Someone, somewhere, a long time ago, thought of a delicious idea - the pairing of wine and cheese. For thousands of years this pairing has been satisfying the taste buds and filling the appetites of humankind. There are plenty of suggestions for pairing wine and cheese. Some suggest pairing the wine and cheese from the same region with each other such as Chianti paired with parmesian. Other suggestions include pairing tannic wines with harder cheeses, pairing creamy cheeses with more acidic wines, and salty cheeses with a sweet wine. After much delicious research, Napa Wine Tours created this simple guide for our readers featuring some of our favorite wines from Napa Valley. Napa Valley Red Wine and Cheese Pairings Napa Valley Cabernet Franc A Napa Valley Cabernet Franc will pair wonderfully with Blue cheese, Brie, and Cheddar cheese. We suggest trying a distinctive Cabernet Franc from Inglenook, or one of Jarvis Winery’s most highly demanded wines 2005 Jarvis Cabernet Franc, or the limited release 2007 Rutherford Hill Cabernet Franc. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon This varietal also pairs nicely with blue and cheddar cheeses, and with parmesian. Try any elegant Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon, exceptional Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, or award-winning Cornerstone Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Valley Syrah Cheddar, parmesian, and gouda - either one of these will pair with Syrah. If you’re not already familiar with Keever Vineyards, a family-owned and operated winery, make sure to make an appointment to taste their perfectly balanced Syrah (and more!) and take a tour of their winery and wine caves. Napa Valley Malbec Up to this point, we’ve tried to suggest cheeses easily found. However, when it comes to this next cheese, it’s important to make sure to purchase an artisanal, high quality cheese. Manchego is the cheese to pair with your impeccable,
Someone, somewhere, a long time ago, thought of a delicious idea – the pairing of wine and cheese. For thousands of years this pairing has been satisfying the taste buds and filling the appetites of humankind. There are plenty of suggestions for pairing wine and cheese. Some suggest pairing the wine and cheese from the…
Interested in trying the world-renowned wines of Napa Valley but aren't able to travel to Napa? Napa Wine Tours is happy to assist with tips for hosting your own Napa Valley wine tasting party. Bring together some of your favorite people, and discover wines you haven’t tried before. Supplies You’ll need: - Napa Valley wine - one glass per guest - a pitcher of water to rinse glasses between tastings - a “dump bucket” - pen and paper for each guest to take notes - bread or crackers and water to cleanse the palate between tastings - a CD with background music You won’t need: - to decorate with scented candles or flowers Tasting Options It’s your party, try anything you want to. - Will you provide the wine or ask your guests to bring a bottle? - If your guests will bring a bottle, consider asking them to bring a certain type of wine (sparkling, white, red, port) - Maybe your wine tasting party will focus on the same type of wine produced by different wineries (for example, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon) - Consider a “blind” tasting where no one is allowed to see the type of wine and the Napa Valley winery that created it until after each wine has been tasted - Will you prepare a bite (appetizer, cheese, or chocolate) to pair with each wine or ask your guests to provide the perfect bite to pair with the wine they bring? Tips - Ask your guests to refrain from wearing cologne or perfume - Each tasting pour should be 2 ounces (1/4 cup) - Offer a maximum of 4 to 6 wines - If you have a variety of wines, start with sparkling, whites, reds, then dessert wines and ports - Start with your driest to
Interested in trying the world-renowned wines of Napa Valley but aren’t able to travel to Napa? Napa Wine Tours is happy to assist with tips for hosting your own Napa Valley wine tasting party. Bring together some of your favorite people, and discover wines you haven’t tried before. Supplies You’ll need: – Napa Valley wine…
It’s that time of year again. The time when eggs are hard-boiled, dipped in dye, and stored until they’re ready to be hidden for an Easter Egg Hunt. Plastic, colored, eggs are filled with sweet surprises and images of bunnies and chicks in bright pastel colors dominate storefronts. For those interested in celebrating Easter Sunday with Napa Valley food and wine, Napa Wine Tours has a few ideas for you. Napa Valley Wineries Open Easter Sunday With over 400 wineries in Napa Valley, Napa Wine Tours has discovered a list of approximately 50 wineries that will be open on Easter Sunday. Castello di Amorosa This landmark, Napa Valley winery will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for tours and tastings. Call ahead to make your reservation to enjoy a one-of-a-kind adventure in the castle while tasting their Italian-style wines. Chimney Rock Winery Outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon wines await at Chimney Rock’s beautiful estate. Other wines to sample include Cabernet Franc, Fume Blanc, Rose of Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon Gris. The talents of Winemaker and General Manager Elizabeth Vianna and her team results in wines that truly reflect the Stags Leap District where Chimney Rock’s grapes are grown. Visit from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Del Dotto Vineyards Both of Del Dotto’s locations in St. Helena and Napa will be open on Easter Sunday also from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Reserve your spots for an adventure that includes tasting Del Dotto wines straight from the barrel and enjoying sips paired with charcuterie and chocolate. Domaine Carneros Open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Easter Sunday, Domaine Carneros offers public and private tours and tastings. Enjoy table service and choose bites to pair with Domaine Carneros sparkling wines and Pinot Noir from their extensive menu. William Hill Estate Winery This
It’s that time of year again. The time when eggs are hard-boiled, dipped in dye, and stored until they’re ready to be hidden for an Easter Egg Hunt. Plastic, colored, eggs are filled with sweet surprises and images of bunnies and chicks in bright pastel colors dominate storefronts. For those interested in celebrating Easter Sunday…
