Wine/Cheese Pairing #1
On February 2, my roommate, Katelyn, and I sat down for a
wine and cheese pairing to conclude a long Thursday. We went to Kroger and
bought some wine and cheese, and then we tasted each of them. Although Katelyn
is not in the class, it was interesting to also get her opinion on the wines
and how they blended with each cheese.
We had three cheese varieties, and three wines to taste. The
cheese included a pepper jack, an extra sharp cheddar, and Colby jack. The
wines were a Sauvignon Blanc, a Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Chardonnay. I thought
it would be interesting to pair some very inexpensive wines with one that was a
bit more pricy.
Root 1: Sauvignon
Blanc-
Year: 2015
Region: Casablanca Valley, Chile
Price: $9 (on sale) usually $18
My Review: I bought this bottle of wine last week from the
Vintage Cellar. I did not know much about it, but I had tried Sauvignon Blanc
before and enjoyed it so I figured I would give it a try. The white wine had a
citrus fruit smell, and a tart citrusy taste. It was rather dry, and the after
taste was even bitterer. While I did enjoy this wine, I’m not sure that I would
buy it again.
Cheese Pairing: I thought this wine paired very nicely with
the pepper jack cheese. The bitterness of the wine complimented the spicy
flavors in the cheese and resulted in a nice, balanced palette. I didn’t prefer
this wine with the extra sharp cheddar because the bold flavors in each seemed
to compete with each other.
Official Review: “Pale green edges with a bright citrus
bouquet and juicy tropical aromas. Lime, grapefruit, pineapple and pear flavors
are vibrant and fresh. Smooth mineral notes and a hint of herbs creates complexity
for this crisp and delightful wine, followed by an elegant finish.”
Bay Bridge Cabernet
Sauvignon-
Region: California, USA
Price: $2.99
My Review: This wine had a somewhat sweet smell with hints
of berry. The color was very rich and dark red, with even hints of purple. The
taste was also slightly sweet, but it had a bit of an acidic “bite” to it with
a peppery after taste. The wine was smooth, and although I don’t usually prefer
red wines, this was not bad especially for the price.
Cheese Pairing: I
thought this wine paired very nicely with the extra sharp cheddar cheese. The
pepper jack seemed to be competing in flavors, and the Colby jack was a bit
mild and overpowered by the bold taste of the wine.
Bay Bridge
Chardonnay-
Region: California, USA
Price: $2.99
My Review: This wine had a mild smell of oak with some
floral tones. The flavor was very good; notes of citrus were present with a dry
after-taste. I thought this wine had a mellow taste, as it was not especially
overpowering in any aspect. Of the three wines that I tasted, the Bay Bridge
Chardonnay was my favorite, despite its low price!
*A vintage year was not listed
for either of the Bay Bridge wines, nor could I find an official review to
document for them.
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