Red Wine Convert

Not too long ago, tucked away in my little apartment in New Jersey, the only wine I would ever think to order or buy was Pinot Grigio. While I lived there, I never had people to enjoy good wine with; either because wine enthusiasts don’t exist in Jersey, they’re hiding, or they had all moved to Maine!

Once I moved to Portland, I slowly started to try other wines thanks to my sister, her hubby and the huge wine scene here. Pretty soon, my wine collection began consisting of Chardonnays, Rieslings, and many other types of white wine. I would even throw a Gewurtztraminer in the mix. But that was white, this is red…

I was never a red wine fan. Most of the reds that I would try tasted too heavy and “oaky” - to use a term I’ve become very familiar with hanging out with wine buffs. When Jacques from Old Port Wine Merchants handed me a 2006 bottle of Gouguenheim Merlot, I felt a little nervous that it was a red wine I would be writing about, but I gave it a try. Jacques has never steered me wrong before and I was pleasantly surprised that not only was this wine smooth but I really liked the taste! It tasted rich with a subtle fruity flavor. This was a great bottle to get me excited about trying even more types of red, which I will be doing in the very near future!

To top it off, the Artisan Cabrales cheese that Kris Horton from the Market House in Portland recommended to pair with the wine complimented it nicely. It’s a blue cheese from Spain with a blend of three different kinds of milk. I’m pretty adventurous when it comes to cheese, a fact that I pointed out to Kris, whose eyes seemed to light up with that bit of information. After browsing the cheeses for a bit, Kris handed me the Cabrales and explained that it’s a bold cheese with a kick. She also informed me that people in Spain enjoy eating the cheese spread over bread and butter…a fact that came in handy later on that night. Both plain and spread on bread and butter, the cheese was terrific and perfect with the wine.

Finding a new red wine that I enjoy, a great and unique cheese that I probably would have never tried on my own, and being able to enjoy both with my fiancé…not a bad way to spend a Monday night!

~~ Kate Beltz

Wine: 2006 Gouguenheim Merlot
Cheese: Artisan Cabrales