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O Come All Ye Thirsty

O Come All Ye Thirsty

by | Nov 30, 2023 | December 2023/January 2024, Eat

Doreen Colondres PC Linda Nguyen
Doreen Colondres | Photo by Linda Nguyen

It’s the most wine-derful time of the year—as the holidays = lots of wine and lots of snacks (yes, please!). So we asked Vitis House owner and wine connoisseur Doreen Colondres for her tips on pairing the two, no matter what kind of snack situation you have up your sleeve this season—and whether you’re hosting a festive soiree or taking your “girl dinner” next-level. Cheers to balanced bites and bevs!

Crudité
For the vegetarians and veggie-lovers alike, Colondres recommends pairing vegetable dishes with a sauvignon blanc from Chile, New Zealand, Sancerre or any area of the Loire Valley—as “high acidic wines will pair to perfection with highly acidic foods.”

Charcuterie
Super Tuscans—traditionally blends of sangiovese with international grape varietals like merlot and cabernet—tend to be smooth with great acidity, the perfect amount of tannins and a not-too-high alcohol content, making them a good pair for meats and aged cheeses in a charcuterie plate, says Colondres. 

Fruit + Desserts
You can’t forget dessert! Sweet fruits and the likes of cookies, brownies and other treats are best paired with a sweet wine, naturally, like moscato. Or opt for bubbles, which pairs well with pretty much anything, says Colondres.

Dips
What’s a holiday party—or any party really—without dip?! Because most dips are mayo-, sour cream- or yogurt-based (all of which have relatively high levels of acidity), they req a high-acid wine to complement. According to Colondres, the Gewürztraminer from Austria would be a great pairing due to its complexity and rounded and almondy flavors: “Any seafood or vegetable dip will be fantastic with that.”

Crunchy, Spicy Foods
If you’re going super-basic—read: you didn’t have time to grocery shop or prepare anything more substantial—and chips are all you have in your pantry, go for a bag that serves up a little bit of a kick (like, say, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos or Doritos—really). You’re gonna wanna lean simple when it comes to the wine, so Colondres recommends pairing with a riesling from Mosel.

On the Prowl

On the Prowl

by | May 2, 2022 | Eat, May 2022

If you’re on the prowl for some feel-good seasonal sips, the just-launched Prowling Vineyards Napa Valley is here for it with its premiere spring release. The official wine club of the Carolina Panthers (!), the membership-only Prowling Vineyards Napa Valley’s handcrafted varietals mirror the Panthers’ boldness and toast their hunger to win both on and off the field—at football and at life—with iconic flavors that honor the Carolinas and allow fans to play a part in supporting Panther charities. Nocturnal types looking for a grape time are gonna wanna sip on the Night Hunter. The flagship classic Napa Valley cab enthralls with notes of black cherry, blackberry and plum, complemented by toasted oak, dried currant and baking spice for a bright and polished mouthfeel and long finish. For a fruitier feel, sidle up to Panthera, a velvety, elegant Santa Barbara pinot noir that pleases the palate with bright strawberry flavors and a nose of blackberries, raspberries, cherries, brown sugar and baking spices. White wine fans will go wild for the alluring and complex elegant blend that is the Cat Tail. Perf for Caturday—or any day—the bright and zingy Napa Valley cuvée blanc’s citrusy floral nose pounces from the glass like a bouquet to the face before a lemon-forward burst on the tongue, finished with pineapple, tropical fruits and vanilla undertones for a subtle spice. Three and six bottle ops are now available for members to score twice a year—with bonus benefits to boot (think: Panthers fire-branded crate, entry to Panthers-only events, access to additional bottles of vino year-round and more). So, in essence, uncorking one more way to Keep Pounding. prowlingvineyards.com

Peep 5 wine picks under $25 by local wine aficionado here.