WashingtonD Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 My wife and I do a wine and cheese tasting/open house every year for our neighborhood. Is a great way to continue to get to know folks and re-connect after long winters of only seeing each other trudging down the streets or helping shovel driveways. All the wines we choose are under 20 a bottle and usually much less, and we make sure they are all available locally so if folks like them we can tell them where to buy them. We're lucky to have two great artisanal cheese shops near us so depending on what we're looking for they act as great consultants to help us with the pairings. Usually we try to get a good cross representation of countries in both the wines and cheeses, but invariably we end up with more french cheeses than others. We set up 5 stations with a specific wine and cheese pairing at each, give folks the below guide and let them go on their way...at the end of night I usually drag out a few more bottles of more potent stuff (usually a california zin) that people who are fairly well intoxicated can still taste and appreciate. Usually runs a good 5-6 hours on a friday night and is a lot of fun. I figured I'd pass along our pairing and notes in case anyone was interested in the individual wines, cheeses or the pairings. D Wine and Cheese Tasting Notes Wine and Cheese Tasting 101 First you should try each partner (wine and cheese) separately to get a sense of their individual traits. Taste the wine first, since the cheese will often leave the strongest impression on your sensory receptors. Now, take a moderate sized bite of cheese and as soon as its flavors fill your mouth, take a small sip of wine and savor the combination. Pairing Station #1 Wine: Mionetto Brut Prosecco Treviso NV - Italy There's a pretty floral edge to this crisp sparkler, mixing with green apple and lemon zest flavors. The finish is lightly juicy. Drink now. 103,518 cases made Wine Spectator rating of 85/100 Cheese: Sainte-Maure De Touraine Description: Goat’s milk cheese. This is an ancient type of goat’s milk cheese that has been made the same way for over a thousand years in the Loire Valley of France. Its flavors are rich, full and nutty, with a bit of acid and salt on the finish. Pairing Station #2 Wine: Four Vines, Naked Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County 2009 Description and Review: Offers a strong Sauvignon-like citrus edge, with notes of lime and lemon. Medium- to full-bodied, clean and refreshing. Drink now. 48,000 cases made Wine Spectator rating of 88/100 Cheese: Brie, Ile-De-France Description: Cow’s milk cheese. The best known of French cheeses. A simple and classic brie with a mild, mushroomy flavor and an oozy and sticky texture. Far bolder and more complex than Brie you may find in your grocer’s cheese aisle Pairing Station #3 Wine: A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir, Oregon 2008 Description and Review: Lively, deftly balanced and refreshing in style, with pretty raspberry and cherry flavors playing against hints of spice and chalk. Finishes with impressive length. Drink now through 2016. 62,954 cases made. Wine Spectator rating 90/100. 2010 Top 100 Wines of the Year #75 Cheese: Piermont, Robie Farm, New Hampshire USA Description: Piermont is a delicate yet tangy semi-soft cheese with pleasing undertones. Aged for two to three months. Named after the town in which it is produced in New Hampshire. It would be classified in the Tomme family, meaning it is produced from the skim milk left over after the cream has been removed to produce butter and richer cheeses. Pairing Station #4 Wine: Bodegas Lan Rioja Crianza 2006 Description and Review: Fresh and balanced, this red brims with cherry, spice and licorice, with light, firm tannins and vibrant acidity. The texture is generous yet delicate. Not heavy, but vivacious. Drink now through 2014. 200,000 cases made. Wine Spectator Rating 90/100. 2010 Top 100 Wines of the Year #44 Cheese: Super Aged Mahon, Menorca Spain Description: Cow’s Milk. Straightforward cheese with tangy, sharp, sourish, and salty taste sensations that constitute an enticing reflection of the Mediterranean. Aged at least 6 months to differentiate from the standard “young” Mahon. Pairing Station #5 Wine: Fonseca Port Bin No 27, Finest Reserve NV, Portugal Description and Review: Chocolaty and plush, displaying good concentration to the ripe plum, mocha and dark cherry flavors, with paprika accents. Very fruity, with raspberry notes, on the finish. Wine Spectator Rating 89/100 Cheese: Mountain Gorgonzola, Novara, Italy Description: Cow’s milk cheese. Made with pasteurized cow milk, this 'Naturale' Gorgonzola is aged longer and is much drier and less sweet than the younger 'dolce' . The firmer, often straw color paste envelopes the terroir with its earthy, piquant flavor and strong aroma. This one is even more special - it is made in a mountain and aged longer than a normal Gorgonzola to give it that extra bite. All wines tasted tonight are less than $20/ bottle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Don't forget the pictures and scanner... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detlef Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 My wife and I do a wine and cheese tasting/open house every year for our neighborhood. Is a great way to continue to get to know folks and re-connect after long winters of only seeing each other trudging down the streets or helping shovel driveways. All the wines we choose are under 20 a bottle and usually much less, and we make sure they are all available locally so if folks like them we can tell them where to buy them. We're lucky to have two great artisanal cheese shops near us so depending on what we're looking for they act as great consultants to help us with the pairings. Usually we try to get a good cross representation of countries in both the wines and cheeses, but invariably we end up with more french cheeses than others. We set up 5 stations with a specific wine and cheese pairing at each, give folks the below guide and let them go on their way...at the end of night I usually drag out a few more bottles of more potent stuff (usually a california zin) that people who are fairly well intoxicated can still taste and appreciate. Usually runs a good 5-6 hours on a friday night and is a lot of fun. I figured I'd pass along our pairing and notes in case anyone was interested in the individual wines, cheeses or the pairings. D Wine and Cheese Tasting Notes Wine and Cheese Tasting 101 First you should try each partner (wine and cheese) separately to get a sense of their individual traits. Taste the wine first, since the cheese will often leave the strongest impression on your sensory receptors. Now, take a moderate sized bite of cheese and as soon as its flavors fill your mouth, take a small sip of wine and savor the combination. Pairing Station #1 Wine: Mionetto Brut Prosecco Treviso NV - Italy There's a pretty floral edge to this crisp sparkler, mixing with green apple and lemon zest flavors. The finish is lightly juicy. Drink now. 103,518 cases made Wine Spectator rating of 85/100 Cheese: Sainte-Maure De Touraine Description: Goat’s milk cheese. This is an ancient type of goat’s milk cheese that has been made the same way for over a thousand years in the Loire Valley of France. Its flavors are rich, full and nutty, with a bit of acid and salt on the finish. Pairing Station #2 Wine: Four Vines, Naked Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County 2009 Description and Review: Offers a strong Sauvignon-like citrus edge, with notes of lime and lemon. Medium- to full-bodied, clean and refreshing. Drink now. 48,000 cases made Wine Spectator rating of 88/100 Cheese: Brie, Ile-De-France Description: Cow’s milk cheese. The best known of French cheeses. A simple and classic brie with a mild, mushroomy flavor and an oozy and sticky texture. Far bolder and more complex than Brie you may find in your grocer’s cheese aisle Pairing Station #3 Wine: A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir, Oregon 2008 Description and Review: Lively, deftly balanced and refreshing in style, with pretty raspberry and cherry flavors playing against hints of spice and chalk. Finishes with impressive length. Drink now through 2016. 62,954 cases made. Wine Spectator rating 90/100. 2010 Top 100 Wines of the Year #75 Cheese: Piermont, Robie Farm, New Hampshire USA Description: Piermont is a delicate yet tangy semi-soft cheese with pleasing undertones. Aged for two to three months. Named after the town in which it is produced in New Hampshire. It would be classified in the Tomme family, meaning it is produced from the skim milk left over after the cream has been removed to produce butter and richer cheeses. Pairing Station #4 Wine: Bodegas Lan Rioja Crianza 2006 Description and Review: Fresh and balanced, this red brims with cherry, spice and licorice, with light, firm tannins and vibrant acidity. The texture is generous yet delicate. Not heavy, but vivacious. Drink now through 2014. 200,000 cases made. Wine Spectator Rating 90/100. 2010 Top 100 Wines of the Year #44 Cheese: Super Aged Mahon, Menorca Spain Description: Cow’s Milk. Straightforward cheese with tangy, sharp, sourish, and salty taste sensations that constitute an enticing reflection of the Mediterranean. Aged at least 6 months to differentiate from the standard “young” Mahon. Pairing Station #5 Wine: Fonseca Port Bin No 27, Finest Reserve NV, Portugal Description and Review: Chocolaty and plush, displaying good concentration to the ripe plum, mocha and dark cherry flavors, with paprika accents. Very fruity, with raspberry notes, on the finish. Wine Spectator Rating 89/100 Cheese: Mountain Gorgonzola, Novara, Italy Description: Cow’s milk cheese. Made with pasteurized cow milk, this 'Naturale' Gorgonzola is aged longer and is much drier and less sweet than the younger 'dolce' . The firmer, often straw color paste envelopes the terroir with its earthy, piquant flavor and strong aroma. This one is even more special - it is made in a mountain and aged longer than a normal Gorgonzola to give it that extra bite. All wines tasted tonight are less than $20/ bottle Nice line-up Don't forget the pictures and scanner... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Cid Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Very cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bier Meister Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 very fun. i'm pretty familiar with the offerings. great way to spend an evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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