Cooper’s Hawk Gold Rush Wine Dinner: A Night of Flavor, Fellowship & The Good Life
- Jun 10
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 22
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
About Coopers Hawk in Madison, Alabama
Website: Madison, AL | Cooper's Hawk
Address: 8228 Hwy 72 W, Madison, AL 35758
Phone Number: (938) 225-1212
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
Cooper’s Hawk Gold Rush Wine Dinner: A Night of Flavor, Fellowship & The Good Life
By Nancy Fae — His, Hers & The Good Life
Joint Introduction
There’s a special kind of anticipation that settles in when you’re headed back to a place where the last memory was pure magic. That was us — Jeff, Ashley, and me — rolling into Cooper’s Hawk Madison for their June 2026 Gold Rush Wine Club Member Dinner. After the Derby Soirée in May, we were already primed for another night of good food, good wine, and good company.
The moment we stepped into the private dining room, the glow of candlelight, the clink of glassware, and the hum of happy conversation wrapped around us like a warm welcome. And then — before we even found our seats — someone placed a Gold Rush Sour in our hands. Bright, bold, bourbon-kissed … the kind of cocktail that announces, “You’re in for a night.”
We believed it.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
How the Night Unfolded
Meeting the Crew
Our table was a lively mix of familiar faces and new friends — exactly the way a wine dinner should be.
Rebecca, the General Manager, greeted us with the confidence and warmth of someone who truly loves her craft.
Our good friends Dean and Stacie Della Pella brought their signature sparkle.
And we gained new friends in Andrea, Kenneth, and Lavonne — each adding their own flavor to the evening.
Good Friends - Dean and Stacie Della Pella New Friends - Lavonne, Kenneth, and Andrea
Rebecca shared that the Madison location has grown to nearly 5,000 members since February. That’s not just growth — that’s a community. She also introduced the team behind the magic:
Drew, a supervisor in training
Chef Danielle, the executive kitchen chef
And Jade, our delightful server who kept our table laughing and well cared for all night
I told Rebecca how much I appreciated seeing a woman in a senior leadership role. She smiled and said, “Six out of ten of our managers here are women.” I applauded that — loudly.
BEGIN WITH: Gold Rush Sour
The cocktail that greeted us at the door was everything a Gold Rush should be — bourbon, honey, lemon, and a little swagger. It set the tone beautifully.
Bread Course: Navajo Frybread
Now, here’s where the night got real. Rebecca admitted they didn’t realize the frybread was meant to be served before the first course. So by the time it arrived — with the chili — we were all starving. But listen … when that warm frybread hit the table with its tomato-chipotle spread and cilantro? Forgiven. Completely forgiven.
First Course: Campfire Chicken Chili
Summer vegetables, black beans, hickory-smoked bacon, and a caramelized onion sour cream that deserved its own round of applause. Paired with Cooper’s Hawk Ale, it was hearty, smoky, and comforting — like a campfire story told by someone who knows how to hold a room.
Campfire Chicken Chili Cooper's Hawk Ale
Second Course: “Struck It Rich” Steak & Potatoes
This was Jeff’s moment. A grilled boneless strip steak, golden fingerling potatoes, cheddar hash, grilled asparagus, and tobacco onion strings — all draped in Cooper’s Hawk I Sauce. Paired with the Cooper's Hawk Gold Rush Wine, it was rich, savory, and exactly the kind of plate that makes a meat-and-potatoes man grin.
“Struck It Rich” Steak & Potatoes Cooper's Hawk Gold Rush Wine
Third Course: Summer Berry Slump
This was my moment. Warm berries, brown sugar biscuit topping, Tillamook vanilla bean ice cream, and a honeycomb golden nugget that felt like dessert jewelry. Paired with Cooper's Hawk Blueberry Wine — made from 4.5 pounds of fresh blueberries per bottle — it was sweet, bright, and absolutely irresistible.
I have a sweet tooth. This course didn’t stand a chance.
Summer Berry Slump Cooper's Hawk Blueberry Wine
Games: Brain Rush & Panning for Points
We love a little friendly competition, and Cooper’s Hawk delivered. Brain Rush was a Gold Rush–themed trivia game, and thanks to Ashley’s AP U.S. History superpowers, we won. Our prize? A bottle of CH Gold Rush wine. Panning for Points kept the energy high and the laughs rolling.
GM Rebecca presenting Ashley with her prize Ashley displaying her Cooper's Hawk Gold Rush Wine prize
Looking Ahead
We’re already signed up for the July 2026 Wine Dinner — A Summer Night in Porto. If it’s anything like this one, we’re in for another unforgettable evening.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
Joint Closing — His, Hers & The Good Life
His:
Give me a good steak, a good wine, and a table full of good people, and I’m set. The “Struck It Rich” course lived up to its name, and winning that bottle of Gold Rush wine didn’t hurt either. Nights like this remind me why we keep coming back.
Hers:
There’s something magical about a room full of laughter, clinking glasses, and women leading from the front. The Summer Berry Slump stole my heart, but the company made the night unforgettable. Here’s to more dinners, more stories, and more sweet endings.
The Good Life:
It’s not just the food or the wine — it’s the fellowship. It’s the moments shared across a table, the new friends made, the old friends cherished, and the memories that linger long after the last glass is empty. That’s the good life… and we’re living it.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
Disclaimer: Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age. Life’s Rants promotes the responsible and legal enjoyment of premium cigars and alcohol by individuals of legal age. We do not endorse or encourage smoking or drinking among minors.
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