Perfect pairings
We did a couples virtual wine tasting with my parents to make up for the fact we had to cancel our road trip to Napa this weekend to see them. Per usual, my dad (the Napa Valley Insider) chose the wines and my mom supplied a delish appetizer recipe to pair with them. Since it was virtual, we couldn’t do a blind tasting but it was still a lot of fun to do together! All three wines were under $17 at Trader Joe’s, and the dish was so easy to make that really anyone can make an evening home feel fancy and social!
WARM DATES WITH SOFT BLUE CHEESE AND PROSCIUTTO
Serves 12 | 10 minutes
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 cup (2 oz.) loosely packed crumbled mils blue cheese such as Danish
- 1/2 cup mascarpone or cream cheese
- 12-18 Medjool dates, halved and pitted
- 2 oz. thinly sliced prosciutto (5-6 slices), cut into thin strips
- 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
- (optional) balsamic glaze
RECIPE PREPARATION
Mash blue cheese and mascarpone in a bowl with a fork until smooth. Fill each date cavity with a rounded 1/2 tsp. cheese. Wrap each half with a strip of prosciutto.
Warm oil and 1 tbsp. of water in a medium nonstick frying pan over low hear. Add dates and cook, covered, until warmed through adn softened, about 3 minutes. Serve warm.
Optional: my mom brushed a balsamic glaze on top of each wrapped date before warming.
CALIFORNIA RED WINE PAIRINGS
Here are the wines my dad selected to pair (tasted in this order), and his tasting notes:
1.
2017 Foggy Veil Hillside Selection Santa Barbara County Red Blend $12.99 (14% alcohol)
Blend: 78% Syrah and 22% Grenache from Santa Barbara County, California.
Better when decanted. Some oak aging.
“Aromas of black cherry, cola, a bit of spice and a little bit of an earthy, bell pepper note. A bit funky when first popped and poured, but it definitely fills out nicely after a couple hours. a bit disjointed until the mid-palate where everything just comes together nicely. Hints of licorice, cola, spice, chocolate, vanilla and a little earthiness lead into the dry, long finish.”
2.
2017 Decoy Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon $16.99 (14.1% alcohol)
Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Zinfandel, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Petite Sirah
“The everyday wine for the well informed.” Originally a second label wine for Duckhorn, Decoy is now its own brand and is an important part of the Duckhorn Portfolio of wines. The winery produces eight different wines all made with grapes from Sonoma County.
Their white wines retail for $20 and the reds for $25. They can often be found at discount.
“From its deep, inviting color to its enticing layers of boysenberry, blackberry, plum and star anise, this wine showcases what we love about great Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate, the lush fruit flavors are framed by rich tannins and hints of dark chocolate and barrel spice.”
Dan Dawson, local wine guy (and he knows Tom from Montelena days) describes it as having an “earthy/rocky flavor.”
3.
2017 1000 Stories California Zinfandel $14.99 (15.5% alcohol)
Bourbon barrel aged. Mendocino County is known for Zinfandel. These vineyards range in age from
9-45 years old. 2017 weather was warmer than usual, so the vintage is very full-bodied with rich fruit flavors.
“1000 Stories begins its aging like most Zinfandels: in wine barrels. Then, a combination of new and used bourbon barrels complete the aging process. Each batch is crafted individually and is unique in its final profile. Aging in bourbon barrels imparts characteristics of charred vanilla and dried herbs.”
My favorite was the Foggy Veil!
All photos by Erika Brechtel
