An Unforgettable California Wine and Food Pairing Event in Omaha
A great view of the stunning wine wall and the unique wine bottle fall centerpiece, setting the perfect atmosphere for our California wine tasting event.
This past weekend, I had the immense pleasure and honor of catering a special California Wine and Food pairing event at the esteemed A World of Wine in Omaha. It was a truly delightful experience, a journey through the rich tapestry of California’s renowned vineyards complemented by an array of meticulously crafted culinary delights. The collaboration with Julie from A World of Wine was fantastic, as we worked closely to curate an exceptional menu designed to perfectly harmonize with each featured wine, creating an unforgettable sensory adventure for all our guests.
Our goal was to showcase the versatility and depth of California wines by pairing them with foods that would either enhance their intrinsic characteristics or offer an exciting contrast. This thoughtful approach allowed attendees to truly appreciate the nuances of each pour and bite. The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with engaging conversations, laughter, and the shared joy of discovering new favorite combinations.
A Curated Selection of Premium California Wines
The event featured a carefully selected list of six exceptional California wines, each chosen for its distinctive profile and ability to shine alongside our gourmet food offerings. This selection provided a comprehensive tasting experience, moving from effervescent bubbles to crisp whites, elegant reds, and finally, a robust Zinfandel.
- Schramsberg Mira Belle Champagne: Hailing from California’s premier sparkling wine house, this Champagne offered crisp effervescence with notes of green apple, citrus, and toasted brioche. Its vibrant acidity and elegant bubbles made it a perfect palate cleanser and an ideal match for lighter fare.
- Foghead Chardonnay: This Chardonnay presented a beautiful balance of fruit and subtle oak. Expect notes of ripe pear, apple, and a hint of vanilla or butter, characteristic of a well-crafted California Chardonnay, offering a rich and creamy texture.
- Foghead Sauvignon Blanc: A refreshing and aromatic white wine, the Foghead Sauvignon Blanc delighted with bright citrus, gooseberry, and herbaceous notes. Its crisp acidity and vibrant minerality provided a refreshing counterpoint to many dishes.
- Foghead Pinot Noir: Known for its elegance and complexity, this Pinot Noir offered bright red fruit flavors like cherry and raspberry, complemented by earthy undertones and a silky-smooth finish. Its lighter body and moderate tannins made it incredibly food-friendly.
- Simi Cabernet Sauvignon: A classic California Cabernet, the Simi offered deep flavors of blackcurrant, plum, and cedar, with firm tannins and a long, lingering finish. This bold red wine was chosen to stand up to hearty, rich dishes.
- Ravenswood Teldeschi Zinfandel: Representing the quintessential California Zinfandel, this wine boasted jammy fruit flavors, notes of black pepper, spice, and a full-bodied richness. Its robust character and intriguing complexity made it a fantastic pairing for savory, flavorful foods.
The Exquisite Pairing Menu: A Culinary Journey
Our menu was designed to complement the diverse range of wines, showcasing how different flavors and textures can create magical pairings. From savory appetizers to decadent desserts, every item was thoughtfully prepared to elevate the tasting experience.
- Chicken Skewers with Warm Artichoke Cream Dip: Succulent chicken pieces, marinated and grilled to perfection, served alongside a rich, creamy, and irresistibly warm artichoke dip. This comforting appetizer offered a delightful blend of savory and herbaceous notes.
- KC BBQ Beef Brisket Sliders on Hawaiian Sweet Rolls: Tender, slow-smoked KC BBQ beef brisket, shredded and piled onto soft, slightly sweet Hawaiian rolls. These sliders brought a smoky, savory, and subtly sweet profile to the table.
- Caprese Appetizer: A fresh and vibrant appetizer featuring cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, and fragrant basil leaves, drizzled with balsamic glaze. A classic for its bright, clean flavors.
- Gourmet Olives: An exquisite selection including plump green Halkidiki olives stuffed with feta, piquant green Halkidiki Sicilian style olives, and robust Kalamata olives. This assortment provided a variety of briny and savory profiles.
- Shrimp with Spicy Remoulade Sauce: Perfectly cooked, plump shrimp served chilled with a zesty, creamy, and subtly spicy remoulade sauce. A refreshing bite with a kick.
- Artisan Cheese Board: A thoughtfully curated selection of cheeses, featuring creamy goat cheese, mild cheddar, buttery Gouda, sharp aged white cheddar, and pungent blue cheese. This board offered a spectrum of textures and intensities.
- Mini Chocolate Brownie Bundts with Chocolate Drizzle: Decadent, moist mini chocolate bundt cakes, rich with cocoa flavor and finished with an elegant chocolate drizzle. An indulgent sweet treat.
- Angel Food Cake with Fresh Berries and Triple Berry Cream Dip: Light and airy angel food cake, accompanied by an abundance of fresh seasonal berries and a luscious triple berry cream dip. A delicate and fruity dessert.
- Popcorn: A surprising but brilliant addition, offering a light, salty, and satisfyingly crunchy texture.
- Kettle Chips: Crispy, savory kettle-cooked potato chips, providing another element of salt and crunch.
- Broccoli Stuffed Mushrooms: Earthy mushroom caps generously filled with a savory mixture of broccoli and seasonings, baked until tender. A delightful vegetarian option.
- French Baguette Bread: Slices of crisp French baguette, served as a versatile vehicle for dips and cheeses, and as a crucial palate cleanser.
Highlights from the Event: A Visual Feast and Perfect Pairings
The event was not just a treat for the taste buds but also a feast for the eyes. Each dish was presented beautifully, inviting guests to explore the carefully considered pairings. Below are some snapshots from the day, highlighting both the culinary creations and the art of pairing them with their ideal California wine counterparts.
Our irresistibly warm artichoke cream dip, a creamy delight often served with crusty bread. Its rich, savory profile and velvety texture make it an exquisite partner for the Foghead Chardonnay. The wine’s balanced acidity and subtle oak notes beautifully cut through the dip’s richness while enhancing its inherent flavors, creating a harmonious and comforting pairing.
A tantalizing spread featuring our succulent Chicken Skewers and tender KC Smokehouse BBQ Brisket Sliders. The lean yet flavorful chicken skewers find an excellent match in the versatile Foghead Pinot Noir, which complements poultry without overpowering it. Meanwhile, the smoky, robust flavors of the BBQ brisket demand a more assertive wine, making a bold Simi Cabernet Sauvignon or a spicy Ravenswood Teldeschi Zinfandel ideal partners.
Crisp French Baguette slices, served primarily as an essential palate cleanser between tastings. Its neutral profile, subtle crust, and airy interior prepare the palate for the next delightful wine and food combination, ensuring each pairing can be appreciated anew.
A vibrant display of fresh berries alongside a luscious triple berry cream dip. The bright acidity and natural sweetness of the berries, especially when combined with the creamy, subtly sweet dip, create a festive and refreshing combination. This dessert beautifully complements the effervescence and subtle fruit notes of the Schramsberg Mira Belle Champagne, enhancing the celebratory feel.
Our elegant Caprese Appetizer skewers, featuring fresh mozzarella, ripe cherry tomatoes, and fragrant basil, drizzled with balsamic. These delightful bites find their perfect match in a crisp Foghead Sauvignon Blanc, where the wine’s herbaceous notes echo the basil and its acidity brightens the tomato. Alternatively, an elegant Foghead Pinot Noir can also work beautifully, offering a delicate fruitiness that enhances the fresh components.
An artfully arranged spread of artisan cheeses and gourmet olives, accompanied by succulent shrimp with spicy remoulade. Mild cheeses like creamy goat cheese and buttery Gouda are beautifully complemented by the bright characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. For bolder, aged cheeses such as sharp aged white cheddar and pungent blue cheese, the robust tannins and rich fruit flavors of a Ravenswood Teldeschi Zinfandel or Simi Cabernet Sauvignon provide a harmonious balance. The shrimp with remoulade, with its zesty kick, pairs surprisingly well with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc.
Our delightful chicken skewers, served with a creamy, warm artichoke dip. The tender chicken and rich dip create a savory experience that is wonderfully enhanced by the balanced acidity and fruit notes of a Foghead Chardonnay. The wine’s subtle oak and buttery texture complement the creaminess of the dip, while its structure can also stand up to the poultry. Alternatively, the delicate earthiness of a Foghead Pinot Noir offers another excellent pairing, highlighting the savory aspects of the dish.
Decadent mini chocolate brownie bundt cakes, elegantly finished with a rich chocolate drizzle. These indulgent treats offer a satisfying sweetness and deep cocoa flavor. While chocolate notoriously pairs with many wines, the richness of these bundts finds remarkable harmony with a bold Ravenswood Teldeschi Zinfandel, where the wine’s fruit-forward notes and hint of spice can complement the chocolate. Surprisingly, even a crisp Schramsberg Mira Belle Champagne can create a delightful contrast with the sweetness.
Chocolate, an undeniable crowd-pleaser and a truly versatile companion! Its complex flavors, especially in these rich desserts, pair harmoniously with almost EVERYTHING from our wine selection! From the fruit-forward notes of a Zinfandel to the robust structure of a Cabernet Sauvignon, chocolate proves to be a universal delight that can be enjoyed with nearly any of the featured California wines.
These exquisite chocolate and nut treats were undoubtedly a crowd favorite, disappearing quickly from the table! The delightful combination of crunchy nuts and rich, sweet chocolate offers a complex texture and flavor profile that beautifully complements full-bodied red wines. A Simi Cabernet Sauvignon or a Ravenswood Teldeschi Zinfandel, with their robust character and notes of dark fruit, provide a perfect counterpoint to the sweetness and nuttiness, creating a truly satisfying finish.
A robust offering of tender chicken skewers and savory BBQ beef brisket sliders. The rich, smoky, and slightly sweet flavors of the BBQ brisket are perfectly accentuated by the deep, structured notes of a Simi Cabernet Sauvignon or the spicy, jammy character of a Ravenswood Teldeschi Zinfandel. These wines stand up to the intensity of the barbecue, creating a memorable pairing. For the lighter chicken skewers, a versatile Foghead Pinot Noir offers a delightful and elegant contrast.
Our delicious broccoli stuffed mushrooms, offering an earthy and savory bite. These delightful vegetarian creations harmonize wonderfully with the crispness and herbaceous notes of a Foghead Sauvignon Blanc, which echoes the green flavors. They also pair beautifully with the subtly oak-kissed notes of a Foghead Chardonnay or the light-bodied elegance and earthy undertones of a Foghead Pinot Noir, all of which enhance their subtle flavors without overwhelming them.
An unexpectedly delightful and playful pairing: classic popcorn! Its light, savory, and perfectly salty profile makes it an incredibly intriguing match for the effervescent bubbles of Schramsberg Mira Belle Champagne. The saltiness of the popcorn beautifully complements the wine’s acidity and yeasty notes, creating a surprising yet highly enjoyable contrast that truly delighted our guests.
Fluffy Hawaiian sweet rolls and crispy kettle chips, offering a delightful combination of sweet and savory textures. While the rolls are an excellent vehicle for our BBQ brisket sliders, the kettle chips, with their satisfying crunch and touch of salt, also make a surprisingly excellent partner for a crisp, bubbly Schramsberg Mira Belle Champagne, much like the popcorn. The contrast between the wine’s acidity and the chips’ saltiness creates an exciting palate experience.
Bring the Wine & Food Pairing Experience to Your Event!
There you have it – a glimpse into a truly memorable California Wine and Food Pairing event. This experience proved that with thoughtful selection and creative preparation, even the most diverse flavors can come together in perfect harmony, creating an engaging and educational tasting journey for everyone.
Now, you have some fantastic ideas and pairings to host a wine tasting of your own! Or, better yet, why not let me bring this extraordinary culinary and oenological experience directly to you? Whether it’s a private gathering, a corporate event, or a special celebration, I am passionate about crafting bespoke menus and pairings that will impress your guests and leave a lasting impression. So, is anyone else craving some exquisite wine and gourmet cheese after reading this?
I certainly am!