Wine for the Holidays

Passover is in 9 days, and meal preparation is coming into full swing. When planning out your dishes, a vital element to take into account is WINE. Pairing the wrong wine with a dish, can ultimately change the taste of your food. I had the opportunity of attending City Winery's Grand Wine Tasting in New York last week, and tasted many amazing wines, cheeses, dips, and sausage.

I've listed my top 10 favorite wines from the event, and paired them with Seven Bites recipes.

1. Herzog Late Harvest Orange Muscat

Grown in California, this wine carries a bold orange peel, grape and apricot flavoring. If you like any beverage with citrus, then this smooth and full-bodied textured wine should be the next bottle you open.

This wine can be paired with dessert or sharp cheeses.
Example: Strawberry 'Cheesecake' Parfait 

2. Moses Celebration Cava Brut

This Spanish wine speaks for itself. My first sip felt like a celebration. The grapes are fermented and aged for months, which gives this wine its crisp bubbly texture.

This wine can go well with any part of your Seder!

3. Moses Date Vodka 

Okay fine, you caught me. I didn't just try wines at the wine tasting. Wine tends to put me to sleep, and if it does the same thing to you as it does to me, then I suggest switching things up with Moses Date Vodka. It's made with natural ingredients, and infused with sweet red dates.

4. Carmel Moscato di Carmel

In photo number 4, the woman is holding a delicious semi-sweet wine with a hint of peach and citrus flavors. This is best served chilled and with dessert.

Example: Inside Out Chocolate Covered Strawberries

5. Recanati Shiraz 

Recanti Shiraz encompasses layers of raspberry and plum flavoring intertwined with traces of spice, nutmeg, and mocha.

This wine can be paired with roasts, grilled meats, and tuna steak.

Example: Red Wine Top of Rib

6. 2012 Malbec Reserve

If you're looking for a deep flavored wine, then Malbec Reserve has your name on it. This wine is infused with a smokiness flavoring and a hint of dark chocolate and cherry spice.

This can be paired well with a red meat.

Example: London Broil

7. Agua Dulce Cabernet Sauvignon

This complex, bold wine has a red berry fruit filled flavoring, with many additional citrus layers such as  candied fruit, and black plum.

Agua Dulce can be paired with a steak or hearty stew.

Example: Veal Stew 

8. Hagafen Cabernet Sauvignon

I love this wine for its mixture of flavors. Infused with dark berries, this Cabernet Sauvignon embodies rosemary and herb flavoring, giving this wine its rich, yet soft taste.

This wine can be paired with a bold flavoring dish.

Example: Apricot Glazed Duck Confit

9. Tura Rose Valley 'Semi Sweet Red Wine'

The aroma of this wine is all I can think about.  The deep citrus flavors made me feel as if I could individually taste each piece of fruit my glass.

Tura Rose Valley can be paired with a salty and/or meat dish.

Example: Chuck Steak

10. Gush Etzion Spring River Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot 

This wine is a full-bodied red wine blend. Basically, everything I can ask for in one glass. This has a subtle spicy cedarwood revealing currant and blackberries.

This wine can be paired with any type of barbecued meat/poultry or sharp cheese.

Example: Sweet n' Smokey Chicken

~Happy Passover~

Lindsay