After a few attempts at Berserker Day auctions I was finally able to attend a Morgan Ranch Deck Party a few weeks ago on Saturday, 16 September. On Friday morning my wife and I along with our two dogs made the three and a half hour drive from Omaha to Burwell Nebraska pulling our fifth wheel RV. We stayed at Valleyview Flats, a state campground few miles from Morgan Ranch while 5 of our Omaha wine friends all made arrangements to stay at cabins at Calamus Outfitters, a stones throw from the ranch.
On Saturday we all met up with Carrie at Calamus Outfitters at 1:00 pm to begin our included Sandhills Safari Tour led by Carrieās childhood friend and ranch neighbor, Sarah. Sarah loaded us into her military surplus Humvee and took us on a wonderful two hour tour of the Nebraska Sandhills that make up her familyās ranch as well as the Morgan familyās ranch periodically stopping to allow Carrie to jump out and undo the barbed wire fencing so we could pass into the next pasture. Sarah also made a few stops to give us detailed insight into the Nebraska Sandhills as well as to allow us to look around and take in the majestic beauty of the grass lined sandhills. It was an absolutely gorgeous day with clear sunny skies and temps in the mid 70s. I learned on the tour that it is rude to ask a rancher how many acres their ranches are. Itās like asking someone how much money they have. So take note city slickers.
Following the tour, Carrie told us that Dan said attitude adjustments would begin at 5pm at the ranch with dinner at 7pm. I like the way Dan thinks as I donāt like to eat dinner with a bad attitude. Arriving at the ranch, we were greeted by Carrieās uncle, Dan, and her father, Ronnie while her brothers were tending bar and cooking the Wagyu flank steaks. Dan quickly had a glass of Veleta sparkling rose in our hands. Looking back this is something I wish I would have purchased at previous Berserker Days as I really enjoyed it. We also were treated to Veleta sparkling brut as well as an Argentinian rose that was in an unlabeled shiner bottle that is a project Dan is a part of all while enjoying conversation with several Morgan family friends that also joined the Deck Party. The next wines opened were Argentinean Malbecs that are another project that Dan is involved with. I donāt remember the year on the first one, but the second one was a 2005 Desafio Malbec that was fantastic. I am primarily a Napa Cabernet guy but I found this Malbec amazing as did my wife and the rest of our wine friends. Dinner was put out on the serving table at 7pm and as guest of honor I was told to go first. The spread was amazing. There was a homemade vinaigrette coleslaw, a giant cast iron skillet of macaroni and cheese that Carrie said was a recipe from another Berserker with Morgan Ranch Wagyu bacon on top, and a large plate of sliced Wagyu flank steak. I didnāt feel like I had a big enough plate to satisfy my eyes and stomach looking at all the food. When I got to the end of the serving line Dan was there with some exotic salts and pepper corns that he got on one of his many world travels that he insisted I try on the beef. The food was absolutely fantastic! The steak was like butter. I went back to the serving table a few times for extra helpings of mac and cheese and flank steak thinking the food was going to run out but there was always more. At one point another fresh large pan of the mac and cheese came out. I couldnāt eat enough of that it was so good. At the start of dinner, I opened a magnum of 2009 Dunn Howell Mountain I brought to share. It was singing pretty good I thought and went well with the Waygu. Our other friends had brought a bottle of Lynch Bages and other friends brought a Myriad Syrah that all went well with the dinner. After dinner, just when I thought I couldnāt eat another bite, out came the deserts. The frosted peanut butter sheet cake squares were heavenly. Towards the end of dinner, I really wanted to wash it all down with some more of the 2005 Desafio Malbec but thought for sure it was all gone. But like the food, the bottle never seemed to empty and I got to finish off the night with that. Getting ready to leave, Dan insisted that we come out to the ranch the next day before we headed back to Omaha and heād take care of us with Wagyu.
Sunday morning I ventured back to the ranch leaving my wife to tend to our dogs at the camper. I arrived at the ranch and found Dan who led me to a few different garages on the property where all the freezers that store the beef that is sent to all of us Berserkers is kept. As Dan opened up the freezers and boxes I found myself taking eight of those, six of these, 24 pounds of that, 12 pounds of this, etc. I left the ranch with what I estimate to be over 70 lbs of Wagyu. Our freezer at home is now overflowing with Morgan Ranch Wagyu.
I say best of luck to anyone bidding on the Morgan Ranch trip on future BD auctions. My wine friends and I are already talking about going again. We enjoyed our time with Carrie and her family and friends.
Iāll post a couple of pics now but I know Carrie has more to add.
