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…
You’ve visited several Napa Valley wineries and have collected more than a few bottles of wine. A smile brightens your face as you lift each bottle and remember each winery, each taste, and each delicious reason why you knew there was no way you were going to walk out of the tasting room without that precious bottle (or bottles!) in your hand. Suddenly the euphoria is interrupted by the question, “What can I make to go with this?” Napa Wine Tours has collected a few simple, tasty ideas to answer that question including some from renowned chefs. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon The obvious pairing is a juicy steak. But for some of us, cooking steak can be tricky. A safer bet would be a recipe we found on Epicurious.com for Napa Valley Cabernet Burgers. Highlights: You’ll coat your burgers while they grill with a Cabernet Sauvignon, shallot, butter, and brown sugar mixture. Then, the finished burger is set upon sliced focaccia that has been covered with rosemary butter. Napa Valley Chardonnay While lobster and Chardonnay rank as one of the most enjoyable food and wine pairings, I am easily intimidated by the thought of unintentionally making eye contact before lowering the lobster into the pot. This recipe for Shrimp Scampi with Linguine from Chef Tyler Florence is a fantastic option. Napa Valley Malbec Another recipe for the grill, Grilled Lamb Chops with Vegetable Kebabs Served with Couscous. This easy to make and follow recipe from Martha Stewart will have an impressive dinner served in just a little over an hour from preparation to finish. Napa Valley Merlot This heavy wine deserves a hearty meal like spaghetti with bolognese sauce. This recipe, “Wolfgang’s Hearty Beef Bolognese Sauce,” comes from Chef Wolfgang Puck. Highlight: This is the only recipe for bolognese sauce
You’ve visited several Napa Valley wineries and have collected more than a few bottles of wine. A smile brightens your face as you lift each bottle and remember each winery, each taste, and each delicious reason why you knew there was no way you were going to walk out of the tasting room without that…
