Sauvignon Blanc
Light-bodied, crisp wine with fig, lemon and grassy tones.
Food Pairing
| Meats & Fish: | Lighter entrées such as shellfish, sushi, sole, orange roughy and chicken |
| Cheese & Nuts: | Feta, chévre, pine nuts |
| Fruits & Vegetables: | Citrus fruits, melons, green apples, asparagus |
| Sauces: | All light sauces such as citrus sauce |
| Grains: | White rice, French bread |
| Desserts: | Light, fruity sweets such as sorbet and key lime pie |
Chardonnay
Medium-bodied, buttery and oaky with vanilla, pineapple, peach and red apple flavors and a smooth finish.
Food Pairing
| Meats & Fish: | Pork loin, chicken, veal, shrimp, crab and lobster |
| Cheese & Nuts: | Asiago, havarti, mozzarella, almonds |
| Fruits & Vegetables: | Avocado, potato, butternut squash, apples, peaches, mango |
| Sauces: | Creamy, mild and buttery sauces, pesto, tropical salsas |
| Grains: | Risotto, crackers |
| Desserts: | Apple, pecan and key lime pie, yellow and pound cake, banana pudding, caramel swirl ice cream |
Riesling
Light- to medium-bodied with apricot, honeysuckle and pear flavors with a dry finish.
Food Pairing
| Meats & Fish: | Sweet meats such as pork and smoked turkey, chicken, sea bass, trout and Asian food |
| Cheese & Nuts: | Havarti, Gouda, pecans, candied walnuts |
| Fruits & Vegetables: | Pears, apricots, figs, apples, melon, sweet potato, chili and bell peppers |
| Sauces: | Sweet BBQ, sweet and sour, curry, chutney |
| Grains: | Corn bread, honey bread |
| Desserts: | Pecan pie, apple pie, baked pears, honey and almond-covered cheese, anything with caramel |
Pinot Noir
Medium-bodied and silky with red cherry, strawberry and smoky earth tones.
Food Pairing
| Meats & Fish: | Roasted chicken, tuna, filet mignon, pork, lamb and mild sausages |
| Cheese & Nuts: | Goat cheese, Brie, walnuts |
| Fruits & Vegetables: | Roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, figs, cherries, strawberries, dried fruit |
| Sauces: | Mushroom sauces, light-medium red sauces |
| Grains: | Olive bread |
| Desserts: | Vanilla pudding, milk chocolate, creme brulée, strawberries and cream, white chocolate |
Syrah
Heavy-bodied and chewy with black cherry, currant, jammy, spice and tobacco tones.
Food Pairing
| Meats & Fish: | Roast game, hearty stews, spicy sausages such as pepperoni and salami, salmon |
| Cheese & Nuts: | Strong cheeses such as sharp cheddar, Roquefort and blue cheese, hazelnuts |
| Fruits & Vegetables: | Currants, blackberries, stewed tomatoes, beets, eggplant and dark, leafy greens |
| Sauces: | Heavy red, BBQ and spicy sauces |
| Grains: | Pizza |
| Desserts: | Rhubarb pie, Black Forest cake |
Meritage
Full-bodied with espresso, pomegranate, dark chocolate and black cherry flavors.
Food Pairing
| Meats & Fish: | BBQ tri-tip, sausage pizza, duck, tuna and grilled shark |
| Cheese & Nuts: | Blue cheese, Camembert, toasted cashews |
| Fruits & Vegetables: | Bell pepper, roasted shallots, boysenberry or plums |
| Sauces: | Bearnaise, marinara, mushroom |
| Desserts: | Dark chocolate torte, chocolate truffles dusted with cocoa powder |
Merlot
Medium- to heavy-bodied, smooth-finishing with black cherry, plum, raspberry and chocolate notes.
Food Pairing
| Meats & Fish: | Grilled meats, steak, stew, leg of lamb, tuna and swordfish |
| Cheese & Nuts: | Romano, Parmesan, aged chévre, chestnuts |
| Fruits & Vegetables: | Plums, tomatoes, endive, eggplant, black beans, caramelized vegetables |
| Sauces: | Red sauce, bolognese, tomato and béarnaise sauces |
| Desserts: | Dark chocolate sauce, berries, chocolate torte, fondue |
Cabernet Sauvignon
Full-bodied with black currant, coffee and dark chocolate notes with a long finish.
Food Pairing
| Meats & Fish: | Game, ribeye, roasted meats, beef stew, rack of lamb, swordfish and tuna |
| Cheese & Nuts: | Cheddar and all aged cheeses, walnuts |
| Fruits & Vegetables: | Black cherries, plums, tomatoes, broccoli, black olives, dark greens |
| Sauces: | Brown, bolognese, tomato, pasta in a thick red sauce |
| Grains: | Pizza |
| Desserts: | Bittersweet chocolate, berries in dark chocolate sauce, espresso gelato |
Zinfandel
Medium- to heavy-bodied with blackberry, raspberry, black pepper and smoke tones with a spicy finish.
Food Pairing
| Meats & Fish: | Grilled sausages, ribs, Cajun spiced fish, cioppino, duck and roasted meats |
| Cheese & Nuts: | Ripe Brie, triple-cream and aged cheeses |
| Fruits & Vegetables: | Cranberries, all types of peppers, especially grilled |
| Sauces: | Spicy, Cajun and pepper sauces, hot salsa |
| Desserts: | Spice cake, gingerbread, orange-chocolate, carrot cake |