Tag Archives: wine and sweets

The Queen of Hearts

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

Today, you may find yourself a box of chocolates. For a seamless and sumptuous chocolate box pairing, look no further than the regal Queen herself, Rosa Regale. She’s  flirty, she’s sexy, she’s luscious. This made me want to eat the $3 bargain box, the Whitman’s classic, the Lindt, the Ghirardelli, the patisserie opera. And I did for this post.

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One chocolate in particular was a memorable one. Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark was made for this wine.

If you can only get one bottle for your romantic dessert, Rosa Regale should be it.

Chocolates tested:

Lindor Red Velvet Chocolate White Chocolate Truffles

Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares in Strawberry Bark and Creme Brulee

$3 Heart box from Wal-Mart

Whitman’s Sampler

Ferarro Rocher Hazelnut Truffles

The Whole Foods Cupcake

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Like I had mentioned yesterday, I needed a cupcake to pair and picked an adorable little red velvet. I wanted a banyuls with this but couldn’t find a bottle. I decided to try it with an asti.

Less bubbly than the Barefoot or a sparkling wine or champagne, this Ruffino was a subtle bubble with the same sweetness you want from a sparkling Moscato d’asti. Sweet little pairing if your main event dessert is red velvet!

‘Tis the Season!

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I was out to lunch at a new favorite, Abbey Road Tavern in Cary, and wanted to go to a wine shop afterwards to see if I could find some good things to pair with sweets. I mapped out the closest shop and there was a small tasting room up the street.

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And what a ka-winky-dink, they were having a Girl Scout Cookie and wine pairing!! It’s definitely cookie time!

This time they were pairing up Shortbread, Caramel deLites and Thin Mints. I’m always excited when there are Thin Mints since it’s a tricky pairing.

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This one was good. A little Chardonnay-y for me but maybe a little colder and I would like it. Chardonnay is becoming tricky for me lately and my husband is liking it more and more. Odd how much our tastes change year to year!

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I like Tempranillo and I enjoyed this pairing. There was a bit of vanilla in the wine so it paired deLite-fully! Ha!

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Tricky tricky… I could have tasted a few more to test it out but interesting to say the least. I liked the wine and they were having a special so I bought a bottle. I also have some Thin Mints on hand so I will be testing this out again! And maybe again after that. I will have to have my father test it out when he visits in a few days!

Chatham Street Market is a great shop and tasting room. If you’re in the area, definitely check them out. They have a lovely selection, beautiful seating areas both inside and out, and an amazing staff!

 

Find Girl Scout Cookies Here!

 

 

Wine & Girl Scout Cookies

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How could I not attend this pairing?? We visited Doyle’s Vineyard in Durham, NC for their 3rd Annual Girl Scout Cookie and Wine Tasting to benefit a local troop. They paired RagApple Lassie Vineyards with four different cookies. These are some flavorful and unique wines and paired delightfully with the cookies.

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Pairings:

Peanut Butter Patties with RagApple Vineyards Rockford Red

S’mores with RagApple Vineyards Kaleidoscope Red

Caramel Delights with RagApple Vineyards First Blush

Shortbread with RagApple Vineyards Kaleidoscope Gold

 

Find a booth sale near you by typing your zip code into the Cookie Locator through the links below. Your location will determine which one of the two bakeries your local council uses so if you aren’t in a Little Brownie Baker area, the website will show you who to contact to find cookies.

North Carolina Coastal Pines Cookie Locator

Little Brownie Baker Cookie Locator

 

 

Wine & Peanut Butter Cups!

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Okay, I enjoyed this pairing more than I should. Correction: enjoying…

Anyway, I was struggling with this one. I had a line of wines, a bag of peanut butter cups and couldn’t place the pairing. I gave up, had an empty bag of pb cups (with the help of a husband), and headed to Total Wine. I went to the right place because the associate there had recently tried an odd combination that actually worked really, really well! I was skeptical at first thinking of the oaky, tarty taste of “Chardonnay”, but I am so glad I took his recommendation. Atrevida Chardonnay and peanut butter cups are a match!

Chatham Hill Tasting

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While exploring my new location, I’m finding delicious wineries throughout North Carolina. Chatham Hill Winery has a vibrant selection of dry and sweet wines. I opted for the dry tasting and tried eight. Second to last, they paired their Cabernet Sauvignon with Dove Dark Chocolate. Their wines have a cherry-chocolate hint which paired delightfully with the chocolate.

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I ended up falling for their Cab Franc and ended with a glass of that! Check out chathamhillwine.com or visit them in person if you’re in the area!

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