Wine and holiday parties go together like hipsters and ironically-ugly Christmas sweaters (that is to say, like gangbusters)! This year, hit your guests with a one-two punch of festive flavor they’ll be talking about well into the New Year. So, put away that crummy old Chex mix and polish your finest glasses—even if they don’t match in the least. This year, the sweetest gift of all comes courtesy of Paso Robles Wineries’ Holiday Wine Pairings. Re-gift? We think not!
1. Smoked Salmon Roses with Cass Winery Roussanne
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Get Directions to Cass Winery
2. Mushroom Puff Pastry with Arroyo Robles Petit Syrah
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Get Directions to Arroyo Robles
3. Bacon-wrapped Fig with Dubost Ranch Homestead Red Blend
Bacon is king of all holiday party apps! When wrapped lovingly around sticky, sweet figs, it becomes absolutely irresistible—and why should you resist? This, after all, is the season for caloric celebration.
Pair with Dubost Ranch’s 2010 Malbec, a San Francisco International Wine Gold Medal winner, and roll out the red carpet for rich caramel, vanilla, and sugar cookie goodness. Hard to believe, but these holiday wine pairings might be more alluring than your sweetheart hovering under the mistletoe.
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Get Directions to Dubost Ranch
4. Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownies with Clavo Dessert Zinfandel
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Get Directions to Clavo Cellars
5. Sausage Bites with Cherries and Goat Cheese with Cayucos Cellars Rustic One Blend
Could there be anything more festive than this unexpected combo of sausage, cherries, and goat cheese? Creamy, salty, savory, and sweet collide to create a red-and-white showstopper guaranteed to illicit an enthusiastic, “Dibs on leftovers!” from even your most Scrooge-like holiday guest.
Go on, and give ‘em what they want. Just be sure you pair this flavor bomb with Cayucos Cellars’ 2004 Rustic One, boasting candied walnut, cocoa, and an entire sleigh of bright cherry flavor. And to all a good night!
Click Here for the Recipe
Get Directions to Cayucos Cellars
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This blog was written by Hayley Thomas, food and wine writer for New Times and PasoRoblesWineries.net. You can reach her at hthomas@newtimesslo.com.