Red, White, and Beer

Wondering what to serve while celebrating this weekend?  With the help of What to Drink with What you Eat, here are suggested pairings with traditional, and not so traditional July 4^th grub.  Because sharing a cold one is sometimes the way to go, we’ve added a few favorites to the list, creating our Red, White, and Beer recommendations ~ Happy 4^th!

You should find all of these at large beverage stores, such as BevMo, Specs, and TotalWine - all are under $20

Hot Dogs

RED: A to Z Pinot Noir

WHITE: Seghesio Pinot Grigio

BEER: Anchor Steam

Hamburgers

RED: Smith & Hook Cabernet Sauvignon (especially with cheeseburgers!)

WHITE: about as “white” as you may want to get is Rose – go with any Spanish one

BEER: Abita Amber

BBQ

Any meat with smoky and/or sweet sauce

RED: “The Franc” – Cosentino Cab Franc

WHITE: Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Riesling

BEER: Blue Moon White Ale

Grilled Meatloaf

RED: Plungerhead Old Vine Zinfandel

WHITE: Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc

BEER: Shiner Bock

Apple Pie

By this time, I’m sure you’ll just want a nice cup of coffee.  If not, a little sherry always goes nice with pie.

Perfect pairings for your Memorial Day cookout

The original Memorial Day was on May 30, 1868 when people were urged to decorate the graves of soldiers who died in the Civil War. The date is believed to have been chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. Today, Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of summer and many Americans observe the holiday with a barbecue.

Here are some of our favorite wines for a cookout. All of them are under $20 and are available at BevMo, Specs, Total Wine, and many other retail outlets.

Steak
Go with a Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon. This was one of our first go-to wines and remains a favorite to this day. It's also on our list of Great Wines Under $20.

Pork
We're huge fans of Cycles Gladiator Pinot Noir, which won a blind taste test at our HalloWine party in 2010. It's a great match with Pork but is also enjoyable on its own.

Chicken
Simi Sonoma County Chardonnay is a good choice if chicken is on the menu. We often recommend this wine for gatherings because it is nicely balanced without too much oak or citrus.

Hamburgers
Our selection here is Cline Zinfandel. It's a repeat from last year's Memorial Day BBQ list, but it's also one of the few tasty Zins that's available at BevMo, Specs, and Total Wine.

Hot Dogs
Most of us will go for a beer if hot dogs are on the menu, but why not wine? Caymus Conundrum, a distinctive white blend, would actually make an excellent pairing. It's a perfect summer wine and we always try to keep some in the house.

National Moment of Remembrance
Let us not forget that Memorial Day is a time to remember all of the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. In 2000, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act. It calls on all Americans to pause at 3 pm local time on Memorial Day for a moment of silence to remember those who have died while serving our country.

After the moment of silence, consider raising a glass of something good to honor the memories of our fallen heroes.

Favorite Oregon Wines

May is Oregon Wine month.  What better way to ‘celebrate’ the occasion than by drinking some great Oregon wines!  Here are a few of our favorites, all under $20:

All are available at BevMo, Specs, TotalWine

Sokol Blosser Evolution ($13-$18)

A favorite summer wine. Flavorful white blend with big tropical fruits up front, and a crisp, clean finish.  Poor a glass and go chill on the patio.  Food optional. 

A to Z Pinot Noir ($16-$19)

My brother Greg, and his wife, Jennifer shared this wine with us.  It is one of their ‘go-to’ wines, and after tasting it, you’ll understand why! It is a classic Oregon pinot, and hits three high notes for me:  enjoyable ‘ingredients to dessert’, under $20, and screw cap!

Erath Pinot Noir ($14-$19)

A regular favorite, and the wine that changed my mind on screw caps.  A lighter, fruitier pinot than what typically comes from Oregon. While it does pretty well on its own, it is best paired with food. 

What are your favorite Oregon wines? 

Chef’s Table Dinner at La Villa (in San Diego!)

Sally and I enjoyed an unforgettable chef’s table dinner in late 2011 that may have been one of our best meals ever. So it was no wonder that we were excited when we heard about a chef’s table at La Villa San Diego.

La Villa is an Italian farm to table restaurant in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood. It’s part of the Buon Appetito Restaurant Group, whose Buon Appetito restaurant is no stranger to this blog. Don’t bother searching for the chef’s table on their website. Just know that it’s there and call to make your reservation.

Our five course dinner was paired with wine and was simply outstanding. 

First Course
Beef carpaccio with parmesan, capers, and chianti mustard served over a bed of lettuce. Paired with NV Gruet Demi-sec (sparkling wine).

Sally and Jeff's Mom, Kathy

Second Course
Burrata with oven roasted tomatoes, artichoke, frisée, wild arugula, balsamic, olive oil, and pesto. Paired with a 2010 Stolpman L’Avion Roussanne.

Jeff and Jeff's Dad, Bob (Jeff is on the right)

Third Course
Ravioli with poached egg and mushroom. Paired with a 2010 Windy Oaks Estate Pinot Noir.

We're all enjoying course #3

Fourth Course
Prime rib-eye paired with potatoes, carrots, and sweet peas. Paired with a 2010 Storybook Mountain Zinfandel.

Mmmm!

Fifth Course
Dessert two ways (a polenta cake and ice cream). Paired with a Canadian ice wine (apple) and a South African late harvest Chenin Blanc.

Dessert two ways paired with dessert wine two ways

Pure Oregon Pinot - Cameron Arley's Leap

One of the things we love about wine is it is rarely just a bottle or a glass. There's almost always a story that involves some cool people, some good food, and a little bit of adventure.

Take our delicious wine from Saturday night for example. Sally and I enjoyed a bottle of 2009 Cameron "Arley's Leap" Pinot Noir at Eddie V's in La Jolla. You can't taste the wine or the food by reading this post, but I can at least show you the view:

If you love Oregon Pinot Noir, or are interested in getting to know Oregon Pinot Noir, pick yourself up a bottle of Cameron Arley's Leap. It has the perfect blend of strong earthiness and bright fruit that are hallmarks of the region's Pinot Noir.

I first discovered Cameron at Oregon Wines on Broadway while on a business trip in Portland, Oregon. I've been known to frequent the establishment while traveling because they really know their stuff. This wine continues to be one of my favorites.

Sally fell in love with it too when we tried some on a business/wine tasting trip last summer. A bottle or two made it home in our luggage and here we are a few months later.