Home Food Post Archive 2025 Wine Dinners

Archive 2025 Wine Dinners

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January 2025 Cabernet Sauvignon As an impending snowstorm approaches this weekend it is time to start thinking about those warming dry reds that we want to have not only at dinner but anytime thru the day to warm up.  The Cabernet Sauvignon is considered the Big Red Wine. These wines can be dry but they can also be smooth and easy to drink.  They will pair well with a multitude of foods but we will be pairing it with a great beef recipe.  So if you want to warm up and enjoy an evening with friends and family we look forward to seeing you soon. This month we paired our Cabernet Sauvignon with French Beef Bourguignon, Mashed Potatoes & Black Forest Cake.

  • 5th/5th        2020 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, WA
  • 3rd/1st Tie  2021 Michael David Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, CA  
  • 6th/3re        2021 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, CA
  • 4th/4th        2021 Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon, CA   
  • 2nd/1st Tie  2022 The Atom Cabernet Sauvignon, CA   
  • 1st/2nd         Barrel 23 Austin Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, CA

 

February 2025 Merlot     Merlot… one of the primary grapes in a Red Bordeaux, one of the reds that everyone in the late 1990’s saw as the red wine to beat all other reds.  It is the wine that in some cases can have the longest or shortest tasting descriptions.  It pairs well with steaks or some kind of Italian Red Sauce and Chocolate. This month join us and check out some Merlot and see if you can find a new one to have for those special evenings at home. I paired the wines this month with my meatloaf, Skillet Spinach Mushroom & Wild Rice Casserole, Asparagus and Red Velvet Cake.

  • 4th/           2023 CK Mondavi Merlot, CA
  • 3rd Tie/    2021 Cannonball Merlot, CA 
  • 1st/            2022  Ramsay Merlot, CA
  • 2nd/          2021 Line 39 Merlot, CA
  • 5th/           2019 Chateau Anthonic Moulis-en-Medoc, France
  • 3rd Tie/    2021 Blackboard Merlot, WA

 

 
March 2025 Odd Reds & Petite Sirah In March we taste the varietals that lots of times are in blends but are made as stand alone wines or grapes that we just don’t hear about very much but are great wines.  These wines are usually easy to drink reds but a few could be a little heavier/dryer.  I can tell you we will try a couple Petite Sirah wines as they are my favorite! The rest you will have to come to find out what I select to taste. Paired with BBQ Country Pork Ribs, Corn Pudding, Green Beans & Brownie with Chocolate Mouse
 
  • 6th/    2022 Barista Pinotage, Western Cape, South Africa (Pinotage)
  • 5th/    2021 Chapillon Harmonie, Calatayud-Aragon, Spain (90% Petit Verdot, 10% Tannat)
  • 4th/    2021 Charles Smith Boom Boom Syrah, WA (Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon Viognier)
  • 3rd/    2021 d’Arenberg The Footbolt Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia  (100% Shiraz)
  • 1st/      2021 Spellbound Petite Sirah, CA (100% Petite Sirah)
  • 2nd/    2021 Mettler Estate Grown Petite Sirah, Lodi, CA (Petite Sirah)
 
 
 

April 2025 Red Blends We made it to spring, and April is here! This month we are tasting Red Blends, one of our most popular tastings.  Red blends have become so popular over the last 10 years.  If you truly look back at historic wines Bordeaux, Rhone and Chateauneuf-du-pape, are all red blends.  So let’s not hit the pocketbook that hard as those wines can be very expensive, but let’s see what we can find in the value aisle from California, Washington, and maybe something international. Red blends are usually nice, easy to drink wine that is not as dry as single varietal reds.  Come enjoy the evening and find a new favorite wine!  Served with Pot Roast Steaks and Tuxedo Cake or French Silk Pie depending on the week you attended.

  • 6th/         2020 Ghost Pines Red Blend, 86Sonoma/7Napa/7Lake, CA (63% Zinfandel, 11% Malbec, 7% Petite Sirah, 7% Syrah, 3% Cab Sauv, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Pinot Noir, 2% Viognier, 1% Grenache, 1% Merlot)
  • 4th/          2019 Rebellious Red Blend, CA (42% Zinfandel, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 7% Petite Sirah, 7% Syrah, 7% Mourvedre, 1% Sauvignon Blanc)
  • 5th/           2021 Rabble Red Wine, Central Coast, CA (65% Merlot, 20% Petit Sirah, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Malbec)
  • 2nd/           2021 7 Moons Dark Side Red Blend, CA (58% Syrah, 23% Petit Verdot,13% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon)
  • 3rd/            2022 R Collection by Raymond Lot No. 5 Field Blend, CA
  • 1st/              2021 Spyland Red Blend, Portugal (Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Touriga Nacional, Baga, Trincadeira & Castelão)
 
 
 
 
May 2025 Chardonnay Herbed Chicken w/ Apricot Dijon Sauce over Potatoes, Roasted Asparagus & Honey Roasted Pears w/ Blue Cheese & Pistachios
 
  • 1st/6th      2021 David Paige Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, OR (100% Chardonnay)
  • 3rd/2nd    2022 Sea Sun Chardonnay, CA
  • 4th/5th     2022 Cambria Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, CA (100% Chardonnay)
  • 2nd/1st     2023 Carmenet Reserve Chardonnay, CA (88% Chardonnay, 6% Sauvignon Blanc, 6% Proprietor ’s Blend)
  • 6th/3rd    2023 Foppiano Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, CA (100% Chardonnay)
  • 5th/4th    2023 St. Francis Buttery Chardonnay, Sonoma County, CA (100% Chardonnay)

 

 

June 2025 Sauvignon Blanc  Grilled Rosemary & Lemon Chicken w/ Herb Lemon Sauce, Rice Pilaf,   Roasted Green Beans and Tomatoes & Lemon Italian Love Cake

  • /4th    2023 Bogle Sauvignon Blanc, CA (Sauvignon Blanc) Stainless
  • /5th    2023 Michael David Sauvignon Blanc, CA (99% Sauvignon Blanc, 1% Semillon) stainless
  • /6th    2023 Séance Sauvignon Blanc, CA (100%Sauvignon Blanc) Stainless
  • /1st      2023 Innocent Bystander Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, NZ (100% Sauvignon Blanc) stainless
  • /2nd    2023 Lobster Reef Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, NZ  
  • /3rd     2023 Starborough Starlite Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, NZ  

 

July 2025 Moscato & Rose Grilled Blackened Chicken & Broccoli with Garlic Herb Drizzle over Rice & Peach Upside Down Cake

  • 5th/5th     2024 Gerard Bertrand Cotes des Roses, Languedoc, France (Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault)
  • 6th/6th     2023 Alexander Valley Vineyard Rose of Sangiovese, Sonoma, CA (100% Sangiovese)
  • 3rd/1st      2024 Innocent Bystander Moscato, Australia (Black and Gordo Muscat grapes)
  • 4th/4th     2023 Roscato Moscato, Northern Italy (Moscato)
  • 2nd/2nd   2023 Umberto Fiore Moscato d’ Asti, Piedmont, Italy (100% Moscato Bianco (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains)
  • 1st/3rd     2023 Vietti Moscato d’Asti, Piedmont, Italy (Moscato 100%)

 

August 2025 Odd White Wines: Hawaiian Chicken with Onions/Peppers/Pineapple, Cous Cous, Rolls w/ Spinach Artichoke Dip & Key Lime Pie

  • 1st/1st             2023 B&G Les petites Parcelles Vouvray, France (100% Chenin Blanc)
  • 6th/4th          2023 La Cana Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain (100% Albarino)
  • 4th/5th          2022 Le Perle della Champagna Pecorino, Terre di Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy (100% Pecorino)
  • 2nd/3rd         2023 Helenental Gruner Veltliner, Austria (1 Liter) (100% Gruner Veltliner)
  • 3rd Tie/NA   2023 Chehalem Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, OR
  • 3rd Tie/2nd  2022 Menage a Trois Exotic White Blend, California (Chardonnay, Muscat Alexandria, Chenin Blanc)
  • 5th/6th          2023 Ercole Monferrato Bianco, Italy (air-ko-lay) (90% Cortese, 8% Chardonnay, 2% Sauvignon Blanc)

 

September 2025 Malbec & South American Reds Grilled Flank Steak w/ chimichurri, Black Beans w/ Chorizo, Cornbread Pudding and Chocolate Bread

  • 1st Tie/1st    2024 Zolo Signature Red, Mendoza, Argentina (30% Merlot, 30% Bonarda, 25% Cab, 15% Malbec)
  • 2nd/3rd       2023 La Playa Estate Series Red Blend Maule Valley, Chile (85% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon)
  • 5th/2nd        2023 Dona Paula Estate High Altitude Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina (100% Malbec)
  • 1st Tie/4th   2023 Piattelli Reserve Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina (100% Malbec)
  • 3rd/5th Tie  2021 El Hijo Prodigo Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina (100% Malbec)
  • 4th/5th Tie  2021 Cedre Heritage Malbec, Cahors, France (100% Malbec)

 

October 2025 Zinfandel  Grilled BBQ Pork Tenderloin, Fried Noodles, Broccoli-Cheese Casserole & Chocolate Cake

  • 6th/2nd    2023 Turley Juvenile Zinfandel, CA
  • 1st/1st       2022 Oak Ridge OZV Zinfandel, Lodi, CA (80% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah 5% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot)
  •  2nd/4th   2022 Brady Old Vines Zinfandel, Santa Lucia Mountains, CA  (91% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah)
  • 3rd/3rd     2022 Peirano Estate Vineyards “The Immortal” Old Vine Zin, Lodi, CA
  • 4th/6th     2021 Coppola Diamond Vine Zinfandel, CA (85% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 1% Other)
  • 5th/5th     2020 Alexander Valley Vineyards Sin Zin, Sonoma, CA (Zinfandel 95% Petit Sirah 5%)
  • Didn’t vote on this   2018 Bella Hills & Benches Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, CA (95% zinfandel, 5% Petite Sirah) 

 

November 2025 Pinot Noir Salmon w/ Pomegranate Raspberry Sauce, Roasted Butternut Squash & Onions, Green Beans & Pumpkin Pie

  • 4th/4th         2023 Angeline Vineyards Pinot Noir, CA  (100% Pinot Noir)
  • 5th/5th tie    2022 Bogle Vineyards Pinot Noir, CA (100% Pinot Noir)
  •  1st/1st           2023 Bread & Butter Pinot Noir, CA
  •  6th/5th tie   2023 Foppiano Vineyards Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, CA
  • 3rd/2nd        2023 La Crema Pinot Noir, Monterey, CA (100% Pinot Noir)
  • 2nd/3rd        2023 Stoller Dundee Hills Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, OR (100% Pinot Noir)

December 202 Bubbly Cheese & Crackers, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Crab Dip, Fig Goat cheese Bites w/ Pistachios & Rosemary Parmesan Straws with appetizer sparklings.Spaghetti and Meatballs w/ Garlic Toast for an entree.  Brownies, Cheesecake Bites, Cannoli Bites, Candied Bacon with dessert sparklings.

  • 1st/1st tie      Poema Cava Brut, Penedes, Spain (40% Macabeo, 40% Xarel-lo, 20% Parellada)
  • 2nd/1st tie    Mumm Sparkling Brut Prestige, California (49% Pinot Noir, 46% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Gris & Pinot Meunier)
  • 3rd/2nd         Roederer Estate Brut, Alexander Valley, California (60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir)
  •  2nd tie/1st    Neyah Gold Passion, Spain  (100% Muscat)
  • 2nd tie/3nd   M&R Asti, Piemont, Italy (Moscato)
  • 1st/2nd           Banfi Rosa Regale Sparkling Red, Piedmont, Italy (Brachetto d’Acqui)

 

 

Nancy

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