dinner party ideas — Blog

Welcome, wine and food enthusiasts! We all have our favorite bottles on the rack or stored in a wine cellar, and today we’re going to talk about three wines in particular – all delightfully complex and rich Cabernets from the acclaimed J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines. In this blog I’ll introduce you to a meticulously curated three-course meal that’s been uniquely designed to enhance and synchronize perfectly with the distinct layers of these remarkable Cabernets. So, prepare your taste buds for a delectable journey of flavors, starting with light and delicate tastes, moving to rich and hearty, ending on a perfectly sweet note.

Exploring Cabernet Sauvignon Characteristics for Optimal Food Pairing

According to Wine Folly, “Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied, red wine with dark fruit flavors and savory tastes from black pepper to bell pepper.” Cabernet tends to have moderate to high levels of tannins and acidity, but also higher in alcohol than other red wines. This wine pairs beautifully with a variety of foods. When pairing Cabernet Sauvignon with food, it is important to take into account the wine’s medium to full body and its moderate to high levels of tannins and acidity. This means rich and flavorful foods like grilled steak, roasted lamb, game meats, and hard cheeses are ideal for this full-bodied wine. The tannins in the wine will help to cut through the fat of the food and the acidity will help to balance out the flavors.

The First Course

If you’re looking for the perfect pairing for your next three-course meal, look no further than the Cabernets from J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines.. Start your meal off with a classic five-ingredient charcuterie board and pair it with the J. Lohr Pure Paso® Proprietary Red Wine. Pure Paso is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Petite Sirah, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, 1% Merlot. The main varietals in this wine being Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah wines happen to be two J. Lohr benchmark varieties in the central coast.

This five-ingredient charcuterie board is a great start to a 3-course meal.. Each of the ingredients pair well with the bold and robust flavors of the wine. When picking the five items I wanted to put on this charcuterie board, I considered the weights of the flavors of the cheeses and meats and avoided a wine that overpowered them. Picking meat, cheese, crackers or bread, honey and fruit as your ingredients for a simple board is the best way to start. Listed below is what I picked for this board and a few other choices that will help your board come to life.

Cheese: A classic option that complements the robust taste of the wine. I chose blue cheese for today's charcuterie board as a great option that brings out the herbal and tannic notes in the wine. Other options are aged cheddar, parmesan, gouda, and gruyere because they are all sharp, hard cheeses that pair well with the boldness of the cabernet. For a rich, indulgent pairing, try a triple-creme cheese such as Brie andCamembert.. For a truly unique pairing, try pairing with creamy, tangy aged goat cheese. Regardless of the cheese selection you make, you are guaranteed to relish a delightful pairing! Fruit: Plums, cherries, and an array of berries are all splendid choices to pair with Cabernet Sauvignon. The acidic nature of the wine works brilliantly in highlighting the fruit's inherent sweetness. For those who love a nice crunch, apples and pears work as a delightful complement to the texture spectrum here. On the other hand, the succulent juices packed in berries and grapes do more than just add to the dish. Their luxurious juices amplify the flavors of the wine, resulting in an unforgettable savory experience.

Crackers & Honey: Some great cracker options include rye crackers, sesame crackers, and whole wheat crackers. A lovely rosemary herb blend is perfect to add a hint of flavor without overdoing the pairing. Most importantly when selecting the crackers and honey, keep the cracker flavor simple. Crackers will just add a hint of crunchy texture and honey the perfect sweetness. They are beautiful options without adding too much flavor.

Meat: Pairing a high-alcohol wine with food that has a high salt content can make the wine come across as “hot.” You will want to avoid pepper-crusted salami or other meats with heavy spices. The subtle spice of the prosciutto is brought out in this bold and delicious red blend.

The Second Course

For the second or main course, we are going with a classic dish: Ribeye pan-grilled steaks and garlic mashed potatoes. For our wine pairing, we selected the J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon, a choice that perfectly complements the rich flavors of the ribeye and the creamy texture of the mashed potatoes. This exquisite wine enhances the dining experience, offering a harmonious blend of boldness and elegance to your meal.

This wine is an excellent option because it can handle strong flavors while also enhancing delicate ones, such as the smoky char from the steak, which pairs harmoniously with the wine's robust tannins. Another pairing option is braised lamb shanks or for something a bit lighter, try a roasted pork tenderloin for a delicious and versatile dish. Juicy pork cuisines are perfect for the deep, dark fruit flavors of the Cabernet Sauvignon. Roasted duck is another great option if you are feeling adventurous, as the robust juicy flavor of the duck is complemented by the complexity of Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Third Course

For dessert, you can’t go wrong with a classic chocolate mousse with raspberries and almond slivers. This decadent dessert will be perfectly complemented by the sweet and smooth flavors of the 2021 J. Lohr Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon. Other great choices to pair with this wine are delectable treats such as dark chocolate cake, coffee ice cream, berries in dark chocolate sauce, and pies filled with blackberries, raspberries or boysenberries. Each of these yummy dessert options will bring out the ripe fruit aromas of black cherry and currant accented by notes of toasted pastry, hazelnut, and vanilla from J. Lohr’s extensive barrel aging program. When in doubt, dark chocolate is always a classic pairing. The richness of the chocolate will balance out the boldness of this Cab perfectly.

Each course of this incredible meal will be perfectly complemented by the various J. Lohr Cabernets. They all contribute to a delightful evening and are the ideal accompaniment for a dinner with guests or date night. With J. Lohr Cabernets from Paso Robles, you can embark on a distinctive and delectable culinary journey that is certain to impress your guests.