A little adventure thanks to pizza and wine

It's always fun to turn the pursuit of wine into an adventure. This one stars some great wine, our favorite pizza, and a piece of furniture we had been searching for since January.

Our friends at San Pasqual Winery recently shared via Twitter that their Monte Soledad Spanish blend would be a perfect pairing with pizza. We're huge fans of pizza and wine, so we decided to pick up a bottle for our next pizza night. (See our posts on Robert Renzoni Sangiovese and pizza or Consentino Sangiovese and pizza for more pizza and wine pairings.)

Last Friday, we both got a craving for pizza so we stopped by San Pasqual's tasting room in La Mesa to buy a bottle of their 2003 Monte Soledad. At $12.50 per bottle, this wine is a steal! It's a blend of Tempranillo, Granacha, Barbera, and Cabernet Sauvignon that tastes a lot like dark fruit and, well, pizza. 

Wine in hand, we were strolling back to our car when a furniture stored called Mostly Mission caught our eye. We had been looking for a small table to put in our entry way and they had some promising pieces displayed in their window. The store's name reveals their primary focus, but they also sell some very unique items too.

One that jumped out at us was a bistro table made from an old wine barrel. The look and dimensions were perfect for an odd-shaped space in our entry way. We had been searching for a table like this since last January when we moved out an old piece of furniture. Our search was finally over!

Later that night, we opened the Monte Soledad and thoroughly enjoyed it with a Round Table King Arthur Supreme. The dark grapes blended perfectly with the pizza's meaty, salty flavors to create an incredible pairing. Both soon disappeared, but not before we raised a glass to finding our new entry way table!

Two Red Wine Finds

We recently discovered two new red wines, representing both ends of the spectrum ~ a high-end Cab, and an affordable Rhône.  If you happen to see either of these on a wine list, give them a try!

DeBeikes Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($100)

100% Cab

This wine had a surprisingly spicy nose for a cab sav, but on the mouth its identity was very clear. It was very structured throughout, bold with a strong finish that didn’t linger too long. It was quite enjoyable on its own, but would go excellent with a hearty dish – bring on the steak! Check out this video review of the wine by wine-street.com

You can purchase the wine directly from the winery for $100 (plus shipping & tax). If you are in San Diego, check out Mosaic Wine Bar where you can pick up a bottle at the bargain price of about $78 (does not qualify for 5 cent sale). 

2010 Montirius "Le Cadet" ($10) 

50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, 10% Merlot

We discovered this classic Rhône wine while dining at The Smoking Goat (awesome!) in San Diego. The nose was full berry with a hint of white pepper. The berry continued through as the earthiness developed in taste.  It has well balanced acidity. A very versatile wine ~ great pick for dining out as it works with a variety of options. We enjoyed with our spicy red snapper and grilled pork chop meals.  What makes this wine even more appealing is the price tag. The average retail price is about $10. The difficult part is finding it!  It looks like the best bet for purchase is online. 

Cheers!

From the unusual grape files: Blaufrankisch

Jeff's parents enjoying 2009 Wild Horse BlaufranischMany wine drinkers, ourselves included, tend to stick to a few tried and true varietals. If we're feeling red, we generally gravitate towards a Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, or Cabernet Sauvignon. Or, if it is a white kind of night, then we might decide between a Chardonnay or a Sauvignon Blanc. Those are all terrific varietals, but there's no reason to drink them exclusively!

Last weekend, we had a terrific dinner at Jake's Del Mar with Jeff's parents, Bob and Kathy. We brought along a couple of bottles of 2009 Wild Horse Blaufrankisch because we thought it would be fun to try a new varietal.

The wine turned out to be a terrific complement to the salads, seafood, and lamb dishes we collectively ordered. It had a lot of dark fruit on the palate that went down incredibly smooth with no earthy undertones and very light tannins. There was even a hint of green apple, which made a perfect pairing with our salads.

Blaufrankisch, also known as Lemberger, is predominantly grown in Europe but can occasionally be seen in the U.S.  It's definitely an unusual wine and our server at Jake's hadn't seen that varietal before. That made the wine even more fun since it served as an ice breaker and conversation starter.

Fast food and wine? Why not...

There have been a number of articles, blogs and tweets posted lately about pairing wine with your favorite fast food. Let’s face it, as bad as it is for you, there are times when fast food tastes just so darn good! Even the most revered chefs have been known to satisfy their taste buds through the drive-thru. Most notably, Thomas Keller, of Napa Valley’s French Laundry, is a big fan of In-N-Out burger. 

I don’t think anyone questions the negative nutritional value of fast food. But when you do indulge, why not enjoy it with a glass of wine? The debate should not be about what types of foods you are allowed to enjoy with wine. The focus should be on what type of wine tastes best with what you eat.    

In the article, McWine Pairing Tips by Joshua Wesson, he writes, “The notion of pairing fast food with wine has never received much respect anywhere.This is a shame, because whether you're eating pizza in Naples or fried chicken in Nashville, wine can be served with fast food every bit as easily and deliciously as any other kind of cuisine. Perhaps even more easily.”

Gregory Dal Piaz, Editor-in-Chief of Snooth.com, recently published an article, McDonald’s Wine Pairings. The article is a fun read, but even more entertaining are the comments to the notion of pairing wine with McDs. There are a number of reasons to not eat a Big Mac (and other fast food treats), but it seems some readers have missed the point of his story. Piaz calls this out in his own comment post:  “I think intoleranc­e and disdain has been one of the defining elements of the wine culture and I want to help change that.” 

While we have not tried wine with McDonalds, we have uncorked a bottle with other fast foods, including Keller’s favorite, In-N-Out…and it was awesome! (Two Favorites). We’ve also been known to enjoy a nice Sangiovese with our favorite pizza, Round Table’s King Arthur Supreme ~ with no bell peppers. (A Great Sangiovese for pizza and game night and Cosentino Sangiovese). 

There’s nothing that says wine must only be enjoyed with a fancy meal, juicy steak or fine cheese. With so many wines available at all level of price points, there is literally something out there for anyone, and any meal.Next time you are in line to collect your dinner from the window or at home waiting for the delivery guy to ring your doorbell, consider these fast food pairings recommended in “What To Drink with What You Eat”:

KFC Fried Chicken:  Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, sherry (dry Spanish)

Domino’s Pizza:  Barbera, Malbec (Argentinian), Merlot, Sangiovese (especially with pepperoni)

Taco Bell Gorditas:  rose, Sauvignon Blanc (esp. New Zealand), sparkling wine

White Castle Hamburger: Reisling (off-dry), rose

McDonald’s Big Mac: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet/Shiraz blend, Chenin Blanc

Regardless of your meal choice, fancy or fast, be adventurous and enjoy it with wine! 

How to plan your first trip to Napa Valley

A trip to Napa Valley is a must-do for any wine enthusiast, but navigating through all the options can be a daunting task for a first-time visitor. Fortunately, we've collected a list of tips and suggestions that can make trip planning easy and enjoyable. Here is our guide to making the most of your first visit to Napa Valley. 

Where to stay
We prefer to stay in the town of Napa, which is located at the Southern end of Napa Valley. Napa offers plenty of local flavor without being too touristy. There are also a number of terrific restaurants within walking distance of downtown Napa, an important consideration if you plan to enjoy a bottle of wine at dinner after a day of wine tasting.

Our pick is the Napa River Inn. The rooms are very well appointed and many have a balcony, a fireplace, or both. Your stay includes coupons for free wine tasting at Silos Jazz Club, which is a great place to try some local wine and unwind with live music. Your room also includes breakfast at Sweetie Pies, a small bakery that is popular with local residents in the morning. Locals are a great source of insider information!

Don't miss: a trip to the Napa Valley Welcome Center, located across the street from the Napa River Inn. You can pick up coupons for free tastings and get  a copy of the Preiser Key to Napa Valley. The Preiser Key is an essential guide to keep in your car because it has touring maps and information on most wineries.

Where to eat
You can spend a small fortune at the famous French Laundry, but we prefer to go a bit more casual.

A great move for lunch is to enjoy a picnic with scenic views of Napa Valley. We always go to the Oakville Grocery because they offer amazing sandwiches and have picnic tables in a garden area behind their store. You can also go back in to stock up on snacks for your hotel room such as bread and cheese.

Mustards Grill in Napa is one of our favorite places for dinner. Celebrity chef Cindy Pawlcyn has created a relaxing, casual restaurant that offers amazing food. Be sure to make reservations - they are popular!

Mustards Grill is a short drive from the Napa River Inn, but here are a few great picks that are walking distance from the hotel:

Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin BBQ. Simply delicious barbecue. This place can get crowded and you may end up sharing a table with another party, so don't be shy!

Ristorante Allegria. Terrific Italian food and great atmosphere in an old bank building.

Coles Chop House. This is the best steak house in Napa Valley and a perfect place to drink some of your newly acquired wine.

Where to taste
The shear number of wineries in Napa Valley can be overwhelming, so here are a few simple suggestions. You may also want to read our Top Ten Wine Tasting Tips before selecting your wineries.

1. Pick a few wineries based on wines you know and like.
2. Ask friends and family for some suggestions.
3. Leave room in your itinerary for a few extra wineries. You may get a hot tip from a local or drive by a winery that looks too good to pass up.

Tours offer a more relaxing, personalized experience so be sure to schedule at least one tour while you are there. Our pick for a first time visitor is Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga. They have several tour options available, but all of them include a unique aerial tram ride to their hill top tasting room. The tasting room offers sweeping views of Napa Valley where you can relax and enjoy the wine. The tour also gives you a nice overview of the winemaking process. 

Be sure to avoid: any winery with a tour bus parked in front since the tasting room will likely be swarming with people. You should also stay off of Highway 29 on weekends - stick to the much quieter Silverado Trail instead.  

For other insights to Napa Valley, check out these prior posts: 

2011 California Wine Adventure

Day 1: Three Perfect Days in Napa and Sonoma Valley

Day 2: Three Perfect Days in Napa and Sonoma Valley

Day 3: Three perfect days in Napa and Sonoma Valley

2010 Wine Country Scavenger Hunt