It’s hard to convey just how remote Streamsong Resort is. About an hour and 50 minutes from the Orlando area, due south of Lakeland and southeast of Tampa, it’s hardly in the middle of nowhere, but you could certainly feel like it.
When I turned off of Old Highway 37 onto Streamsong Drive, one of the first things I spotted was an otter nosing through the tall grass between a lake and the road. And that road is just over two miles long, a winding sort of driveway leading to the resort, a large facility that somehow manages to be both modernistic in design and yet blend into the remote landscape.
I had been invited to visit the resort and be a guest at one of its regular wine dinners in SottoTerra restaurant. I found it to be a wonderfully relaxing retreat.
The dinner featured Justin Wines and Landmark Wines, served with a five-course menu from chef Michael Ford.
Following a reception with the 2015 Justin Sauvignon Blanc and a charcuterie and cheese array, we were seated in the restaurant for the first course, Ahi Tuna Crudo with lemon espuma. The cool tuna was paired with Landmark’s 2014 Overlook Chardonnay. The lemony aromas of the wine complemented the espuma, and the tastes of honey and stone fruits were a nice counterpoint.
A Walnut Pear Tart with Gorgonzola was served with Landmark’s 2014 Pinot Noir, a thick and plummy wine.
Cavatelli tossed with bacon and espresso jam served as a pasta course. The dense dumplings were paired with Justin’s 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, wonderfully rich and full of black cherry notes on both the nose and the palate.
An impressive Braised Veal Short Rib was the meat course, served with baby carrots and chewy hen of the woods mushrooms. And the wine was an especial treat: Justin’s 2013 Isosceles, full bodied and chockfull of chocolate and cherries and enough tannins to stand up to the mouth-filling richness of the veal.
Dessert, which featured Bucare Dark Chocolate Semi Freddo and Vanilla Ricotta Gelato, was accompanied by Justin’s 2013 Obtuse, a dessert wine made with 100 percent cabernet sauvignon.
After so much wine, it was nice to have a room to go to instead of driving home. And what a room. More like a suite, actually. The large bedroom was bisected with a desk and entertainment etagere, with televisions on both sides, one for watching on the large sofa or from one of the beds.
I appreciated the desk so that I could do some work before the dinner, but with an expansive view of the lake through the floor-to-ceiling windows, it was a bit difficult to concentrate.
The next morning, I watched as three deer gamboled below my window, another touch of wildlife to match my otter sighting the day before.
Streamsong is known for its golf courses. But even though I’m not a golfer, I would welcome the chance of another stay just for the quietude (and luxury).
Streamsong is at 1000 Streamsong Drive, Streamsong (Bowling Green is nearby).
