When I think of pairing wine with food the first thing I think about is cheese. Historically wine and cheese from the same locations in Europe have been served together for hundreds of years, often times from the same farm or village.

• Wine and cheese pairing can provide a different and unique gastronomic experience.
• Try pairing cheese and wine at your next party or get together. Not only delicious but a source for conversation.
• Learning about pairings provides a social opportunity with family, friends, and others with like-minded interests.

 
Similar to the “white wine with fish and red wine with meat” concept is the traditional idea of pairing strong wines with strong cheeses. Full-bodied wines are often paired with strong, flavorful cheese. Astringent foods (like some wines) alternated with creamier foods (like cheese) often create a pleasant taste combination. The scientists believe foods that sit on opposite ends of the spectrum of taste often create a pleasant taste sensation, triggering a good match in the mind. The protein and fat can soften the perception of tannins in red wines, the creaminess can balance the acidity in white wines, or the texture can complement sweet wines. Not every wine goes with every cheese, and a typical cheese plate—mixing styles and textures of cheeses—can be a fascinating exercise in realizing how a single wine in your glass works with some, but not all, of the cheeses you are sampling.
 
Here’s 4 tips to consider as guidelines.

• Pair wines and cheeses with equal intensity.
• Bold red wines pair best with aged cheeses.
• Match super funky cheeses with sweeter wines
• Wines and cheeses from the same place pair well together.

 
Try a wine and cheese pairing this Mother’s day at the Tasting Room
Nearwood Winery has collaborated with Frisian Farms in nearby Leighton, Iowa, to pair their locally-produced gouda cheeses with Nearwood wine on Sunday, May 13. Discover a new experience with wine and cheese.
 
Sources:
https://learn.winecoolerdirect.com/wine-cheese-pairing
http://www.winespectator.com/drvinny/show/id/Wine-and-Cheese-Obssesion-55122
http://winefolly.com/tutorial/6-tips-on-pairing-wine-and-cheese/

I was at a crossroads. This was the time to weigh the options and make a decision. Should I quit my job and put 100% of my time into the boutique wine business? I had previously experienced life as an entrepreneur working in the graphic design field and knew it is not an easy path. Work can be almost 24/7 and there is no guarantee of a paycheck but the opportunity to fully use my skills to build a business has always intrigued me.
 
I valued my employment at our local chamber of commerce working in marketing and membership. It was a steady paycheck and I enjoyed getting acquainted with the local residents and business owners. I liked the idea of helping my small town prosper. Taking the job was one reason I moved to this new community in rural Iowa from the capital city. The other, more overarching reason, was for love.
 
Mike lived in Knoxville when we started dating in late 2015 and had started the wine business as a pastime because of his passion for producing a product that people would enjoy. He saw it as a creative, social and active endeavor, and gifted that vision to me. But he was juggling tasks of the business solo, along with his full time job in medicine.
 
In March this year Mike and I were married and I left my job at the chamber of commerce to spend 100% of my time with winery and vineyard operations. I’m relishing my current role working alongside my husband, spreading the word about our family business, meeting new people, and being a part of helping my small town prosper.
 
I hope if you have the opportunity to visit the Tasting Room in Knoxville, IA or Nearwood Winery on location somewhere, please try our wine. It may not change your life, but it may just add a bit of enjoyment to it.