An Unforgettable Anniversary Evening at Society Swan: A Five-Course Wine Dinner with Kerr Cellars…read more
We had the pleasure of spending a lovely evening at Society Swan, an American Brasserie, celebrating my parents' 46th wedding anniversary with a five-course wine dinner featuring Kerr Cellars. It was a wonderful occasion to bring together family, fine dining, and an appreciation for thoughtfully curated food and wine pairings.
The evening featured an impressive menu that balanced seafood, seasonal ingredients, hearty main courses, and an indulgent dessert. Each course was accompanied by a specific wine, creating a structured dining experience that highlighted selections from Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast.
The evening began with Maine lobster, served with buttered brioche and Old Bay aioli, paired with a 2025 Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley. This opening course established an elegant start to the dinner, combining a classic seafood preparation with a California white wine.
Course One: Roasted Sea Bass
The roasted sea bass was served with cracked freekeh, Swiss chard, tomato vierge, and rock shrimp butter. It was paired with a 2022 5 Wells Vineyard Chardonnay from Sonoma Coast. The combination of seafood, grains, vegetables, and a butter-based sauce made this a substantial and thoughtfully composed course.
Course Two: Fresh Fig Tartlet
The second course featured a fresh fig tartlet with aged goat cheese, arugula, and butter-poached almond, accompanied by a 2023 Silver Eagle Vineyard Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast. The ingredients offered a seasonal direction for the menu, with the Pinot Noir providing a red-wine pairing for this distinctive course.
Course Three: Short Rib à la Bourguignonne
The main course featured short rib à la Bourguignonne, served with horseradish risotto, crispy Brussels sprouts, and herb bread crumb. It was paired with a 2021 Mast Ranch Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. This was the heartiest course of the evening, bringing together a classic braised beef preparation and a single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Dessert: Black Forest Sticky Toffee Pudding
Dessert brought the meal to a decadent conclusion with Black Forest Sticky Toffee Pudding, chocolate toffee sauce, whipped mascarpone, and Luxardo cherries. The accompanying wine was a 2022 Stagecoach Vineyard Syrah from Napa Valley. The dessert offered a rich finish to the five-course menu and rounded out the evening's progression of food and wine.
The Kerr Cellars Wine Experience
One of the defining features of the dinner was its selection of California wines. The menu included Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, representing vineyards and wine-growing regions across Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast. Each wine was listed alongside a specific course, making the pairings an integral part of the evening.
The progression from white wines to Pinot Noir, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, gave the dinner a clear structure. For guests who enjoy exploring wine alongside a multi-course menu, this format offers an opportunity to experience a range of varietals throughout a single meal.
Celebrating 46 Years of Marriage
What made the evening especially meaningful was the reason we were there. Celebrating my parents' 46th wedding anniversary made this more than an ordinary dinner out. It was an opportunity to spend quality time together, mark an extraordinary milestone, and create another special memory as a family.
Society Swan provided the setting for the occasion, while the five-course menu and Kerr Cellars wine selections gave the celebration a distinctive fine-dining focus.
Final Review
Society Swan's five-course wine dinner with Kerr Cellars was a memorable choice for celebrating my parents' 46th wedding anniversary. The menu featured a diverse selection of dishes, from Maine lobster and roasted sea bass to short rib à la Bourguignonne and Black Forest Sticky Toffee Pudding. The accompanying wines showcased several well-known California varietals from Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast.
The combination of a multi-course menu, curated wine pairings, and a special family occasion made this a lovely evening to remember.
A beautiful way to celebrate 46 years of love, family, and lasting memories. Society Swan and Kerr Cellars provided a fitting backdrop for a meaningful anniversary dinner, and it was a pleasure to share the occasion with my parents.
Here's to celebrating love, creating memories, and enjoying many more special evenings together!