A Little Pep in our Dinner (Wine Dinner #1)

 

Our Wine and Food Pairing Group

Our Three Wines:

Name: DEBONAIR Pinot Grigio

• Variety: Pinot Grigio
• Country/Region: California, Mendocino County
• Year/Price: 2022, $8.99
• Taste/Smell (w/out food): Light and crisp on the nose with notes of citrus and green apple. The palate is refreshing with a bright acidity, hints of pear, and a clean mineral finish.

Name: Storyteller Merlot

• Variety: Merlot
• Country/Region: California, Sonoma County
• Year/Price: 2022, $19
• Taste/Smell (w/out food): Ripe red fruit aromas with notes of plum and cherry. Following the pinot grigio and cheese, this wine is sharp on the palate with strong tannins, a touch of vanilla, and a balanced finish. This wine is also heavy on black currant and fairly hot - 14.1% abv. I would say there is not enough sugar to balance the high tannic/acidic component, the alcohol cannot balance alone. 

Name: Roscato Rossa Dolce Blend

• Variety: Blend
• Country/Region: Italy/Northern Italy
• Year/Price: NV, $9
• Taste/Smell (w/out food): On the nose, sweet and fruity with strong berry aromas. I can tell the carbonation by the sensation of the aroma in my nostrils. On the tongue this gives smirnoff ice. It's only 7% alcohol, which makes sense considering how sweet this wine is. They should have let the yeast eat more that sugar!

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Our Three Foods:

Name: Mozzarella & Goat Cheese with Crackers

• Taste/Smell (w/out wine): Creamy and mild mozzarella, tangy and slightly earthy goat cheese, paired with crisp, neutral crackers for texture.

Name: Pepperoni Pizza

• Taste/Smell (w/out wine): Savory tomato sauce, melted cheese, and spicy pepperoni with a crisp yet chewy crust. Balanced between acidity, fat, and spice.

Name: Gluten-Free Brownie

• Taste/Smell (w/out wine): Rich and fudgy with deep chocolate flavors, slightly chewy texture, and a subtle sweetness.

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Wine & Food Pairing Notes

DEBONAIR Pinot Grigio & Mozzarella/Goat Cheese with Crackers

• Taste/Smell of Wine with Food: The pinot grigio and Goat Cheese combination far outperformed the Mozzarella. Th
• How the Pairing Works : The strength of the pinot grigio perfectly pairs with the sour/bitterness of the goat cheese and accentuates the creaminess. Unfortunately, the Mozzarella does not meld texturally with this wine, and the soft flavors are certainly overpowered. 

Storyteller Merlot & Pepperoni Pizza

• Taste/Smell of Wine with Food: The Merlot’s dark fruit and spice blend with the tangy tomato sauce, while its tannins smooth out the cheese’s richness. The pepperoni’s spice highlights the wine’s black pepper notes.

• How the Pairing Works: The Merlot’s acidity and tannins complement the tomato sauce and balance the pizza’s savory elements, though the pepperoni’s spice slightly lingers.

Roscato Rossa Dolce Blend & Gluten-Free Brownie

• Taste/Smell of Wine with Food: Both the wine and the Brownie are intensely sweet - The roscato with concord notes, and the brownie with chocolate notes.
• How the Pairing Works: On one hand the roscato's fruitiness complements the brownie's chocolatiness. On the other hand, both pairings are overpoweringly sweet with no balance.