Getting ready to throw a soiree? No party would be complete without a little vino. While in Napa, my family and I visited some of Sonoma county’s best wineries. We tasted some amazing blends, were educated on the wine making process and learned a few tips for wine and food pairings.
A general rule of thumb is to have the depth of the wine match the depth of the food. For example serving a summer fruit salad with a full bodied, aged red might not be the best idea. The more powerful the wine, the more substantial you want the complementing flavors to be. While the general rule of thumb is red with meat and white with chicken or fish, we were educated on focusing the flavor of the pairing and not the food. Did you know that a zesty marinara is just as good with a full bodied red wine as a meaty steak?
Our favorite winery was Sausal Winery Vineyard in Healdsburg, California. Angela, who led us through our tasting, was incredibly knowledge about the various blends and helped us stretch our minds and palettes. In addition to a friendly staff and tantalizing wines, Sausal also offers a wine club where members can experience the finest Sausal blends on a seasonal basis. For more information on the wine club or Sausal Vineyards, be sure to visit their website.
Our intimate experience at Sausal was perfectly matched by the more commercial Sterling Vineyards. A gorgeous cable car ride provided expansive views of the vineyard, and awaiting us at the top was a tour of their facilities and an education on the wine making process. The self guided tour of the vineyard is complete with several tastings and concludes with a stop in the Main Tasting Room. My family and I were treated to samples of several delicious wines and took a few photos with a giant sized wine bottle, which sadly we did not stow in our suitcase. For more information about Sterling Vineyards or the self guided tour, please visit their website.
Hopefully, our experience will give you a few tips or at the very least, some entertaining photos. If you’re ever up in Northern California, be sure to check the bountiful riches of the the Napa Valley. From the wine, to the weather, to the beautiful scenery - it’s a trip my family will never forget.
Debbie
