Wine Suggestions: The Perfect Pairing

Although wine is my career, I am by no means a wine snob or expert.  I had zero wine [amazon_textlink asin=’1592408990′ text=’knowledge‘ template=’ProductLink’ store=’poms2moms-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’7288ad05-699a-11e8-b840-a3546e32f615′] when I started in this business. I was a consumer of cheap boxed wine and could not say Sauvignon Blanc to save my life!

But I have learned a lot, am passionate about the product, and love how much a bottle of wine can change an atmosphere!

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I always get asked for wine suggestions and my typical response is, “Well, what are you pairing the wine with?” I do not mean food but what type of occasion are you enhancing with your glass of wine? I make my wine choices based off of the occasion.  It pairs perfect with a fancy celebration or a night on the couch!

Here are my suggestions on “Perfect Pairings”.

1.) Gift Giving

Some of my favorite text are when my friends say, “Hey I am in the grocery store trying to find a bottle to give my boss, what should I get?”  First, start with your budget.  You can get great wine at all price points but when giving wine as a gift, I would try to go with $15 and above. The “Perfect Pairing” for gift giving  (when you do not know what their favorite varietal is) is some type of Bubbles or a Cabernet.

[amazon_textlink asin=’B01E1PT884′ text=’Bubbles‘ template=’ProductLink’ store=’poms2moms-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’e26b254a-699b-11e8-aa41-37f21021aeac’] are very versatile and typically a crowd pleaser. Bubbles are also associated with special occasions and a significant event so they always get people excited.

If you are looking to get someone a nice big red, Cabernet is your go to!  I try to look at the appellation when making this choice. Typically anything that says Napa ensures great quality wine!

2.) Celebrations

Nothing says it is a celebration like the sound of a bottle of sparkling wine popping open! The “Perfect Pairing” to any celebration or occasion is a bottle of bubbles.  This can be either Champagne or Prosecco.

Champagne is traditionally made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.  It is typically going to have bigger bubbles, be a little heavier, and have an elegance to it.

Prosecco is a little more fun and lighter.  It is made from Glera grapes and has more of a fizz in the glass and finishes with a perceived sweetness.  Both great options!

3.) Hot [amazon_textlink asin=’B077N2WP7P’ text=’Summer‘ template=’ProductLink’ store=’poms2moms-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’32597cd5-699c-11e8-880d-7b75cfa44db6′] Day

I love a nice chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc.  Seriously nothing seems more refreshing. My “Perfect Pairing” is a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.  Side note: New Zealand style is very different than California.  If you like more of a bright, grapefruit, and acidic wine, New Zealand is the way to go.  If you prefer more of the citrus, softer, style then go for the California wines.

Rosé are also very popular right now and also a fantastic summer wine!  Again, 2 different styles here. The California style is going to have more of the strawberry and watermelon flavors with a juicer but still dry finish.  The France style, specifically Provence, is going to have more elegance with softer fruit, more floral notes, and have a drier finish.

4.) Cool Evening

I am a very seasonal person.  It is one of the reasons I love Appalachian State so much. You get to fully experience each different season throughout the year.  My personal favorite is fall with the crisp cool air, leaves changing, scarves, [amazon_textlink asin=’B01M0SML2C’ text=’boots‘ template=’ProductLink’ store=’poms2moms-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’766fe7e5-699c-11e8-ad74-bb232dee236f’] and red wine!

My “Perfect Pairing” for those cool evenings by the fire has to be a Zinfandel, Syrah, or Merlot.  I prefer something that has a great pop of bright fruit flavors, medium bodied, and a smooth finish. All 3 of the varietals listed are great wines for sharing because typically, people always taste something different! This is something so fun about wine and makes it a great beverage for relaxing with friends and family!

5.) A Night On the Couch

When I think of relaxing on the couch after a long day of working and wrangling children, the only image that comes to mind is a nice (large) glass of wine.  The “Perfect Pairing” for this occasion is whatever you like! The house wine in the Ayers household is Dark Horse.  All of the varietals are excellent quality for the price point and very easy drinking. We try to stay under the $8 price range  so we can try new and different wines and not be upset if it isn’t our favorite.

6.) [amazon_textlink asin=’0847842215′ text=’Pairing‘ template=’ProductLink’ store=’poms2moms-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’e02277fb-699c-11e8-8e55-89c219e6d176′] with Dinner

This is the tricky one.  The general rule of thumb is match the weight of your food with the weight of your wine, so with fish and chicken you would like a lighter wine like a Pinot Grigio or a Pinot Noir (if you want red).  With rich dishes and red meat, you would tend to pair it with a Chardonnay or Cabernet.

This is a great starting point the play around with, but my suggestion for a “Perfect Pairing” is to find a wine you enjoy and pair it with a meal you enjoy!  Adding wine to your meal is all about creating an experience and if you enjoy each separately it will only be better together!  Don’t overthink it!

7.) Hosting a Party

You want options!  Below are my 4 favorite crowd pleaser wines!

• LaMarca Prosecco – no explanation needed!
• J Pinot Gris – not as bitter as a Pinot Grigio, very soft and refreshing
• Apothic Red – a red blend that appeals to many different drinkers style
• Louis Martini Cabernet – the King of Cabs.  A staple in the Cabernet category and you always want to have something a little bit nicer and heavier as an option

The co-founder of my winery (Ernest Gallo) said, “We start each day recognizing that we market products that will be there at our consumers most joyful and memorable milestones.  How many other consumer products can say that?”. Isn’t that awesome?! My whole point with this post is to encourage you to just have fun with wine and use it to make an ordinary occasion into a special occasion.  Even if it’s a regular Tuesday evening in your sweats with dishes from dinner still in the sink…. relax, you deserve a break!

Although I am biased towards the wines in my portfolio, I would love to hear of other wines you enjoy and the “Perfect Pairings” you have created.