2013 Oscar Wine Party Results

Sally and I are always up for having some friends over to the house, opening up some good wine, and doing a blind tasting. We're also big movie fans, so the Academy Awards make a great excuse to throw an Oscar party with wine and wagering.

Wagering

We keep things simple - everyone chips in $5 and picks the winner for each award. This year's pool was a three-way tie between me, Sally, and our friend Paul. We each correctly picked 18 out of 24 awards. Not to shabby!

Wine

Just like last year's party, we served four wines blind at pairing stations and had our guests vote on their favorites. They all sold for less than $20 at San Diego Wine Co and were either current favorites or had been recommended by friends.

4th Place: 2010 Klinker Brick Zinfandel
This was a good wine, but it wasn't nearly as amazing as it was the first time we tried it when we thought it was almost too good to be true. It was paired with beef meatballs in a cranberry chili sauce.

3rd Place: NV Roederer Estate Brut
Surprise! Last year's winner came back to defend it's crown and wound up in third place. It was still tasty, but our friends weren't as much in a bubbly mood. We paired it with Mediterranean pinwheels that contained prosciutto, feta, and basil.

2nd Place: 2011 Conundrum
Yum. This is one of our house table wines, and it was a hit with our friends too. It was paired with puff pastries stuffed with chicken salad (chicken, apples, raisins, mayo, and curry). 

1st Place: 2010 Smith & Hook Cabernet Sauvignon
Recommended by our friend Robin, we went into this one blind. It was on sale at San Diego Wine Company for $12.95, which was quite a steal considering how smooth and drinkable this wine was. We paired it with mini sandwiches made with marinated London broil, arugula, and mustard.

 

Sparkling Wine for the Red Carpet without the Celebrity Prices

I love everything about the Oscars ~ judging what people say and where as they walk the red carpet, being entertained by the host (can’t wait for Seth MacFarlane!), anticipation of who will win, acceptance speeches…and of course, the glass of sparkling wine in my hand!

While tonight is an evening of glitz and glamor, not everything has to be at the cost of Oscar fashion.  Whether you are joining friends to watch the show, or cozying up on your couch, grab a bottle of one of these great sparkling wines ~ all for under $20!

Piper Sonoma Brut Select Cuvee ($11.99-$12.99)

Crisp and creamy, with floral and citrus aromas, flavors of green apple and anise with a zesty finish

La Marca Prosecco ($11.50-$14.99)

Delicate, well balanced prosecco, with a good blend of baked apple, sour lemon and grapefruit, light creamy mineral texture – discovered this one from our friend Terri, at A Girl In The South (thank you!)

Domaine Ste Michelle Extra Dry ($10.99-$11.50)

This is one of our house sparklings – slightly sweet bubbly, frothy and smooth, and pleases many in a crowd, easy drinker.

Gloria Ferrera Blanc de Noirs ($15.99-$17.25)

Rose sparkler aged 18 months, 100% Pinot Noir – good red cherry berry fruit with notes of citrus, and earth undertones.  Heavy enough to pair very well with food – even some with a little spice.  

Wine with Chocolate Cake? You bet!

Many of my friends will be happy to hear that January 27 is Chocolate Cake Day.  I’m not much of a baker and chocolate cake is typically not my top dessert choice. But, pair it with a yummy wine, and I’m in!  There are actually a number of wines that would pair well with a gooey chocolate cake, and some may surprise you.  Here are a few recommendations.  If you don’t bake…find a friend that does and bribe them with wine, or just grab a bottle and share it over a slice from your favorite bakery!

Port

Ports pair well with a big slice of dark chocolate cake.  Not long ago, I challenged my dear friend who shares some pretty tasty recipes over at A Girl In The South to put together a gooey chocolate dessert to pair with one of my favorite ports, Heitz Ink Grade.  Man, did she hit the nail on the head with this one (check it out).  

Port-Style Dessert Wine

Try a port-style dessert wine with a slice of black forest or red velvet cake. One of my personal favorites with the Cuvaison Espiritu.  This is a port-style wine made with Petite Syrah grapes and fortified with brandy.  YUM.  

Sparkling Wine

A dry or rose sparkling wine would pair well with any slice of cake.  To get a nice dry sparkling, pick out a brut.  One of my favorites is Roederer Estate, which can be found at larger beverage stores and usually under $20!  

Cabernet Sauvignon

That’s right.  A the right cab will pair well with chocolate cake.  Did you stock up on ding dongs with the crash of Hostess??  Open up a fruity cab and dive in!  I’d recommend a bottle of Niner.  It is a softer cabernet with subtle flavors.  It would balance the chocolate rather than compete with it.  

What wine would you pair with a slice of chocolate cake?

Classes are a great way to drink and learn

Sally and I attended a wine and cheese pairing class at Village Vino this week. I'm pretty sure I'd flunk a test on what was taught, but our experience was proof that classes can be a fun way to learn a few new things, meet cool people, and drink great wine.

Our class was facilitated by Village Vino's own Rita Pirkl and cheese expert Mary Palmer. We tasted eight wine and cheese pairings, and were seated at a table with seven other participants so we could discuss our reactions to each one. 

Here were the pairings:

• NV Villa Sandi Prosecco paired with Brillat Savarin
• NV Over the Moon Sparking Pinot Noir paired with Ewephoria
• 2011 Domaine Girault Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc) paired with Bucheron
• 2011 Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc paired with Chabrin
• 2010 Copain "Tous Ensemble" Pinot Noir paired with Zamorano
• 2010 Cervantes Mt. Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon paired with Fiscalini 18-month bandaged cheddar
• NV Nierport 10yr Tawny Port paired with 5yr vintage Gouda
• NV Quinta do Noval "Black" Ruby Port paired with Bleu de Auvergne

They were all expertly paired, and I did manage to learn a few things. For example, hard cheese generally works better with reds while softer cheeses generally pair better with white. And, there are actually some really good cheese and port pairings!

More important, our experience was a great reminder that classes can be a lot of fun. If you are in San Diego, check out Village Vino's advanced wine and cheese pairing class on January 22. 

Talk to someone at your local wine shop or wine bar if you'd like to know more about classes in your area. There are also a lot of email newsletters that advertise local wine events. In San Diego, we're big fans of The Juice.

Wine and cheese pairing at Village Vino on January 15

More Perfect Thanksgiving Wines Under $20

Thanksgiving is a great time to share wine with family and friends. Whether pairing with your Thanksgiving feast, or washing down the leftovers while you take in some football, there’s something for everyone!

Turkey is typically paired with a dry white wine, but there are a variety of wines that pair well with a full feast (turkey, ham, and a wide range of sides).  Last year we shared a few of our favorite varietals under $20 (check out the full list) to share on Thanksgiving Day.  Here are more recommendations, all of which are also under $20 and can be found in your local supermarket, liquor store, or wine shop. 

Sparkling

A sparkling wine is a great pairing with any festive occasion.  This is a good starter as guests are arriving, or paired with the meal.  If serving with dinner, the key is to select a brut.  Dry sparkling wines pair much nicer with a turkey feast.  Our choice is Roederer Estate Brut.  A very balanced sparkling, with notes of floral, tree fruit, and light spice.  It scored 91 points from Wine Spectator, and retails at BevMo for $18.99

 

Sauvignon Blanc

If serving a white, you want to select a wine that is refreshing, tangy, and fruity. Sauvignon Blanc fits this bill perfectly as it is light and crisp, with grassy or herbaceous flavors.  Our pick is Simi Sauvignon Blanc.  It is bright and clear in color, medium-bodied with refreshing flavors of green apple and nectarines.  It is currently retailing at BevMo for $8.99 (a bargain!).  

Pinot Noir

The trick with reds is to select one that is not too tart or high in tannins (sorry cab lovers, today is not your day).  Light-bodied, more fruit forward pinot noirs pair nicely with a traditional Thanksgiving feast.  One of our favorite under $20 wine is Cycles Gladiator Pinot Noir.  This is an easy drinker, appealing to many.  Lots of red fruit flavors that pairs well with a variety of food.  It is currently retailing at BevMo for $9.99. 

Zinfandel

This is an excellent medium-bodied red with lots of intense, plummy, jammy flavors with splash of pepper.  Some of you may be familiar with Folie a Deux for their red table wine, Menage a Trois.  They also make a tasty Zinfandel.  This is a well-rounded, textured, juicy red wine.  It retails at BevMo for $12.99.

Happy Thanksgiving!