Wine Column: On the road with Turtle Rock Vineyards
Don (pictured) and Claudia Burns of Turtle Rock Vineyards recently traveled south to showcase their wines at a specially curated wine dinner at Boccaccio’s Restaurant in Westlake Village.
– On October 13 and 14, Don and Claudia Burns of Turtle Rock Vineyards traveled south to showcase their wines at a specially curated wine dinner at Boccaccio’s Restaurant in Westlake Village, CA. Situated on the lake, this community borders Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Surrounded by mountains and open spaces, Boccaccio’s has been a fixture in this Southern California area since 1968, providing an ideal setting for this two-night event.
Over the course of the two nights, about 140 people gathered for an incredible evening of food, fun, laughter, friendship, and wine. Don and Claudia visited each table, making sure everyone enjoyed the experience while discussing wines and answering guests’ questions.
As guests arrived, they checked their seat assignments on a master board and proceeded to their tables, where their seat name tags awaited. With tables expertly arranged, everything exuded elegance. Once seated, wine was poured, and the fabulous five-course meal commenced.
Don and Claudia, working with Boccaccio’s Manager and Executive Chef, crafted an artfully designed five-course menu. Each dish was carefully paired to elevate the wine selection through thoughtfully chosen sauces and sides, highlighting the flavors and subtle distinctions of the food and wine as they ‘played’ together.
Menu: five courses of gastronomic perfection
The dinner featured five courses paired with estate wines.
The first course was pan-roasted branzino served with the 2023 Willow White, a Rhône blend dominated by Grenache Blanc, rated 93 points by wine critic Jeb Dunnuck.
The second course included grilled New York steak paired with the 2022 Willow’s Cuvée, a red Rhône blend led by Grenache with mataro, syrah, and graciano, reflecting the diversity of Paso Robles grapes. The wine received 96 points from Dunnuck.
The third course featured herb-crusted rack of lamb with the 2022 Westberg Red, an eclectic blend of zinfandel, tempranillo, and petite sirah named in honor of Don’s uncle, an early Paso Robles winemaking pioneer. The wine earned 94-plus points from The Wine Advocate.
The fourth course was duck thigh confit paired with the 2022 G2N Cabernet Sauvignon, a cabernet sauvignon–dominant blend from Bill Gibbs’ G2N Vineyard, rated 97 points by Dunnuck.
For dessert, the meal concluded with warm brown butter cake topped with chocolate ganache and vanilla ice cream, served alongside the 2022 Claude’s Cuvée, an elegant Rhône blend that also received 97 points from Dunnuck.
The wines’ names carry personal significance for the family. Willow White and Willow’s Cuvée are named for Don and Claudia’s daughter, while Claude’s Cuvée honors Claudia’s father, who shares her birthday, born on the same day in different years.
Made from grapes sourced from Paso’s most esteemed vineyards in Willow Creek AVA, the wines complemented the food, and guests enthusiastically praised each course. The evening brought together food and wine lovers, introducing many to the wines of Turtle Rock and one of Paso’s most respected winemakers, and two very cool people.
Thanks, Don and Claudia, for putting together an evening to remember, with a fun group of like-minded people. Cheers!
More information is available at turtlerockvineyards.com and boccacciosrestaurant.com.
Don Sonderling is a freelance writer, covering California’s unique cultural lifestyle of wine, food, and activities, from Santa Barbara to Napa Valley and beyond. He may be reached at: donsonderling@gmail.com.
