I just finished reading a feature in the April issue of Food and Wine Magazine titled 20 Wine Pairings to Try Before You Die. I truly enjoyed reading this and particularly liked the idea of pairing the California Pinot Noir and Doritos, as well as the Amarone with Parmesan and honey. (Making a mental note to try these soon.) It really got my thought process working and I said to myself: "What interesting and surprising match can I try this weekend?"
It just so happens that we're going to a birthday party tomorrow. The gathering is at lunchtime and a variety of gourmet pizzas will be served along with delicious finger foods. I quickly check my wine rack and find Paumanok's Festival Red 2007. Perfect!
This fun red is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It truly is a festival of flavors with notes of black cherry, plum and spice. Paumanok Vineyards actually suggests pairing it with pasta dishes, meatloaf or pizza. I love that. Plus, it costs $17.99 a bottle so it can be an everyday red. I heard a colleague describe it as, "a wine you can drink on Tuesday".
I first tasted the Festival Red 2007 at Paumanok's tasting room back in March. I thought it demanded more attention and was a bigger wine than it's price tag. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to pair this with different kinds of gourmet pizzas and finding out what works best. I never bring a brand and varietal of wine that I haven't tasted before. I'm confident that this one will be well-received but will be an experience nonetheless.
I will write a follow-up comment to inform you all of the results. For now, happy Friday.
Signing off from North Fork, New York.
Paumanok's Festival Red was even better than expected. It was a huge hit at the party and did pair perfectly with each type of pizza. The red blend is medium-bodied with a smooth finish so it didn't overpower but had enough complexity to complement spicy flavors, cheese and herbs.
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