Fairy Tale Curvee/Iron Horse Champagne

[PrincessAurora]

Saturday my friend Catwoman and I went to eat at Napa Rose in the Grand Californian, as we do each year to celebrate our birthdays. Every time we eat here something magical happens. Sometimes it is great waiter slipping us a little extra of a really high end wine or Chef Scott wanting to know if he has edged out Chef Gray of Citricos yet (nope but close).

This time we are seated next to a family of about 8. They have a bottle of Iron Horse Fairy Tale Curvee "Champagne" (technically sparkling wine but we wont get all picky and snotty on you). I mention to Catwoman that I've heard about that bubbly from the DIS Boards and I heard it was really fab. It was NOT on the list so we figured they brought it with them.

We go back to our Vintners Tasting Menu (see the Disneyland Board after Thanksgiving for my review) and as we are finishing our entrees and Silverado wine (the Disney vineyard), the older gentleman leans over and asks us if we would like some champagne.

Wow, not wanting to look like pigs, we sort of looked demure. His wife jumped in with "Of course they do". I said "That is very nice of you. That would be lovely." The waiter brought us two glasses that he proceeded to fill. I told him that I heard all kinds of wonderful things about this wine from the DIS Board. He said he liked hearing that because HE MAKES IT!!!!

Yup, we were talking to Mr. David Munksgard, winemaker for Iron Horse!! I found out that this wine is only available in select Disney places (Grand Floridian, Wedding Pavilion, Cruise Line) so we were so lucky to get a glass and it was soooooooooo good.

Catwoman introduced herself as a TV writer/Producer on a hit TV show and invited him to the set next time he was in town. I assured her it wasn't dorky for her to offer.

They were lovely people. They sang happy birthday to us, we sang happy birthday to his son. We made some nice Disney friends.

He gave me his card and invited me to come by the winery in Sonoma. As I live in Oakland, its about 2 hours to Iron Horse. I think there is a trip in the future!

 

[Tarheel Tink]

Incredible! What luck to meet him!

 

[BCV23]

Cool story.

 

[mlill]

WoW! How cool is THAT!?! I love the Fairy Tale Cuvee! We get a bottle of it every time we go to WDW! Infact, we just had one with our dinner at California Grill two weeks ago! I would love to visit the Iron Horse winery someday! Here's Mr. Munksgard's bio...

David Munksgard

-Michelle

P.S. You can get most of the other types of Iron Horse cuvee at your local liquor store. The Wedding Cuvee is very similar to the Fairy Tale.

Iron Horse Wedding Cuvee

I would also recommend the Russian Cuvee! YUM! I can't wait to try the new Joy! Cuvee for New Year's Eve! (Sorry to run on!)

 

[gatour]

mlill,

Thanks for the pointer on which other Iron Horse is similiar. I tasted the Fairy Tale for the first time two years ago at the Food and Wine Festival and fell in love with it. Great balance. I have been hestitant to experiment in trying to find something similiar as if I chose wrong it could have been a relatively expensive glass of wine. I don't like overly sweet wine so I bought a bottle most of it could have ended up down the drain.

Didn't occur to me to ask here on the boards.

 

[solotraveler]

I agree. I picked up a bottle of it in the Yacht Club gift shop on my last visit and it is really wonderful stuff. I want to say it was about $30.00/bottle. I'm definately picking up a bottle (or two) on my next visit.

 

[D&R love Disney]

Great story

The first time we tried the Fairy Tale Cuvee was at our wedding. We always bring a few bottles home with us for special occasions and also drink it on our anniversary. I've bought it in the Polynesian, Contemporary, Beach Club, Boardwalk and Wilderness Lodge stores.

 

[webray]

Wow, not wanting to look like pigs, we sort of looked demure. His wife jumped in with "Of course they do". I said "That is very nice of you. That would be lovely." The waiter brought us two glasses that he proceeded to fill. I told him that I heard all kinds of wonderful things about this wine from the DIS Board. He said he liked hearing that because HE MAKES IT!!!!

Yup, we were talking to Mr. David Munksgard, winemaker for Iron Horse!! I found out that this wine is only available in select Disney places (Grand Floridian, Wedding Pavilion, Cruise Line) so we were so lucky to get a glass and it was soooooooooo good.

He gave me his card and invited me to come by the winery in Sonoma. As I live in Oakland, its about 2 hours to Iron Horse. I think there is a trip in the future!

The Fairy Tale is available all over WDW, resorts, resort gift shops and restaurants. It is made available for anyone on disney property to purchase it if they want. Only at Disney (DL, WDW and Cruise line).

You pay approx $27.95 per bottle in the gift shops, or $50 per bottle off a menu.

The winemaker is fabulous and invites everyone he meets to come by the vineyard for tasting, after all his prime objective is to sell wine to disney or otherwise. When you hear him speak he also lets you know he isn't the only winemaker at the vineyard and they are a team there.

Glad you enjoyed the Fairy Tale, we keep it as a standard in our home.

 

[TAKitty]

I am so excited to hear that it might be actually worth the expense. However, is is sparkling or does it have alcohol? I would perfer sparkling, but Dh would rather have alcohol...

 

[PrincessAurora]

Yes and yes. Sparkling, alchohol, dry

 

[IMDORY]

I love the Wedding Couvee! I bought a couple of bottles for my bridal luncheon when I got married(1997)-I read about it in a brides magazine and tried it. It is very good. I never knew that it was available at WDW resorts and restaurants. We even honeymooned at WL. We are going to be at WL this Christmas-I'll be on the lookout for it-mmmm.

 

[xyzabc33]

I am not a wine/champagne expert and we only buy a bottle or 2 of locally made a year (we have 4 winerys nearby)for special occasions but this sounds really good. I will have to remember to pick up a bottle next trip. Reasonable price too...we spend 15 on local made stuff.

 

[PrincessAurora]

WoW! How cool is THAT!?! I love the Fairy Tale Cuvee! We get a bottle of it every time we go to WDW! Infact, we just had one with our dinner at California Grill two weeks ago! I would love to visit the Iron Horse winery someday! Here's Mr. Munksgard's bio...

David Munksgard

-Michelle

P.S. You can get most of the other types of Iron Horse cuvee at your local liquor store. The Wedding Cuvee is very similar to the Fairy Tale.

Iron Horse Wedding Cuvee

I would also recommend the Russian Cuvee! YUM! I can't wait to try the new Joy! Cuvee for New Year's Eve! (Sorry to run on!)

That is him!!!! Thanks for the other suggestions. When I go to Fritz Winery in December to pick up some wine, I'm going to swing by. I would soooo love to do this for a living.

 

[gatour]

On our 11 day Disney Cruise they had Michael Jordan, the GM/Sommelier at Napa Rose, give four cooking demonstrations and several wine tastings. What a great guy. You can tell his love of food and wine and he is not snobbish about it.

It had me contemplating flying cross country just to eat at the Napa Rose.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

just wondering if you ever made it up to Iron Horse? It's been almost 4 years since we were there, but it was a great place to go. I'm hoping to get out there again on our trip next month. You keep driving out into the county, on smaller and smaller roads, until you are on a one-lane dirt road between the fields. Things have probably changed, but in 2003 the tasting room was basically 2 planks set on whiskey barrels outside. Turn around and admire the view of the valley below. Gorgeous! The person who assisted us was great. We really enjoyed comparing the different sparkling wines.

 

[Quinn222]

If this interests you I strongly recommend the book "A Cultivated Life" by Joy Sterling, which is about a year in the life of Iron Horse Vinyards.