Sip and Be Happy

Wine and Food Pairings

 

As the holidays approach many turn to thinking about food and wine pairings.  It does not have to be complicated or worrisome.  If you are like most, what is really important is the opportunity to gather and share.  Add to it the special aromas of favorite foods, a bit of the season’s magic, and you have a special event.  Wine and food pairings are highly subjective and allows for personal preference and experimentation.

First, for big holiday meals, don’t overcomplicate things.  You may want to open a few bottles of a variety of wines and let your guests pick their favorite.  Serve the wine “family style” like the food, or add it to the buffet.  If room on the buffet is a problem, consider setting up a TV tray or two as the “beverage bar.” 

If you have that special selection of wine – that which you have specially made for the event or more expensive -- bring it out before the food and let people enjoy it without the competition of other flavors.  This way you can showcase the wine, make a special toast or announcement, and the guests taste buds are not compromised by food and drink.  Serve the lesser expensive wines during and after the food service.

Still need some help?  Consider these tips:  A wine high in tannins paired with a food high in tannins will result in the wine seeming too dry.  Salty foods will also make high tannin wines taste bitter.  Try a sweeter or high acid wine with salty foods.  Chewy meats (rare) are best served with higher tannin wines (Cabernet Sauvignon), while lower tannin fruity wines (Chianti) are best with white or well done meats.  Fatty or oily food is best served with a wine high in acidity as the acidity helps to cut through the fattiness of the food. Spicy foods should not be served with a high alcohol content wine because the spice will ignite the alcohol and leave a very hot very harsh feeling in the mouth.  Pair these items with unoaked fruity wines.  When serving dessert the wine should be sweeter than the food being served.

Need more suggestions?  Try George’s Delight or Twilight with that turkey dinner.  Uccello Rosso will go great with that roast beef sandwich.  And Norbert would match well with that backyard barbecue. 

October at the Unicorn Wine Guild

First, a big thanks to all who supported us in September.  It really means a lot.  Having to cancel the tea due to illness was not my idea of fun.  Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.   And thanks to those who attended the craft show.  I hope you scrappers got lots of goodies.  We'll try again.

October should be an interesting month here.  Joel and I will be out of town a few days mid-month but Mandy and Debbie will carry on for us.  Usual hours.

October 24 will be a home winemakers seminar at 3:00 PM and on Halloween we are having a Halloween Tea - costumes optional - at 3:00 PM.  Both events are free, but we would appreciate advance registration.

At the Halloween Tea we will be forming Our Tea Society.  Please plan to attend and become a charter member.  Dues will cover the basics.  There will be extra fees for the more preparation-involved meetings.  The society will be fun, educational and gratifying.  Come join us and make new friends.

September Events at the Unicorn Wine Guild

September is gearing up to be a busy month.

On Saturday, September 5, the Tea Club will be meeting at 3PM.  We will feature a tea tasting this month.

On Saturday, September 12, the Home Winemaker's Forum will meet at 3 PM followed by an introduction to wine at 6:00 PM.

On Friday and Saturday September 25 and 26, we will be hostess to a Fall Craft Bazaar.  If you are a crafter and would like to sell your wares,  contact us at the winery.  We will be renting 6' tables.  I know there are scrapbook folks that are going to have their items for sale.

A reminder that now is the time to start planning your holiday winemaking.  Don't wait until the last minute, especially if you are wanting to do a red wine that needs a few months to age.  The closer to the holidays, the more booked the Patron's Winery will be.

Coming this fall  - a chocolate raspberry port.  It is a limited edition product and we were able to order only a small amount.  Keep watching for it's release.

We are also going to be able to offer gift baskets.  Those also need to be ordered in advance.  Sorry, we aren't shipping wine, but can help you do so.

We have also placed holiday orders for items for the gift baskets and will be able to offer some of the components for individual sale.  Stop in and see our gift selection.  New items are added fairly often.

We hope you had a great summer and thank you for your patronage.