The Perfect Pair

The magic that is vino + cheese is giving us major relationship goals.

Wine and cheese is one of time's oldest pairings. This week we learned a lot about cheddar cheese from our local, Fiscalini farmstead in Modesto, CA. Fiscalini is a farmstead cheese production company that makes your favorite cheeses from San Joaquin Gold to Purple Moon Cabernet Soaked Cheddar. Fiscalini's Bandage Cheddar has been awarded BESTcheddar in the world three times! That means they beat out the world's most well known English and Scottish cheddars. Go NorCal!

When pairing a sharp, nutty cheddar think about mirroring those big flavors in the wine. Cabernet Sauvignon is a grape with lots of tannic structure and fruit that can hold up to a big, bad cheddar. 

Truth about Sulfites

What are sulfites and why are they in wine?

Let's get the facts straight- all wines have sulfites. Sulfur dioxide happens in wines naturally when grape juice is fermented. The question is if additional sulfites are added throughout the farming practice and wine making process.
The term 'sulfites' also known as SO2 are made up of antioxidant and antibacterial properties that help with preventing oxidation in wine. Without some sulfites, your favorite bottle of wine would turn into vinegar.

Why do old world  wines have less sulfites than wines from California?

It's simple- Wines that are higher in acidity require less added sulfites and wines with higher sugar content tend to need more sulfites so second fermentation does not occur with the residual sugars in the wine. New word wines are usually lower in acidity and higher in sugar ( meaning higher in alcohol) which results in more added sulfites to preserve the wine.

Think your allergic to sulfites in wine?

The chances are slim. Dried fruits and processed foods hold more sulfites than red wines . By eating those you know if you have an allergy or not.