Food Pairing: Sauvignon Blanc with BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches topped with Cilantro-Lime Slaw

We were trying to come up with a good pairing for our pulled pork sandwiches. The challenge was the cilantro-lime cole slaw, which lends to some very fresh forward flavors. We felt the richness and sweetness of the pulled pork will balance those bright green flavors.

To compliment the food, we decided on a Sauvignon Blanc. The brightness and acidity complimented the lime and cut the richness of the pork, while the grassiness (found in many Sauvignon Blancs) married well with the cilantro. We were drinking our very own Sauvignon Blanc, but we feel most others would work well. This one by Cupcake Vineyards would work very well! Give it a try; share with friends!

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Great Wines for July 4th!

A day on which we celebrate our Independence could only be better with the perfect glass of wine! The key to choosing the right VINO for your 4th of July bash is dependent on a few aspects the party. Is it a cookout or indoors? Are you having a few close friends, or will there be 20+ party goers? Is there a main "entree" (e.g., a pig roast!), or a smorgasbord of cookout fare? We hope to extinguish all your worries when picking up the "right" wine. Check out our Top 4th of July Picks below!

2007 Bonterra Vineyards Zinfandel
This is an organic wine from Mendocino County in California. Lovely nose--raspberries and strawberries with some nice meatiness and earth! Ripe black cherries, plums, dark chocolate along with a little toasted oak make for a wonderfully balanced wine. The mouthfeel is excellent, with subtle tannins, great structure, and lingering finish. It's great on its own, but would pair even better with BBQ or Steak! For $12, this wouldn't break the bank at your gathering!

Body: Medium to Full
Pairing: Barbecue anything, Hamburgers, Grilled Steak
Approximate Cost: $12-14

2010 Cupcake Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc
Holy grass! Something that's very common in New Zealand Sauvignon blancs, this white from Cupcake isn't shy about its herbaceous grass aromas! We found lots of pear and peaches on the nose, too. Very nice aromas all together! This sauv blanc reminds us of Summer! We tasted super juicy peaches, pears and granny-smith apples and that wonderful freshly cut grass. The mouthfeel is great: smooth, yet crisp with great acidity! This isn't a very complex wine, but could easily be a crowd pleaser. It's just simply delicious. Perfect party wine! For $8, any downfalls are easily outweighed by the tastiness! It's an exceptional value. The cool crispness of this Sauv Blanc is sure to please at any cookout!

Body: Light to Medium
Pairing: Lobster, Crab, Steamers, Grilled Vegetables, Grilled Chicken Breast
Approximate Cost: $8-10

2006 Cruz Andina Malbec
This Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina is super dark, almost like ink! We got aromas of dark ripe fruits and mocha. Pretty good nose! We tasted black currants, blackberries, chocolate--all wrapped in a nice level of oak and vanilla. It had a very good mouthfeel with tight firm tannins! This malbec is rounded and smooth. The finish is long, and paired very well with our big Texas BBQ dinner! It was a crowd favorite for sure! For $20 you're getting a decently complex rich wine with delicious flavors. We'd suggest you save this for a smaller gathering if that's what you're planning. Unless, of course, you can afford stocking up for a big party, go for it!

Body: Full
Pairing: Barbecue Spare Ribs, Grilled Steaks, Short Ribs
Approximate Cost: $19-20

2003 Chateau Tour de Guiet - Cotes de Bourg
Heavy flowers on the nose--take a huge whiff in the glass and it's like sticking your nose into a bouquet of flowers! We taste a lot of interesting flavors in this Bordeaux! Rose petals, permanent markers, plums, moss and driftwood dominate the flavor. Its medium body is soaked in fine tannins! This is a really great approachable QPR from Bordeaux, where you'll rarely get decent wines for $12. The crowd loved it, which makes it an even better value. This wine will pair well with most appetizers and entrees, and is inexpensive enough to stock up on!

Body: Medium
Pairing: Could be approached by anything!
Approximate Cost: $11-12

2009 Big House White
Box Wine? This isn't Franzia! Here we have a 3L box of 2009 Big House White, a blend of Malvasia, viognier, gruner veltliner, pinot gris, riesling, and gewurztraminer! What a mouthful... Of delicious flavors, that is! The wine is well rounded with just the right of acidity and length. I get a lot of peaches, pears, melon, a little honey, and a tiny bit of citrus. This is a very interesting wine, featuring layers and layers of flavors. VERY serviceable for about $17. Don't forget, this is for 3L. Chill this in the fridge and let 'er rip! Expecting a lot of people? Grab one (or two)!

Body: Medium
Pairing: Hot Dogs, Pig Roast
Approximate Cost: $16-19

2008 Doña Paula Estate Malbec
Black cherries and herbs dominate this wine, along with a hints of oak and delicate tannins. It's medium bodied with an unusually long finish. Good to PAIR WITH pork, grilled chicken, or a night in front of the TV--and for only $12 a bottle, you can afford to do just that! This is another wine that will fit with almost any party. It's inexpensive, pairs well with most, and tasty!

Body: Medium to Full
Pairing: Pig Roast, Grilled Chicken, Grilled Pork Chops
Approximate Cost: $12-14

2006 Cosentino 'The Zin'
Definite crowd pleaser! We've tried this wine on numerous occasions, and it has been a hit each time. Dark, full bodied, and delicious!! The Zin displays some really nice juicy (almost jammy) ripe blackberries, creamy smoothness, delicate tannins, and long finish. Layers of complexity keep you going back for more. Don't be alarmed by its alcohol content (15.1%) either, as its balance is unreal for such a high level! It's $20 per bottle, so it may work better for smaller gatherings.

Body: Full
Pairing: Barbecue anything, Grilled Steak
Approximate Cost: $20-22

2007 Alamos Torrontes
The increasingly popular Torrontes grape shines in this wine. Unbelievable color. It's crisp and refreshing, with a little apricot and citrus. It has a fantastically long finish, rounding out a very well balanced white. If you want a white to drink this summer, THIS is it! Don't drink many whites? Give this one a try; it'll be the TRUE test. Oh yeah... and it's only $10! A lot of people will ask first what Torrontes is, and they'll leave your party knowing it and loving it! Body: Light to Medium
Pairing: Seafood! Lobster, especially!
Approximate Cost: $10-11

2007 Spier Discover Steen
We're huge fans of this wine! At about $8, this Chenin Blanc offers medium body, citrus and grassy notes, nice crisp acidity, and decent finish. Please do yourself a favor and try this wine from Spier; it's a hit! If you're having seafood at your party, this would be your wine.

Body: Light to Medium
Pairing: Seafood! Lobster, especially!
Approximate Cost: $8-10

We hope you enjoy these wines! If you have any questions about a wine you're thinking of getting, drop us a line! Cheers and Happy 4th!

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2010 Cupcake Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

Holy grass! Something that's very common in New Zealand Sauvignon blancs, this white from Cupcake isn't shy about its herbaceous grass aromas! We found lots of pear and peaches on the nose, too. Very nice aromas all together!

This sauv blanc reminds us of Summer! We tasted super juicy peaches, pears and granny-smith apples and that wonderful freshly cut grass. The mouthfeel is great: smooth, yet crisp with great acidity!

This isn't a very complex wine, but could easily be a crowd pleaser. It's just simply delicious. Perfect party wine! For $8, any downfalls are easily outweighed by the tastiness! It's an exceptional value. Top Pick!

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Charity Case Wine 2008 Rosé and 2009 Sauvignon Blanc

100% Napa Valley... 100% for a good cause. The Charity Case Foundation was created by Napa Valley winemakers who truly care. All of the juice and fruit that go into these wines are donated by wineries in the area. Even more, all the services provided to make these wines are volunteered by others. All of the net proceeds from Charity Case Wine sales go to charities and organizations supporting children and families in Napa Valley. Please check out their website here.

2008 Napa Valley Rosé

Really interesting pale dark pink color in the glass. We got watermelon and strawberry Jolly Ranchers on the nose along with a little bit of rhubarb.

This rosé is full of strawberries, reminiscent of Fruit Roll-ups! It isn't very sweet, allowing the fruit notes to pair very well with subtle spice on the back end. Alcohol (14.1%) stands a little tall, but it isn't overwhelming. It does lend to some full body and a long lingering finish. That's really the only reason we couldn't give this a 4/5.


2009 Sauvignon Blanc

Very vibrant and bright yellow gold color in the glass! We got aromas of pears and peaches on the nose--a really nice bouquet!

This sauvignon blanc is very rounded, almost creamy. It lacks a little acidity that one might hope for in a sauvignon blanc, but it does contribute to its smoothness. Alcohol, again, isn't shy in this wine, but it doesn't overpower its other qualities totally. We tasted some really nice flavors of slate, peaches and pears! It paired well with our Chinese food!


Two really great efforts by Charity Case Wines! An even greater effort is their devotion to helping others. I recommend both of these wines, not only because they're decent wines, but because they support a great cause. You can't go wrong for only about $12 a bottle for both wines! Let us know if you've tried these wines! Cheers!

Buy Charity Case Wines on their Website here!

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