I love Rosé. I love it in summer. I love it in my picnic basket. But I was looking for a change. I wanted a couple of wines that were light and refreshing but not my usual go to. I circled back to a couple of wines that I’ve not had in a while: Pinot Gris and Beaujolais.

As for my picnic treats, I strayed from the usual fare of potato or macaroni salad, instead pivoting to a crunchy Asian Ramen Salad with fresh peaches, Grilled Cauliflower salad w/ Feta, and Dill Deviled Eggs. Yum!

For the wine I chose a 2022 J Vineyards Pinot Gris and a 2021 Chateau de Jarnioux Beaujolais.

Check out the video below for more!👇

Made from Gamay grapes, this is no Beaujolais Nouveau, which is consumed right after harvest, and of which I’m not generally a fan. It’s way way too young. This wine was light-bodied, fruity and earthily floral. Paired with the Asian ramen salad, it brought out more of the fruit and had a lovely finish that lingered. Often, I find Beaujolais a little too fleeting but this pairing was both lively and light, highlighting the ripe peach flavors in the salad.

I paired the Pinot Gris with both the dill deviled eggs and the grilled cauliflower. While starting out with subtle flavors of white peach, cantaloupe and lemon zest, I liked the brightness and acidity that picked up nuances in the Dijon mustard and seasoning, while cutting a nice little swath through the creamy richness of the dill/egg mixture. With the cauliflower, its subtle vibe melded well with the creamy feta and brought out the heat of the red pepper, especially on the finish. It was like little fireworks on the tongue, an unexpected but nice surprise. It was a totally different wine with this pairing.✨

And I guess that goes to show you; first impressions are not always what they seem. Sometimes circling back can help you discover what you may have missed the first time around.

I think that’s one of the many things I love about wine – the flavors and characteristics they possess on their own, and how that can completely change when paired with food. Textures, protein, fruit, vegetal vibes can bring out so much more depth on both sides of the equation. Food + wine = awesome!

Whatever you choose to pair with your holidays, may they be safe and happy.🏖️🎢🎡

Cheers!🍷

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