Ravine in Oxford, MS granted "resort" status!

This is the latest news from my favorite restaurant in Oxford:

I hope everyone is having a pleasant summer and avoiding the heat. There are some significant changes going on here at ravine, and I thought I should let everyone in on the information.

The state of Mississippi has granted resort status to ravine, and needless to say, we are excited! This news is good for ravine, as we look to expanding our original commitment of providing great food to the area of fine wines. I know not all of you are going to share in this good news, as you like to bring your own wines. But please take heart in the fact that we will have a diverse, interesting, smart and affordable list that will be second to none in Oxford.

Our commitment will involve extensive staff training, so we can understand your needs better when it comes to the wine you drink, as well as our wine and food pairings will only grow with the new possibilites.

We will most likely introduce the wine list sometime in the middle of August, with a few events already in mind. One will be the resumption of our wine and food pairings, with a theme mindful of the South: tomato dinner. This will be a five course meal involving tomatoes at each course, from the amuse bouche all the way through dessert. Dr Juergens is already pairing the wines, and he has graciously agreed to be our sommelier as we move forward.

Also, we plan on having a night or two when we open the whole wine list for some tastes to be poured when you come to dinner. That will mean that some high end wines that are not usually poured by the glass will be available for one to sample.

Our list and staff will not be pretentious, stuffy, or snooty, period. We have a firm belief that wine is meant to be drank, not traded as a commodity, or talked about by price tag. Sure, we will have a range of wines, from affordable to special occasion/expensive, but ravine will remain a comfortable, laid back, cozy atmosphere.

Finally, I come asking for the support of each of you in our final appeal to the state of Mississippi. Although resort status generally means the ability to sell all the time, the state tax commission has restricted our ability to sell wine on Sundays. I am in the process of appealing this, so we can continue our Sunday hours without having to drastically alter our operations. I am asking each of you to please send an appeal letter to the Mississippi Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control, demonstrating your support for ravine to sell wine on Sundays. Otherwise, Sunday Supper will be alcohol free, and I am not certain it will be the same!

The address is below, or if you would rather send/bring it to ravine, then I will forward it on. Please help us by writing a letter of support for Sunday Sales.

Mississippi ABC
Attn: Samuel T. Polk
P.O. Box 540
Madison, MS 39130-0540

OR mail it to ravine:

ravine
53 C.R. 321
Oxford, MS 38655

Thanks for supporting us in the past, for writing a letter, and for your future support.

Joel + CoriJoel Miller ravine 53 cr 321 oxford, ms 38655 oxfordravine.com 662.234.4555