Wine and Cheese Pairing 4/19

On Tuesday, my friends and I did a wine and cheese pairing. We had 4 wines and 4 cheeses that we picked up from the grocery store to pair together. I have never done a wine and cheese pairing before, so I had my friend who had a little more experience help me pick out what wines and cheeses to pick out.

The first wine and cheese pairing that we had was a Woodbridge Pinot Noir paired with pepper jack cheese. The Pinot Noir by itself was kind of bitter, but the pepper jack cheese mellowed out the bitterness of the wine and made it much more enjoyable.

The second pairing we had was a Bay Bridge Chardonnay paired with Brie. I really like Brie, so this was probably my favorite pairing. The wine had an aroma of lemon, which was also evident in the taste. I noticed that the cheese made the wine more bitter, but I still like brie so I didn't really mind that much.

The third pairing was a Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon paired with cheddar cheese. When I smelled the wine all I got was a scent of blueberry. When I tasted the wine with the cheese, it made the wine taste more intense and more fruity.

The fourth and final pairing was an Arquero Sauvignon Blanc paired with goat cheese. I had never eaten goat cheese before, so I was a little hesitant with this pairing. The scent of the wine was pineapple and orange. When tasting the wine with the goat cheese, it made the wine more sour. On top of this, I didn't really care for the goat cheese in general, so this was definitely my least favorite of the four pairings.

Tasting - Baci Dolci Mosto Di Uve Parzialmente Fermentato

Name: Baci Dolci Mosto Di Uve Parzialmente Fermentato
Variety: 50% Marzemino, 50% Merlot
Region: Colli Euganei
Country: Italy
Year: N/A (Non-Vintage)
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: A blend of 50% Marzemino 50% Merlot. A delicate, slightly frizzante wine with an intense, ruby red color. Fresh strawberry & black cherry aromas with hints of roses. Cherry pie flavors, medium-full bodied with refreshing sparkle to balance the semi- sweet finish.

My Review: I liked this wine a lot. It was very sweet and fruity. Easy to drink, I would highly recommend.

Tasting - Oasis del Cuyo Malbec

Name: Oasis del Cuyo Malbec
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: N/A
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: Deep ruby color. Appealing red fruit nose with hints of tobacco. Medium bodied with a smooth and lush mouth-feel. Finishes dry with lasting flavors. Excellent choice for a young and fruity everyday wine. Enjoy as an aperitif or with meats and pasta dishes.

My Review: I wasn't too crazy about this wine, but it was okay. It was very dry and fruity.

Tasting - Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Name: Terranoble Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Central Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2013
Price: $8.95

Winery Review: This Cabernet Sauvignon offers an intense and deep color and lovely aromas of red fruit, pepper and tobacco. It has smooth tannins, very freshness and rich fruit, which gives the wine a good balance. Pair with barbecued beef ribs, grilled sea bass, or spaghetti alla Bolognese.

My Review: I didn't really like this wine. I don't like reds that are too bitter or have a lot of spice to them. I think I would have liked it more if I paired it with food rather than just tasting it at a wine tasting.

Tasting - Terranoble Chardonnay 2014

Name: Terranoble Chardonnay 2014
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Central Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2014
Price: $8.95

Winery Review: This Chardonnay offers a wine with an attractive color and lovely aromas, such as ripe pear and pineapple, mixed with butter and vanilla notes. It is a fresh style of white wine, with medium persistence in mouth. Ideal as an aperitif.

My Review: I have found throughout this class that I really like white wines, especially Chardonnay, so I really liked this wine. It was very fresh and fruity.

Tasting - Santola Vinho Verde Loureiro and Pederna

Name: Santola Vinho Verde Loureiro and Pederna
Variety: Vinho Verde
Region: Vinho Verde
Country: Portugal
Year: N/A
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Soft and creamy, although with just the right Vinho Verde bite, this is a crisp and clean wine, boasting light pear and pink grapefruit flavors. Off dry and very fresh.

My Review: I enjoyed this wine. It was pretty fruity, but still had a nice intensity and freshness to it.

Palisades: New World vs. Old World

For dinner on Wednesday at Palisades there were three Chardonnay's paired with three different foods. The first pairing was a shrimp salad served over a leaf of lettuce, and that was paired with a 2014 Meiomi Chardonnay from California. The wine had a gold coloring and smelled a lot like butterscotch when I smelled it. It also had flavors or butterscotch and citrus. I tasted the salad with the wine and the food really brought out the different flavors in the wine.

The second pairing was 2015 Terranoble Chardonnay from Chile. This was paired with Pebre Pan Amasado, which is Spanish for salsa on a piece of toast. This wine was also gold, but was a lot lighter than the first wine. When I smelled it, it smelled like citrus, especially orange. When I tasted the wine it was very fruity, but acidic because of the citrus taste. The salsa on the toast was very spicy and intense, and when drinking the wine after eating the toast seemed less acidic. I think the spiciness of the salsa really affected the flavor of the wine.

The third wine was a 2014 Italo Cescon from Italy. It also had a gold color, and didn't really smell like anything to me. This wine was a lot more tart than the other two, and tasted a lot like a granny smith apple. When eating the pizza the wine didn't really change in flavor that much in my opinion.