Winter wine dinner at Rookery Hall: a four-course Burgundy pairing

Looking for a wine dinner in Cheshire? As part of a festive stay at Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa, I went to an evening from the Winter Wine Dinner Series by Hand Picked Hotels. It paired wines from La Croix de Brully, a boutique Burgundy producer, with a seasonal four-course menu in a private dining room.

If you love food and wine and fancy adding something special to a weekend break, here’s what to expect, from the setting and the sommelier to each course and its pairing. These are the dishes and wines served at my dinner, as menus change from event to event.

Disclaimer: I stayed at Rookery Hall Hotel on a PR trip for Handpicked Hotels. All thoughts and opinions in this post are my own.

What is the Winter Wine Dinner Series?

It’s a seasonal programme of food and wine events across the Hand Picked Hotels collection. Each focuses on a particular producer or region, with a four-course dinner, five paired wines and one of the group’s expert sommeliers as host.

At Rookery Hall, the wines came from La Croix de Brully, a small Burgundy domaine producing elegant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from appellations including Meursault, Rully, Chassagne-Montrachet, Chambolle-Musigny and Santenay Premier Cru.

The setting and service

Soft lighting and classic interiors created a calm, welcoming atmosphere in one of the hotel’s private dining spaces. We started with canapés and a glass of Rully Clos des Mollepierres, which set the tone for a relaxed, unhurried meal. Service was excellent, and the small group gave the evening an intimate feel.

Hosted by Master Sommelier Clément Robert

The wines were introduced by Clément Robert, Master Sommelier and Head of Wine for Hand Picked Hotels. Before each pour, he brought the wine to life with a short introduction to its grape, terroir and style. He was informative and engaging without ever feeling too formal, and he took time between courses to chat with guests.

The menu and wine pairings

Each course was matched with a wine from La Croix de Brully, celebrating seasonal ingredients and refined French techniques.

Crab tart with Saint-Aubin 1er Cru La Châtenière 2023

Dinner began with a delicate crab tart, topped with slivers of Granny Smith apple, brown crab meat and garden herbs. The apple’s tartness balanced the sweetness of the crab, while the Saint-Aubin 1er Cru La Châtenière 2023 brought freshness and structure, with enough weight to match the pastry and seafood.

Skrei cod with Chassagne-Montrachet La Goujonne 2023

Next came Skrei cod, a prized Norwegian winter fish, with caviar and a white wine cream sauce lifted with dill. It was a beautifully restrained dish. The Chassagne-Montrachet La Goujonne 2023 had precise acidity and minerality that cut through the cream and echoed the coastal notes of the caviar.

Stuffed herb-fed chicken with Chambolle-Musigny 2023

The main course was herb-fed chicken, stuffed and served with a coq au vin-style garnish, and it had real depth and richness. The silky tannins and red fruit of the Chambolle-Musigny 2023 brought contrast and lift, while its savoury backbone tied everything together.

Aged creamy Lancashire with Santenay 1er Cru 2023

To finish, a wedge of aged creamy Lancashire cheese came with a miniature Eccles cake and fig. The Santenay 1er Cru 2023 had enough body to match the cheese and the sweetness of the fruit: indulgent but balanced, and a quietly confident end to the evening.

Is a wine dinner at Rookery Hall worth booking?

This was a highlight of my visit. The seasonal setting, well-curated wine flight and excellent food made it a really enjoyable evening, and Clément’s insights made it feel both accessible and special. If you enjoy food and wine experiences, it’s a great excuse for a special evening on a weekend break or festive getaway.

You can read about the rooms and spa in my full Rookery Hall review. For another hotel where the food is a big part of the appeal, see The Cottage in the Wood.

When does Rookery Hall host wine evenings?

Handpicked Hotels hosts events throughout the year across its hotels. Check the events page to see what’s coming up and book, or follow them on Instagram.