Wine Pairings

These are our favorite wines and pairings.

🥂 Sparkling Wines:

• Prosecco (Italy)

  • Foods: Seafood, sushi, salads, light appetizers

  • Cheeses: Mozzarella, Ricotta, Burrata

• Cava (Spain)

  • Foods: Tapas, shellfish, paella, fried foods

  • Cheeses: Manchego, Queso Fresco, Brie

• Champagne (France)

  • Foods: Oysters, lobster, smoked salmon, fried chicken

  • Cheeses: Camembert, Triple crème, Brie de Meaux

• Virginia Blanc de Blancs (Sparkling Chardonnay)

  • Foods: Crab cakes, grilled shrimp, creamy pastas

  • Cheeses: Fresh goat cheese, Brie, Havarti

🍇 White Wines (From Dry/Light to Fuller/Richer):

• Vinho Verde (Portugal)

  • Foods: Seafood, salads, grilled vegetables

  • Cheeses: Goat cheese, Feta

• Albariño (Spain)

  • Foods: Seafood paella, grilled shrimp, ceviche

  • Cheeses: Queso Fresco, Mild Cheddar

• Pinot Grigio (Italy)

  • Foods: Light pastas, chicken dishes, grilled fish

  • Cheeses: Fresh Mozzarella, Burrata, Gruyère

• Virginia Viognier

  • Foods: Roasted chicken, seafood pasta, crab cakes

  • Cheeses: Brie, Triple crème, Gouda

• Sauvignon Blanc (France, Sancerre)

  • Foods: Seafood, asparagus, fresh salads

  • Cheeses: Chèvre (goat cheese), Feta

• Riesling (Germany, Mosel)

  • Foods: Spicy Asian food, roasted pork, duck

  • Cheeses: Blue cheese, Gouda, Monterey Jack

• Chardonnay (Burgundy, France)

  • Foods: Roasted chicken, creamy pasta, buttery seafood

  • Cheeses: Brie, Comté, Gruyère

• Virginia Chardonnay

  • Foods: Crab cakes, grilled salmon, roast poultry

  • Cheeses: Brie, Havarti, Fontina

🥀 Rosé Wines (Light to Medium):

• Provençal Rosé (France)

  • Foods: Grilled seafood, salads, cured meats

  • Cheeses: Feta, Goat cheese, Ricotta Salata

• Virginia Rosé (Cabernet Franc-based)

  • Foods: Salmon, grilled chicken, charcuterie

  • Cheeses: Fresh Mozzarella, Brie, Chèvre

🍷 Light-bodied Red Wines:

• Beaujolais Nouveau (France)

  • Foods: Roasted poultry, salmon, charcuterie

  • Cheeses: Brie, Camembert, Cheddar

• Pinot Noir (Burgundy, France)

  • Foods: Duck, pork tenderloin, mushroom dishes

  • Cheeses: Gruyère, Brie, Camembert

• Virginia Pinot Noir

  • Foods: Roasted turkey, grilled salmon, lamb chops

  • Cheeses: Brie, Gouda, Fontina

🍷 Medium-bodied Red Wines:

• Tempranillo (Spain, Rioja)

  • Foods: Lamb chops, paella, grilled meats

  • Cheeses: Manchego, Aged Cheddar, Mahón

• Grenache (France, Rhône)

  • Foods: Grilled meats, roasted vegetables, Mediterranean cuisine

  • Cheeses: Manchego, Comté, Aged Gouda

• Merlot (France, Virginia)

  • Foods: Roast chicken, grilled pork, lamb

  • Cheeses: Gouda, Aged Cheddar, Emmental

• Chianti (Sangiovese, Italy)

  • Foods: Tomato-based pasta dishes, pizza, grilled meats

  • Cheeses: Pecorino Romano, Parmesan, Provolone

• Virginia Cabernet Franc

  • Foods: Roast lamb, pork tenderloin, grilled steak

  • Cheeses: Aged Cheddar, Manchego, Gouda

• Côtes du Rhône (France)

  • Foods: Beef stew, grilled lamb, sausage dishes

  • Cheeses: Comté, Cheddar, Camembert

🍷 Full-bodied Red Wines (Darkest):

• Barolo/Nebbiolo (Italy)

  • Foods: Braised beef, lamb, truffle dishes

  • Cheeses: Parmigiano-Reggiano, Gorgonzola, Pecorino

• Bordeaux (France)

  • Foods: Beef Wellington, steaks, lamb chops

  • Cheeses: Roquefort, Stilton, Aged Cheddar

• Virginia Petit Verdot

  • Foods: Grilled steak, venison, hearty stews

  • Cheeses: Blue cheese, Sharp Cheddar, Aged Gouda

• Amarone della Valpolicella (Italy)

  • Foods: Rich meat dishes, braised beef, hearty stews

  • Cheeses: Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino, Gorgonzola

• Cabernet Sauvignon (Bordeaux, France, Virginia)

  • Foods: Prime rib, lamb chops, steaks

  • Cheeses: Aged Cheddar, Gorgonzola, Comté

• Malbec (France, Argentina)

  • Foods: Grilled steak, barbecue, hearty stews

  • Cheeses: Blue Cheese, Aged Cheddar, Manchego

• Syrah/Shiraz (France, Rhône, Virginia)

  • Foods: Pepper-crusted steaks, grilled lamb, sausages

  • Cheeses: Aged Gouda, Blue Cheese, Parmesan

🧀 Cheese Pairing Reference:

• Soft (Brie, Camembert)

  Champagne, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

• Fresh (Mozzarella, Feta)

  Prosecco, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé

• Semi-Firm (Gouda, Gruyère)

  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot

• Hard (Cheddar, Manchego)

  Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Tempranillo

• Blue (Roquefort, Gorgonzola)

  Bordeaux, Amarone, Syrah, Riesling

🍽 Food Pairing Reference :

• Seafood
  Prosecco, Champagne, Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc, Virginia Blanc de Blancs

• Poultry
  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Virginia Viognier

• Pork
  Tempranillo, Chianti, Pinot Noir, Virginia Cabernet Franc

• Beef (Grilled)
  Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah, Bordeaux, Virginia Petit Verdot

• Beef (Braised)
  Amarone, Barolo, Syrah, Bordeaux, Malbec

• Lamb
  Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Grenache, Syrah

• Venison/Game Meats
  Syrah, Virginia Petit Verdot, Bordeaux

• Vegetarian/Salads
  Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Pinot Grigio, Albariño

• Spicy Dishes
  Riesling, Albariño, Vinho Verde

• Pasta (Tomato-based)
  Chianti, Tempranillo, Grenache

• Pasta (Creamy)
  Chardonnay, Viognier

• Pizza
  Chianti, Grenache, Beaujolais Nouveau

• Mushrooms & Truffles
  Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo

• Charcuterie
  Rosé, Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, Champagne

• Chocolate/Desserts
  Amarone, Syrah, Port, Cabernet Sauvignon