Reflections from Christopher Becerra, Greyfield Inn’s Service & Beverage Director

When the Question Really Is: What Wine Would You Want if You Were Actually on a Deserted Island? 

On more than one occasion, I have heard both guests and staff remark that “change comes slowly to Greyfield.” Over the past year, I’ve come to observe that this is largely true. There are, of course, the cyclical, seasonal variances to rely upon: the early sunsets in winter; knobby-kneed foals in the spring. But as guests step off the Lucy R. Ferguson and walk the short path to the inn, they marvel at the same live oaks that generations before walked by every day. When they step inside, they’re surrounded by fixtures, furnishings, books, and paintings original to the home, collected and cared for by the family. At breakfast or dinner, guests are seated at the same dining room table where the Carnegie family took their meals. When the fires are lit, it is easy to imagine the same fires warming those gathered around them at the turn of the century. There isn’t even a landline at the inn; communications with our mainland office are carried out through VHF radio, and notes scurried back and forth on the boat. There is no Internet. Sometimes, the most exciting part of a day is watching the familial drama of a herd of wild horses play out in the backyard. Little horse operas full of mare-stealing and hoof-stomping.

So yes, change comes slowly here. Unless we’re talking about the inn’s wine list, that is. Over the past year, the wine offering has expanded from sixteen, mostly New World selections, to a list of largely European producers that hovers right around ninety wines. A year may sound like a while, but when you’re selecting wines for a property that is seemingly frozen in amber, it feels like light-speed. And the family wasn’t too interested in slowly peeling off the band-aid, either. I was instructed to “overhaul the whole darn thing.” That was the spring of 2015, when I would dip in and out as a free-lance consultant.

Eventually, it was clear the beverage program needed a full-time hand, and that really set the ball rolling.

Greyfield Inn

Just Because You Build It, Does That Mean They’ll Drink It? 

There were two things that I wanted Greyfield’s wine program to accomplish: the first was to offer bottles that complemented Chef Whitney Otawka’s southern-inspired, coastal plates. She and I worked together in various iterations in previous years, and I felt I understood her food, and delicate touch in the kitchen enough to quickly populate the list with a handful of trusted producers I was familiar with, nearly all of whom produce wines with a non-interventionist approach, good fruit, and essential acidity.

The second goal was to provide guests with plenty of opportunities to explore the breadth of wines without necessarily committing to a bottle. I didn’t want the kind of list that allowed for sleeper bottles to languish in storage until someone came along to take a chance on them. I just wanted to pop them open to share with folks. That’s when we decided to offer per-course wine pairings at dinner on Fridays and Saturdays.

The response on the part of our guests took me by surprise. There was a marked up-tick in dining room chatter about the wines after the nightly dinner announcements, and what seemed like relief at not having to fuss too long over which wine to choose. It also fostered spirited conversations between our staff, our guests, and myself. Wine offers a lot of opportunities to learn about all sorts of things: agriculture, geography, geology, world history, language. It’s a conversation-starter.

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That said, I’m a big believer in showing someone something, rather than just lecturing them about it. Pairing nights proved to be the perfect setting for this. After a few months, we decided to expand pairing nights to Thursdays, and then Sundays. Now our diners are able to break free of the chard/cab bubble more often, if they choose, and experience for themselves how these wines stand up.

A lot of thought, conversation and, of course tasting, goes into choosing which bottles get pulled for any given night’s three-course dinner. There are pestering questions from myself to the chefs as they’re prepping. How acidic is the sauce? What are you doing to those parsnips? What kind of squash is in the soup? Are the nuts toasted, or raw? Then comes a steady stream of glasses to the kitchen for the chefs, and quick bites of a dish’s various components.

Greyfield’s is a seasonal kitchen. As the weeks progress, so do its meals, reflecting what is coming from Greyfield Garden, the surrounding waters, or local purveyors. Fall and winter are some of my favorite times to pull open more opulent white wines, like Vouvray or white Rhône blends, as well as delicate but structured red Burgundies, or Barbarescos. There’s an unending supply of root vegetables, squash, and winter lettuces the gardeners bring to the kitchen. Each plate provides various challenges to finding the right partner from the list. Sometimes, it takes a few tries.

Getting Specific

One dish that took some time to find the right wine for has become one of my favorite: oak grilled, wild-caught Georgia shrimp. I’m a Midwesterner, so shrimp isn’t something I naturally gravitate toward. As is often the case, however, Whitney makes it easy to be a late-to-the-party convert. After the shrimp come in from the oak wood-fired grill, they’re arranged over earthy heirloom beans, piperade, and charred onions, surrounded by a smoky tomato broth, often given a touch of heat from dried chiles. I tried a lot of juice for this plate: Sancerre (too dry); Riesling Kabinett (not bad, but often a little heavy handed); Savennieres (clobbered the dish). Then I turned to one of those languishing bottles that I admired, but often went under my own radar: Furmint Sec, or dry Furmint.

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You may have tasted this little-discussed white grape if you’ve ever been lucky enough to sample the truly extraordinary Azú sweet wines of Hungary’s Tokaj region. But the late-ripening, thick-skinned grape can also make for alluring, full-bodied, dry wines. Typically, they exhibit considerable ripe orchard and tropical fruit notes, as well as slight nutty aromas. They tend to be higher in alcohol, but retain surprisingly balanced acidity and great aging potential.

The dry Furmint that was on our list, actually an Austrian one made by the talented Heidi Schrock, comes from the province of Burgenland, about five miles over the Hungarian border. I say “was,” because I was so pleasantly surprised by what I was sure would be a long-shot pairing, that the Heidi Schrock became a weekly go-to. And then, it was gone. No more left at the distributor. I wasn’t sure I’d find a suitable stand-in; the wine had all the hallmarks for a synergistic match with the shrimp. Its weighty apricot-laden palate held up to the spice; its acid worked perfectly with the tomato; its tasteful oak presence (something I’d normally avoid with most seafood plates) demonstrably played up the smoky oak flavors imparted on the sweet shrimp. The wine also had a kind of waxy, macadamia nut thing going on, too, which nicely handled the creamy beans with all their earthy flavors. It’s also gorgeous-looking in the glass- all golden-hued and honey-colored. All of this speaks to a wine that truly showcases a sense of placeThe grapes come from one of the hottest micro-climates in Austria, in vineyards that form a horseshoe around Lake Neusiedl, which reflects the day’s sun back onto the vines, providing ample ripening. The wine is aged in large, acacia wood casks, giving it a structured backbone.

So, when I got down to my last bottle of the 2013 Heidi, I sadly removed it from the list, and squirrelled it away on the great onesies shelf, a constant reminder of past wine list soldiers. (There are some real finds there. You should ask me about them when you come to visit.)

I fumbled around for a few weeks with various Burgundies, Loire whites, and both dry and off-dry Rieslings. None were awful, but none of them seemed to pick up and run with it, in my opinion. Then I became aware of what is considered to be a hallmark producer in Tokaj, Hungary: Kiràlyudvar (pronounced Kee-RYE-oohd-var), an estate that farms its volcanic soiled vineyards organically. The grapes ripen in a unique climate of rainy autumns and long Indian summers. It’s then aged in large Hungarian oak casks.

Here we had a Furmint that proved to be a little more viscous, slightly more ripe and tropical, less nutty, and no less beguiling. Another 2013, this Furmint sec proves the age-worthiness of the wines; there’s still impressive acidity and lift behind all that fruit. This wine also seems to hone in on the shrimp’s slight smoky heat with a little more precision.

Just this week, the distributor for both these wines found a lone case of the Heidi Schrock Furmint in a New Jersey warehouse. So guess who’s coming back to Cumberland for a longer stay? I’m excited to taste these wines back-to-back. On a list as small as ours, it may look strange to have two similar oddities, but I hope the always-changing, ever-evolving selection at Greyfield helps to shed light on lesser-known producers and varietals. I think a good wine list can be any size, as long as it seeks to bridge gaps and spark intrigue.

So, come visit. Disconnect, and re-connect, as we like to say. Pour yourself some wine, look at some horses, and maybe think how the stuff in your glass connects you to the whole wide world.

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Cheers!

Christopher Becerra, Service & Beverage Director

Christopher Becerra
[Photo by: Emily B Hall]

P.S.

You can see our current wine list here.

A Day in the Life: Chef Whitney Otawka

Culinary Director Whitney Otwaka has been hard at work this summer creating delicious meals each day for the guests of Greyfield Inn. Sourcing most of her ingredients directly from Cumberland Island and the Greyfield Garden, she uses seasonal produce and fresh catch  to create her refined southern dishes. When not working on Cumberland Island, Whitney’s been embarking on culinary adventures to draw on some fresh inspiration.  Take a look at what she’s been up to in the past few months and some of the exquisite meals she’s been making!

A Taste of the Georgia Coast

This May, Chef Whitney teamed up with Georgia Organics to combine the best of Greyfield Garden with produce from other organic Georgian farms, resulting in a delicious and food-filled weekend to celebrate local food.

FullSizeRender[1]In true southern fashion, the weekend kicked off with a low country boil on our front lawn.

IMG_7877The second night’s multi-course meal featured White Oak Pastures chicken and ricotta dumplings with sweet peas, baby squash, and Calabrian Chili Oil.

Eats on the island:

As culinary director, Whitney has her hands involved in all aspects of Greyfield Inn’s dining experience – from harvesting to preparing to plating.

IMG_7873This sheepshead fish made its way from the ocean to Greyfield’s dinner table within hours. The sheepshead is a flaky white fish that’s commonly caught off the coasts of Georgia and northern Florida.

IMG_7872Combining cantaloupe, Mexican sour gerkins, micro basil, mint, peppercress, lime, and espellete creates a refreshing afternoon snack. While these ingredients shine on their own, the medley harmonizes them to maximize their flavors.

IMG_7876Cucumbers from Greyfield Garden make a refreshing cucumber and buttermilk soup with pickled Georgia shrimp, ice lettuce, espellette, and olive oil.

IMG_7874Fresh tomatoes are a staple in summertime dishes in the south. The first picks this season were paired with filet beans, sheep’s milk feta, spring onions, and green garlic for a flavorful salad.

IMG_7881Greyfield Inn guests are sent off with picnic baskets filled with Georgia shrimp rolls to enjoy between bird-watching tours and bike rides.

Culinary adventures near and far

Taking a break from Cumberland Island, Whitney crossed the Atlantic for a visit to Copenhagen. She spent time exploring the culinary history and culture of the Nordic land.

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Follow Chef Whitney Otawka (@whitneyotawka) on social media to stay updated on what she’s up to!

Summer at Greyfield Garden

gardenAs spring turns to summer, the Greyfield Garden is bursting at the seams with ripe produce. Culinary Gardeners’ Ryan Graycheck and Maya Velasco are busy harvesting everything from heirloom tomatoes to fingerling potatoes, providing the culinary team with delicious ingredients used to feed the guests of Greyfield Inn.

IMG_7926Colorful swiss chard finish out the springtime harvest.

IMG_7924In early summer, the tomato plants start producing this sweet, juicy summer staple. By June these plants are filled with shades of reds and oranges in all shapes and sizes.

IMG_7920This variety of sweet red peppers includes Corno di Toro Rosso, Round of Hungary, Lipstick, and Jimmy Nardello.

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187Another summer favorite from the garden is summer squash and zucchini. Not only is the veggie featured in many seasonal meals, the blossoms can be stuffed with other seasonal ingredients.

IMG_7923From the June soil comes hearty fingerling potatoes.

IMG_7921Ice lettuce – these rare gems make beautiful garnishes on summer dishes.

Stay up-to-date on what’s growing in the Greyfield Garden by following them on Instagram at @GreyfieldGarden!

 

Tomatoes in all shapes, sizes, and colors

Tomatoes grow in a rainbow of sizes, colors, and flavors. Below is a description of how each tomato tastes based on its color.

High acid: red, green, purple, brown
Medium acid: orange, yellow, pink
Low Acid: white, larger bicolors

Red: Red tomatoes are often very acidic and are an excellent choice for canning or making sauces. They tend to be some of the juiciest tomatoes and can be used in the kitchen in so many different ways.

Purple and Brown: These tomatoes tend to be complex, intensely flavorful, and flat out delicious. The depth of flavors are sweet and earthy and are excellent for salsas and sauces or just eating plain.

Green: These tomatoes tend to be a bit sweeet with a very full, rich flavor and closely resemble the taste of red tomatoes. They are also great in sauces and salsas.

Orange: The golden-hued, sunny varieties burst with a sweet citrus flavor. They are excellent for use in gazpachos

Pink: These taste very similar to red tomatoes but are typically a bit milder and sometimes sweeter. These are also a great choice for folks who prefer a lower acid tomato.

Yellow: These tomatoes have a bit of a citrusy taste, with a hint of lemon and tend to have a low to medium acidity. They are great for salads or used to add color and a citrusy flavor to salsas.

Striped: These varieties are typically low in acidity and have a fairly high sugar content. They also tend to bear very large fruits (especially the German and pineapple varieties) and are a delight to grow and eat.

White: These are a great variety for folks that can’t handle the acidity. These are a great choice for fresh eating and are very mild. Due to their low acidity they are not a prefered tomato for canning

Greyfield Inn Ferry

Driving Directions to The Greyfield Inn Ferry

From the North:

Take Interstate 95 to Highway A1A (Exit 373). Turn left at the light at the end of the ramp. Then follow A1A East for 14.8 miles to Centre Street. Turn left onto Centre Street and go to the waterfront. Drop off your passenger and/or luggage to meet he Boat Captain at Dock A next to the “Lucy R. Ferguson” sign on the dock rail. Follow the directions on your parking pass to the parking area, then walk southwest across the train rail to the boat.

From the South:
Take Interstate 95 to Highway A1A (Exit 373). Turn right at the end of the ramp. Then follow A1A east for 14.8 miles to Centre Street. Turn left onto Centre Street and go to the waterfront. Drop off your passenger and/or luggage to meet he Boat Captain at Dock A next to the “Lucy R. Ferguson” sign on the dock rail. Follow the directions on your parking pass to the parking area, then walk southwest across the train rail to the boat.

Google Map to Dock 

ferry map

Shuttle Service from The Jacksonville Airport

Greyfield Inn Ferry Schedule
Fernandina Beach / Amelia Island, Florida Embarkment

Fernandina Beach Departures:
9:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m.

Cumberland Island Departures:
8:00 a.m., 10:45 a.m.

Please be at the dock  15 minutes ahead of your departure time.