I recently had the pleasure of attending a ladies lunch where we explored Noble Vines Wine and food pairings. The lunch was led by Sommelier and Entertaining Expert, Sarah Tracey of The Lush Life. These wines come from Lodi, California as well as surrounding slopes of cool-climate San Bernabe Vineyard in Monterey, California. These wines are high in quality and food friendly, which is why they are perfect for entertaining!

We started lunch off with a glass of the 515 Noble Vines Rosé. This wine is a perfect aperitif and is simple and sippable on its own. If you do decide to pair it with something though, I recommend Caprese salad stone fruits, tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella, or prosciutto-wrapped plums (great for this time of year). As we sat down to enjoy a nice meal, Sarah explained why these wines are perfect for your holiday entertaining. They are food friendly and fruit forward which makes them easy to drink and great to have around when friends and family come over.

For lunch, we enjoyed the 242 Sauvignon Blanc and the 446 Chardonnay. Both whites paired beautifully with the Smoked Salmon and Grapefruit Crab Salad. The Chardonnay is elegant and expresses notes of yellow apple, citrus, and oak with balanced acidity and creaminess. This went very well with the smoked salmon, because in the Chardonnay you may pick up hints of smokiness. The sauvignon blanc is a great year-round wine and is extremely refreshing and full of personality. This paired nicely with the crab and grapefruit salad topped with salt, pepper, and avocados. This simple salad highlighted the wine and picked up some of the playful grapefruit notes that are present in the Sauvignon Blanc.

After the whites, we went to reds. We started with the 667 Pinot Noir, which I absolutely loved with the duck breast entreé. This wine is fruit forward with nice baking spice aromas and a smooth finish. Alongside the pinot was the 337 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is full-bodied and exactly what you would expect from California Cabernet. Both the reds are alluring and food friendly and would even pair well with vegetarian dishes such as roasted beets with goat cheese and pistachios, as well as hearty fish. My favorite pairing with the Cabernet Sauvignon, however, was the insanely decadent chocolate mousse! The cabernet’s bright fruit forward flavors and subtle yet smooth spice notes really highlight the rich chocolate and bring out some more of the baking spices in the wine.

You can find all these wines at many locations since they are distributed nationally. If you’re seeking delicious wines that are perfect for all of your holiday entertaining with family and friends, look no further than Noble Vines wines. Ps. These wines are all under $18 too!

Always remember, eat what you like and drink what you love. Please pair responsibly!