Would You Like Wine and Cheese With That Barbecue?

It was a perfect Sunday afternoon in Newport Beach. Across the city, people were celebrating the weekend with mimosas at brunch, shopping at Fashion Island and bike riding around the Peninsula. However, no other celebration could match the perfection of the Argentinian barbecue at the 9th Annual Newport Beach Wine Festival. 

Wine lovers filled the beachfront lawn of the Balboa Bay Club and Resort to taste exceptional wines poured by more than 15 different wineries. Most of the wines were from South America—full bodied Malbecs and Sangioveses. 

The theme of the barbecue was South American, particularly Argentina. "I have some real old friends from South America. Argentinian," said Balboa Bay Club Executive Chef Josef Lageder. "I've known them for some years now and wanted to invite them back to do a true Argentian barbecue."

And true it was. From the massive grill on the lawn with chorizos, beef and chicken being grilled and cut at a carving station, to the authentic regional wines being poured and a band playing unique South American beats, it was like traveling to a far away place without leaving home. 

"I'm working until one in the morning tasting Chardonnays, tasting Pinot Noirs and I get a phone call at 6:30 in the morning, 'We're here!' and I said 'Are you kidding me?' They were already here to set up," Lageder said, laughing. "So we have true Argentinian barbecue. We have sides of pork, sides of beef that have been grilling on a stick for about 8 to 10 hours. The new wines from the new world and, of course, we have to cook our famous paella. We have 30 different kinds of cheese. The dessert is very simple—Pierre Helene, a poached pear with pound cake and melted chocolate."

The small beach in front of the lawn was filled with modern outdoor furniture in which guests could enjoy cocktails from handsome bartenders pouring martinis. There was a dessert station, fried fish sliders and a roundtable of summer pasta salads. 

The Balboa Bay Club is a great spot to spend the summer. Lageder welcomes those who have never visited the Balboa Bay Club to experience the iconic Newport Beach establishment. 

"There are many reasons to visit—number one the food, number two the setting," Lageder said. "It's on the water, elegant dining, comfort food, fun food, lots of seafood, but I think the atmosphere is just a nice place to be. I guarantee they will come back." 

The Balboa Bay Club's First Cabin restaurant has switched to the summer menu with new additions including light items such as the Italian shrimp salad with a tower of fresh mozzarella, arugula and grilled prawns. 

"The wine festival is always a treat for us," Lageder said. "We've done it now nine years in row so we are seasoned pros."