Wynnstay hotel chef wins Trinchero Family Estate competition

Gareth Johns of the Wynnstay hotel and restaurant in Machynlleth has won the Trinchero Family Estates food and wine matching trip to the Napa Valley in California.

Johns won the exclusive four-day educational trip after creating two recipes to complement two Trinchero Family Estate wines.

His prize of a tailor-made ‘Vine To Dine’ programme will see him participating in a cookery competition at Trinchero’s culinary centre, visiting San Francisco’s Chinatown, and learning to blend his own wine. 

Johns will be hosted by Barry Wiss, Trinchero's vice-president of communications and trade relations, and resident chef Jeff Star and his team.

John’s winning menu comprised “tataki” of vanilla-cured pork tenderloin, seared foie gras, mango pan chutney and a sesame tuile, which he accompanied with a Folie à Deux Ménage à Trois White 2005, and loin of Glanusk venison with griddled Black Mission figs, red wine and Valrhona essence on a celeriac and potato rosti with glazed Chantenay carrots, paired with a Montevina Terra d’Oro County Zinfandel 2004.

Wiss said: “Gareth made excellent menu choices and gave great descriptions of the food and wine pairings. It’s obvious he put a lot of sincere effort into evaluating the wines.”

Win a wine and food matching education trip to the Napa Valley >>

California Dreamin' competition: Taste match special >>

By Amanda Afiya

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