Tonight, City Vino is hosting Always Flavored for a wine pairing dinner. Rita Witte is a talented chef, passionate about flavors and spices. She has a catering background prior to starting Always Flavor, which we will tap into for this dinner. Food to her is more than just sustenance, it is a way to connect with others and build relationships. Birthed out of an overabundance of hot peppers grown in her garden, she started to create flavorful sauces with the mission to elevate every meal. Always Flavored is at 610 Caroline Street where you can pick up a few sandwiches or bottles of her hot sauces. Go to the Rita power of two!
As the crispness of fall begins to settle in, it’s the perfect time to indulge in wines that complement richer, heartier dishes. This transitional season brings a delightful shift in flavors and offers the opportunity to explore wines that match the changing palate. Cooler weather invites a deeper appreciation of complexity and depth in wines, making fall the ideal backdrop for discovering those that can stand up to autumn’s rich, comforting meals.
Last week on Thursday, City Vino was honored by Fredericksburg’s Mainstreet with a ribbon cutting for a grand opening. It was humbling to see how many showed up in support of Rita Allan and City Vino. What more fitting thing to do than it is to saber a bottle of Isaac Fernandez Biutiful Cava NV. Thank you Sherrie Shaw for capturing the moment!
With this year’s Olympics being held in Paris, France, one cannot help but think of wine and the potential to pair the games with wines while watching! The torch relay took route through one of the most iconic wine regions in the world. It makes sense that Tony Parker, the French NBA Hall of Famer, should join the Olympic torchbearers. He became a vintner himself, joining entrepreneur Michael Reybier as a partner of Château La Mascaronne. The torch relay commenced in Marseille, which is close to Provence, Bandol, and Aix-en- Provence, home to some of the best Rosés and then intertwined through wine regions, such as Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire, Bordeaux, Reims, and ending in Paris.
Hosting a dinner party or social gathering with food and wine can be daunting if you have not done it before. Depending on what is being paired, it is important to consider the components of both—what foods are being served, and what beverages you wish to pair or highlight. The other part to consider is which do you want to showcase, the beverage (in this case, wine) or the food(s). To add more to your decision making, you could also opt to do both, along the course of your agenda, with some pairings to highlight the wine, some showcasing the food and others highlighting the way each compliments each other.
