Break the Wine Pairing Rules!

Take a cue from Priest Ranch and get bold with your food and wine pairings. Photo: Priest Ranch Winery

We’ve all heard red with meat and white with fish, but there are so many ways to pair food and wine. The most interesting I’ve found was during a recent virtual wine tasting with Cody Hurd, the winemaker at Priest Ranch Winery, and Dan Solomon, the culinary director of the winery.  

Instead of strict rules or standard flavor pairings, the duo discussed pairings based on mood, location, personal taste, or music. This multi-sensory approach was certainly food for thought.

For me, a perfect example of this type of pairing occurred a few years ago when I was in the South of France. Before the trip rosé wasn’t a wine I’d choose. But in Nice, with the temperature and humidity soaring, it was absolutely the best pairing. Sipping a glass of ice-cold rosé at a beachside restaurant can’t be beat. It also proved that drinking the local wine is a great choice. Wine grown in a region inherently pairs well with that area. Now, whenever I have a glass of rosé (yeah, because I’m now a convert), I’m taken back to Nice every time.

Cody told me about a similar experience with his favorite varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon. Priest Ranch produces a stunning portfolio dedicated to this varietal, including the Priest Ranch 2021 Cabernet we sampled during the tasting.

“I think more people need to drink Cabernet in summer,” he stated emphatically. “It’s perfect with summer BBQs. When someone asks me what pairs with Cabernet, I tell them I’ve paired it with a hike, camping, sailing, and sitting on a hotel balcony on my honeymoon.”

While Cody focuses on pairing wines with experiences, Chef Dan looks to match a wine’s vibe to his cooking.

“Cooking is about mood and energy as much as it’s about flavor,” he explained.

To this end, he takes the personality of the wine into the pairing. Is it big and bold or soft and elegant? Some of his surprising pairings include kimchee with Cabernet and lamb with Priest Ranch Sauvignon Blanc.

At Priest Ranch Winery in Yountville, they pair their wines with local music every Thursday night. The duo also tells me that in their minds, it’s hard to beat their rooftop lounge at sunset paired with the James Joshua red blend.

Both men encouraged wine lovers to just try new things and have fun with pairings. After all, someone first thought to put the peanut butter with the chocolate. Who knows what unexpected combinations you’ll discover.