Wine Dinner Blog

For my wine dinner, I went to Firebirds Restaurant with my family. It was mainly me and mom drinking wine, where we tried our wines with our dishes. For dinner to pair with the wines, I had a sirloin steak, mashed potatoes, and French fries. I ordered a glass of the Famille Perrin Rose to go with it. With the wine itself, it is really soft and pretty light-bodied. It had notes of red fruit and floral aromas and flavors. I got the aroma of fruits like strawberries and peaches. It had a hint of floral aromas like roses that wasn't overpowering. The taste I thought was balanced that was dry, refined, and light, that didn't have an overwhelming acidity. Pairing this wine with my dinner, I had pretty salty food to eat with it. The sirloin was very rich and flavorful, so I think it did balance with the Rose quite well. The Rose was light and had fruity flavor, and the steak had some spices and seasonings that complimented the wine nicely. It wasn't overpowering the Rose's flavor and I think it brought the freshness and lightness of the wine. I paired it with the French fries as well. The fries were pretty salty to begin with, so I did think it cut through to the wine flavor. I thought that the saltiness of the fries overpowered the Rose a little bit, making the wine taste less fruity. Overall, this wine wasn't too sweet, it had a lot of flavor, and I think it complimented with my steak pretty well, but I would not recommend this with something really salty like the French fries. I also tried a glass of the wine, J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon to try with my dinner. The wine was very rich with a balance of fruit and oak flavors. It had aromas of cherries, plums, and some spices. The taste was full-bodied and smooth with flavors of berries, cherries, chocolate and woody oak. I paired this with my steak, and I think it did compliment the wine. The bold fruit and oak flavors balanced the richness and umami of the steak. It brought out the wine's tannins and richness that wasn't overpowering the steak and vice versa. The fattiness, herbs, and spices of the steak brought out the wine's herbal and oak notes as well. I tried the wine with the mashed potatoes, too. The mashed potatoes were very smooth and light, which I think brought out the richness of the wine as well. Since the potatoes has more buttery, herbal, and subtle taste, the fruity, oak, and herbal notes of the wine was able to be brought out more. Overall, I think this was a perfect wine to pair with a steak/mashed potatoes dinner. Both wines were really good to pair with this type of dinner and I would definitely recommend these wines to anyone dining at this restaurant. 

Tasting - Barefoot Watermelon Fruitscato

 

Name: Barefoot Watermelon Fruitscato
Variety: White wine blend (Moscato)
Region: Modesto, California
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $6

Shop Review: Like slicing into a big juicy Watermelon, Barefoot Watermelon FRUITSCATO fills your glass with a refreshing, sweet, tart burst of Watermelon. Deliciously sweet, it is a wonderful match for anything from fresh cheeses to grilling out for a crowd! -OldGrapeCellar

My Review: This wine is very sweet with a very bold flavor of watermelon. It is a very easy-drinking, light-bodied wine that is sweet and smooth and perfect for anyone who enjoys more fruity wines. I would definitely this to anyone who likes wine that is sweet and refreshing, while not having that strong wine taste. I did not pair this wine with food. 

Tasting - Martini & Rossi Asti Sparking Wine

 

Name: Martini & Rossi Asti
Variety: 100% Moscato Bianco
Region: Asti, Piedmont
Country: Italy
Year: NV 
Price: $11

Wine Critic Review: Martini and Rossi Rose is an extra-dry sparkling wine from Italy.  It has aromas of flowers and green apple.  Its flavor is crisp and clean with notes of apple and red fruits.  In the glass, Martini and Rossi Rose is quite rosy in color.  Overall, a gorgeous sparkling wine made from expertly sourced Chardonnay, Riesling Italico, Nebbiolo and Glera grapes.  Perfect for an elegant affair. -J.R. (02/28/2019)

My review: This was a really good wine with it being a very light and a very flavorful wine. It is not too high in the alcohol content so you really taste the sweetness of it. It had aromas that were floral like honeysuckle and tangerines. as well as fruity flavors like apples and pears. Overall, I thought it was a delicious wine, especially since I do like sparkling wines a lot. I did not have food with this wine however.

Tasting - Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon

 Name: Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon
 Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

 Country: USA

 Region: Paso Robles, California

 Vintage Year: 2021

 Price: $17

Winery review: This tried-and-true Cabernet has been a dinner table staple for more than 40 years. A rich ruby hue fills the glass along with aromas of fresh vanilla, lush red fruit and herbaceous nuances. On the palate, bright cherry notes mingle with warm cocoa and sweet oak. The finish is unbelievably smooth with soft. gorgeous tannins. -HopeFamilyWines

My review: The wine was very interesting and had a very bold flavor. It had many rich flavors like cherry, plum, vanilla, and cocoa. It was very smooth, but maybe too bold for me personally. But overall, I thought it was a really nice wine to try. I did not pair this wine with food. 

Tasting - Woodbridge Lightly oaked Chardonnay

 

Name: Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Lightly Oaked Chardonnay

Variety: 100% Chardonnay 

Country: USA

Region: California, Central Valley

Year: NV

Price: $9

Wine Critic Review: Apple-tart flavors and a supersmooth texture make this wine easy to like. Aromas offer baked apple, cream and vanilla, while the palate delivers nicely ripe fruit, soft acidity and a clean finish. -J.G. (11/1/22)

My Review: This wine was really good. I've had it plenty times before and it is one of favorite cheaper wines, since I usually go for white wines. I like that it is really light, with hints of fruit and oak that aren't too overpowering, so it definitely gives a good balance. However, I did not pair this with food. 

I don’t drink wine regularly, I’ve had a few enjoyable experiences with it on special occasions or during dinner with friends. I tend to gravitate toward white wine, with Chardonnay being my go-to choice for a more relaxed meal or gathering. I also enjoy rosé for celebrations, as it seems to pair well with festive moments. However, outside of these occasional experiences, I haven’t explored the world of wine too deeply, so my knowledge remains quite basic. I can appreciate a good glass, but I’m far from a connoisseur.

I’m looking forward to learning more about the complexities of wine through this course. I’d love to learn the proper techniques for tasting wine, as I’ve always felt a bit unsure about how to truly appreciate its flavors. Understanding the different origins of wines and how factors like terroir and climate influence the taste is something I’m particularly interested in. I also hope to expand my palate and become more confident in selecting wines that pair well with different foods or occasions.

Ultimately, I hope to deepen my appreciation for wine and explore new varieties beyond my usual preferences. This course is the perfect opportunity to discover the many nuances of wine and to better understand how it fits into a variety of cultural and social contexts.