Wine Dinner 1

 

Appetizer: Vegetable Fried Rice with Monte Guelfo Chianti (2019)

Impressions of the wine: Chianti is another wine I've never tried before, and overall I was impressed by it. The first aromas I was getting were of raspberry and blackberry, but it wasn't as strong of a smell as with other wines I've had. The main flavors I was getting when I tasted the wine was strawberry and raspberry. It was definitely on the drier and more bitter side, and I think it had a pretty high level of acidity with a medium body.

Taste profile of the food: In the fried rice, we included some scrambled egg, some mushrooms, onions, and carrots. The crisp and lightness of the veggies in the rice balanced out nicely with the heaviness and savory tastes of the eggs and rice. The soy sauce added at the end gave the rice a lot of saltiness as well.

How the two paired: As soon as I tried the two together I felt a clashing of flavors going on between the two. I felt that with a dish that is this salty and savory, a dry, bitter, and acidic wine is not the right wine to drink with it. I think the saltiness of the dish kind of drowned out the fruit flavors of the wine, and I also think that the wine muted the flavors I was getting from the vegetables. Also, the acidic nature of the wine combined with some acidity from the food meant that I was getting an acidity overload, giving me a sort of burning feeling when I had the two together. Does not pair well.

Entrée: Spicy Pork Dumplings with Noble Vines 515 Rosé (2018)

Impressions of the wine: I thought that the rosé tasted way better than I was expecting it to, since I had the impression that all rosés were very sweet. The first smells that I felt from this wine were a floral smell as well as a peach smell. When I tried the wine, I was getting a pretty strong peach taste, and I still got that floral feel that I had when smelling the wine. I felt that it was right between sweetness and dryness and kept a good balance between the two. The wine did not taste very acidic to me, and it had a medium to light body that allowed it to have a refreshing aftertaste.

Taste profile of the food: Overall, I thought that these dumplings tasted very good. The sauce within the dumplings had a lot of spiciness to it which I enjoyed. I felt like the pork inside was on the fatty side and it had some seasonings that added to the spice and sharp taste. 

How the two paired: At first, I wasn't sure how to feel about this flavor pairing, because somewhat sweet and floral wine combined with spicy food didn't seem like a natural fit to me. However, the more I had of the two together, the more I enjoyed it. I felt that they both were equal in contribution, and one didn't overpower the other. I thought that the strong spiciness of the dumplings on their own was mellowed out to a pleasant level with the addition of the wine. I also think that the spicy food helped me feel more flavors of the wine, since I also started getting a berry taste from the wine. I also think that the fact that the wine had a crisp and fairly light feel to it, while the dumplings were on the heavier and fatty side, meant that they balanced each other. Pairs well.

Dessert: Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies with Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling (2020)

Impressions of the wine: This was my first time having Riesling, so I was not sure what to expect. The first thing I noticed when I opened the bottle was that this wine would be on the sweeter side. The main smells I noticed were a honey-like sugar and apples. Tasting the wine confirmed that it was very sweet to me, even though the bottle said it was in between dry and sweet. I got some hints of citrus flavors and a strong green apple flavor that gave it tartness. I thought that the wine had a very light body, and I thought it was mildly acidic. Overall, I can definitely see myself buying it in the future.

Taste profile of the food: The dark chocolate chips made up a large part of the cookie and had a bitter flavor, but it was kind of drowned out by the rest of the cookie. In my opinion, the cookie as a whole was very good but turned out a little too sweet and sugary. 

How the two paired: After trying the wine by itself and seeing that it was quite sweet on its own, I was a little worried that the sweetness of the two together would be overwhelming. However, I was surprised to find that they worked very well together because the sweetness of the Riesling wasn't as noticeable when the two were together. I thought the tart citrus/apple acidity of the wine complemented the honey and sugary sweetness of the cookie really nicely. I also think the Riesling brought out more of the bitterness of the dark chocolate chips which helped the cookie feel more complex and less like pure sugar. Pairs well.