⏱ 2 min read
The Short Version
Forget following recipes; Chef Erin Sealy builds her menus entirely around the bottle. On October 20, she’s bringing that experimental spirit to Drift Cafe for an intimate evening of curated pairings featuring five distinct Stiekema wines.
Chef Erin Sealy grew up in a Sicilian-American household where wine was treated as a staple, much like bread on the table. This early immersion shaped her culinary style, though her passion for the vine truly ignited during a sophomore year trip to Italy. “I quickly realized that wine was cheaper than water,” Sealy said. That realization, paired with an instinctive approach to flavor, defines her work today. On October 20, Sealy brings this spirit to Pacific Beach, hosting a Wine Pairs Event at Drift Cafe designed to bridge the gap between kitchen and cellar.
I would drive my mother crazy because she was a recipe follower and I wasn’t.
The art of experimental pairing
Sealy’s methodology centers on the belief that food should be built around the bottle. Rather than following standard templates, she focuses on how specific textures and characteristics within a pour can elevate a dish. I would drive my mother crazy because she was a recipe follower and I wasn’t. That refusal to stick to tradition shapes her menus, which are engineered to complement the nuances of each selection. For this upcoming event, guests will experience pairings curated to highlight the balance found in Paso Robles viticulture.
The evening features five distinct selections from the Stiekema Wine Company cellar. Winemaker Mike Stiekema utilizes sustainable and regenerative practices to produce wines intended to reflect life’s natural equilibrium. The lineup includes a 2025 Rosé of Grenache/Mourvèdre, a 2023 Grenache, a 2024 Mourvèdre, a 2024 Syrah, and a 2023 Grenache/Syrah/Mourvèdre blend. Each course is paired with a specific wine, allowing guests to see how the flavors of the food and wine enhance one another.
Coastal dining meets Paso Robles terroir
While the menu is still being finalized, the setting at Drift Cafe provides a relaxed, coastal backdrop for an intimate evening. Sealy hosts dinners across 11 different San Diego locations, using these rotating events to introduce new neighborhoods to her ever-changing pairing concepts. By focusing on producers like Stiekema, she moves beyond simple service into the realm of storytelling.
This event highlights how intentionality in the kitchen can transform a standard dinner into an educational experience. As the weather turns cooler in San Diego, these gatherings emphasize the importance of seasonal ingredients meeting well-structured wines. It serves as a reminder that great wine is best enjoyed when paired with its ideal culinary counterpart.
Do you prefer following a set tasting menu or having the freedom to choose your own dishes?
Questions & Answers
What wines will be featured at the Drift Cafe event?
The event features five distinct selections from the Stiekema Wine Company cellar. The lineup includes a 2025 Rosé of Grenache/Mourvèdre, a 2023 Grenache, and a 2024 Mourvèdre. Guests will also taste a 2024 Syrah along with a 2023 Grenache/Syrah/Mourvèdre blend. These specific selections are curated to highlight the unique balance and nuances found in Paso Robles viticulture through a series of intentional food pairings.
How does Chef Erin Sealy approach food and wine pairing?
Chef Erin Sealy approaches pairing by building her food menus around the specific characteristics of the wine bottle. Rather than following traditional recipes or standard templates, she focuses on how the textures and nuances of a particular pour can elevate a dish. This experimental methodology allows her to create culinary experiences that are engineered to complement the natural equilibrium of the wine, moving beyond simple service into the realm of storytelling.
When and where is the wine pairing event with Erin Sealy taking place?
The Wine Pairs Event hosted by Chef Erin Sealy takes place on October 20 at Drift Cafe in Pacific Beach. This specific gathering serves as one of many rotating dinner events she hosts across 11 different San Diego locations. While the setting at Drift Cafe offers a relaxed coastal backdrop, the event is designed to be an intimate and educational experience that introduces new neighborhoods to her unique pairing concepts.
What kind of farming practices does Stiekema Wine Company use?
Stiekema Wine Company utilizes sustainable and regenerative practices to produce its various wine selections. Winemaker Mike Stiekema implements these methods to ensure that the final products reflect the natural equilibrium of the vineyard. By focusing on these environmentally conscious techniques, the winery produces wines intended to showcase the authentic terroir of the Paso Robles region through every bottle served at special events.
Originally reported by Times of San Diego.
