Melville Winery at Market Street Kitchen

2024 UPDATE: Market Street Kitchen has closed and been replaced by Liberty Station. Melville Winery and Chad Melville are still going strong and cranking out some great wines.

I had the pleasure of attending a winemaker dinner Tuesday night at Market Street Kitchen featuring Chad Melville from Melville Winery in Lompoc, California.  Market Street Kitchen is in the DC Ranch area of North Scottsdale, near Jalapeño Inferno, Fleming’s and The Herb Box.  The original DC Ranch holds an important place in the hearts and minds of the Scottsdale community, where only a few decades ago, men worked cattle on the 43,000 acre ranch.  As a nod to its western roots, the overall design of Market Street Kitchen uses rustic materials utilized in modern ways.  Sandblasted wood planks line the walls, and aged natural iron is used in the impressive floor-to-ceiling wine display. The interior dining area and bar are illuminated with Edison bulbs, and outside you can sip cocktails by a fire pit under an attractive wrap-around, covered patio.

Melville Winery was established in 1996 when patriarch Ron Melville purchased 40 acres of land in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA of the Santa Ynez Valley near Santa Barbara, California.  Before moving to the Central Coast, Ron had established himself as a successful grape farmer in the Sonoma Valley.  With its rocky soil and unique microclimate, the Sta. Rita hills are exposed to fog and cool ocean breezes that provide the perfect environment for the finicky Pinot Noir grape.  Since 2015, Ron’s son, Chad, has been the head winemaker. Working exclusively with grapes from their own vineyards, Chad produces wine that demonstrates the unique climate and location of the vineyards.  The philosophy is simple: no human manipulation.  Chad stresses that while it is harder to step back and allow nature to take its course, in doing so, you are left with wine that remains as pure as possible.

Executive Chef Michael Hunn prepared a four-course menu to showcase Melville’s estate wines that included a chardonnay, two pinot noirs, and an elegant 2015 Syrah, which was probably my favorite of the night.

First Course

Poached Nantucket Bay Scallops

fennel dust pollen, dragonfruit-lavender compote, and agave nectar glaze

2014 Melville Estate Chardonnay

Second Course

Black Tea Steamed Hamachi

candied ginger carrots, braised celery, beet juice

2013 Melville Estate Pinot Noir

Third Course

Rotisserie Smoked Pork Tenderloin

artichoke baragoule, celeriac purée, thyme essence

2014 Melville Terraces Pinot Noir

Fourth Course

Braised Lamb Shank

black trumpet mushrooms, white bean purée, tomato confit, pinot-orange reduction

2015 Melville Estate Syrah

Dessert

Lemon-Poppy Seed Cheesecake with Seasonal Berries

Market Street Kitchen is owned by Paul Keeler of Keeler Hospitality Group.  KHG also manages Spencer’s for Chops and Steaks in Omaha, Nebraska, and on March 13 is rolling out a new concept in the Terravita Marketplace off Carefree Highway called Liberty Station.  The space formerly occupied by Cibo e Vino will be transformed into an American tavern and smokehouse, smoking many of its meats on a 13-foot custom-made Camelback Smoker.  Other menu items include Pasilla Chile Mac’n’Cheese, Kobe Meatloaf and Boston Lobster Roll…sounds like we will be making our way north on Scottsdale Road again very soon!

Y’all have a great weekend!  xoM

Market Street Kitchen

20825 N Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ
480-274-7044
www.marketstreetkitchen.com

Melville Winery

5185 E Highway 246, Lompoc, CA
805-735-5310
Open daily 11 am to 4 pm
www.melvillewinery.com

Liberty Station

34522 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ
www.libertystationtavern.com

All photos by Marci Symington for texAZtaste.com.  This was not a sponsored posts, and all opinions are of my own.

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