio overlooking the vineyards. They chose an incredibly creative five-course menu and paired each course perfectly with their selected wines. During each course, the Executive Chef and Owners spoke to the guests about their meal and educated them on the wine that they were drinking.
We chose to seat everyone at a long banquet table to encourage conversation among all of the guests. We kept the color palette fresh and muted to compliment the natural beauty of the winery by using whites and greens with touches of brown and aqua. Our table was set with white damask linens with a runner made from leaves, vines, branches, flower buds and other types of greenery. We tucked votive candles into the green runner and scattered wine bottles down the length of the table. These wine bottles were filled with white taper candles and several varieties of white flowers including dahlias, ranunculus, and spray roses.
Each guest was greeted at their seat with a beautifully-designed menu outlining each course and a single flower tucked into their napkin. We also used wine barrels as cocktail tables which held small arrangements of white flowers. Glass lanterns were hung above each barrel and above the bar. Above the table, we hung a chandelier that was made out of corks from the winery and added hanging votive candles to it. Other glass accents, such as vintage french wine bottles filled with white hydrangea, accented the space. White curtains were hung at the entrance to the patio and made a huge difference by enclosing the space and blocking some of the harsh summer light. The billowy effect created from the curtains blowing in the breeze was almost magical and reminded me of a scene from The Great Gatsby.
To beat the ninety degree heat that evening, the guests were greeted with a glass of the winery’s signature sangria. There were also oversized fans hanging over the patio which helped cool them off. Between courses, the guest received frozen granita palate cleansers which helped them cool off as well. The guests stayed and mingled all evening while enjoying their wine. As they made their way home, they raved about the evening and every one of them said that they can’t wait for next year’s dinner.
