It's not like anyone really needs an excuse to dine at the superb Shallow Shaft restaurant in Alta. The food and wine there are excellent, and so are the stunning high-altitude views. --- However, the food and wine will be even better next Wednesday, March 27, when Dutton-Goldfield wines will highlight executive chef Kurtis Krause's delectable fare at a Dutton-Goldfield wine dinner.

Winemaker Dan Goldfield is a bit of an Altaholic and enjoys skiing at Alta. I've written before about his love of Utah and his long-term relationship with our state. Click here to read about that and to learn more about Dutton-Goldfield wines.

Dan will be in town for the Shallow Shaft wine dinner and he's bringing some of his most beloved wines, including one that is virtually impossible to lay hands on and is unlikely to be repeated: 2011 Sticky Finish, a botrytis Riesling that is, as Dan Goldfield says, the result in part of "luck." He'll explain this unique wine at the Shallow Shaft dinner, but suffice it to say that this is probably the only chance you'll ever have to taste it.

Here's the food and wine lineup for the Dutton-Goldfield wine dinner:

Potato-Pear Bisque paired with 2010 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay

Smoked Scottish salmon and salmon caviar paired with 2010 Fox Den Pinot Noir

Gianduja chocolate sorbet

Seared veal tenderloin with sweetbreads and baby squash paired with 2009 Cherry Ridge Syrah

Selection of Beehive cheeses, nuts, dried fruit, and Slide Ridge honey paired with 2011 Sticky Finish Riesling

Amazingly, the price for this dinner and incredible wines is quite a bargain: $45 per person for food and $45 per person for the optional wine pairings.

For reservations, call 801-742-2177.