IntoWine asked a panel of wine experts to recommend the best wine to pair with a Caesar Salad:
In the boxing match of food and wine pairing, Caesar salad defeats wine nine times out of ten. There’s hardly a menu item out there that is more wine unfriendly. Salad in and of itself is always a challenge to pair, but one that is comprised of a creamy sauce made of eggs, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, parmesan cheese and anchovies inevitably makes most wines taste awful. But I recently discovered one contestant who can step up to Caesar’s punch. Domaine Patrick Coulbois makes a lovely Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley’s Pouilly-Fumé region called Find "Les Cocques"“Les Cocques,” The grapes for this wine come from 50-year-old vines grown on silex soil. Les Cocques has gorgeous notes of fresh herbs and citrus which work quite well to complement the salad, and its racy acidity allows it to stand up to the intensity of the dressing. Moreover, a slight hint of minerality from the soil works in harmony with the briny anchovies. Caesar salad has finally met its match! - Kareasa Wilkins, Wine Consultant for Weimax Wines & Spirits in Burlingame, CA and an IntoWine Featured Writer
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Find Beckmen Grenache RoséBeckmen 2008 Grenache Rosé ($18). Caesar salads are known for a tartness from the dressing, and an acidity from the anchovies, assuming they’re still used much anymore. I find that the soft floral and berry notes of the grenache rosé balances out the various flavors of the salad. A truly great rosé is tough to come by, either too sweet, to one-dimensional, for too flat. Beckman not only succeeds but excels with a complicated rosé that, even in a vacuum, has such complexity as to make it a pleasure. It subdues the tartness of the dressing, doesn’t blow out the lettuce, and enhances the salt element. - Michael Cervin, Wine Judge, Restaurant Critic, and IntoWine Featured Writer
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Find Robert Sinskey Vin Gris of Pinot Noir Gone are the days when heavy store bought mayonnaise, over-cooked eggs and soft, chewy croutons define a Caesar salad. Today purists of the Caesar salad make Julia Child proud with the acceptance of nothing but crisp, whole Romaine lettuce leaves, the finest virgin Olive oil, farm raised eggs, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Sea salt and crunchy, flavorful croutons. Whilst attending to this Renaissance of the Caesar, why not hop on the bandwagon of another resurgence and crack open a bottle of Robert Sinskey Vin Gris of Pinot Noir. Far from White Zinfandel this salmon colored wine comes from whole pressed, top quality Pinot Noir grapes grown in Napa Valley’s Los Carneros District. The Robert Sinskey Vin Gris is a dry, elegant, European inspired rosé displaying crisp, bright sweet-tart raspberry fruit with deep, layered mineral and intense pepper notes on the finish. - Michael Whitehead, IntoWine Featured Writer
There is currently a raging debate as to the validity of what an “influencer” is. Who are the most influential wine people in the United States, and how exactly do you define ‘influential?’ Does an influential mean a person who moves markets, impacts consumers, inspires winemakers, forms policy,...
People love lists; they can be a great source of education and discussion. But making a list such as this is not an easy process. Who are the most influential wine people in the U.S., and how exactly do you define ‘influential?’ Does influential mean people who move markets, impact consumers, inspire winemakers, and create debate? In a word, yes. These 100 people, from winemakers to law makers, bankers to bloggers, and sommeliers to celebrities are definitely people who influence wine; how it is made, marketed, perceived, sold, shipped, purchased and shared.
Our 2013 iteration of this list is intended as a source of education and discussion. The making of this list is never an easy process. Who are the most influential wine people in the United States, and how exactly do you define ‘influential?’ Does influential mean people who move markets, impact consumers, inspire winemakers, form policy, and create debate? Yes. Though some decry the consolidation of the wine industry (and that is an issue worth considering) we are not trying to suggest who is “good” or “bad” within America’s wine industry. We merely define the Top 100 people, from winemakers to law makers, bankers to bloggers, and sommeliers to celebrities who influence wine; how it is made, marketed, perceived, sold, shipped, purchased, shared and consumed. As was true in 2012, we sought help to assemble this list people from a diverse group of people and we are grateful for their input. And we chose to release it today, January 29th, as it was on this day in 1919 when the pathetic policy of Prohibition was ratified; the effects of this lunatic legislation still evident in our country’s inability to ship and sell wine across state lines. We honor winemakers, wine drinkers and wine lovers of every conceivable demographic. Use this list, comment on it, share it with everyone, learn from it, and continue your joy of being IntoWine.
Ah the ubiquitous list. Everywhere you turn these days there is a top 10, the best 50, or some iteration of a who’s who list. So we can’t resist, besides, our Top 100 Most Influential Wine Industry list scored a lot of buzz, created a lot of chatter and even made a few enemies. This list is all about winemakers, those currently making wine here in America – not the great ones who have come before, but folks who make wines you can find now. There are some 7,000 bonded wineries in the U.S., and there’s a lot of forgettable wine being made. And in a world of homogenization of wine styles and a sense that our domestic wine industry is not legitimate without a French or Italian flare, we desire to promote regional flavor profiles of all American wine craftspeople. There are names here you’ll know and recognize, and names you never heard of but everyone on this list is influencing the public, fellow winemakers and the media in large and small ways. Use this list to learn about wines, varieties and regions you may not have considered; comment on it, share it with everyone, but above all continue your joy of being IntoWine.
BEST OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH NAPA TASTING ROOMS After having visited numerous renowned wineries, many of us are looking for the hidden gems within the Napa Valley. Good wines are certainly valued, but the entire experience a winery provides leaves guests wanting to return and telling their friends and family to visit. Each winery listed in this article has some special draw, whether it’s art, architecture, ambiance, gardens or compelling history.
