Favorite Food and Wine Pairings: The Gratitude Edition

It’s November and we’ve got food, wine and gratitude on the brain! A few of our Far Niente Family team weighed in on favorite food and wine combos that make them thankful for, well, food and wine! From simple classics to the food and wine pairings that ignited their passion for wine, we’ve compiled their mouthwatering responses below.

Food and Wine, Menus & Memories that Make Us Thankful:

"I come from a family of farmers and fishermen, and one of my favorite things to do with my brothers is what we call a “catch and cook”. My favorite trip by far has to be when we went diving for sea urchin along the Mendocino coast. After we spent the early morning diving, we drove down to the beach and had one of my favorite pairings for lunch: Nickel & Nickel Truchard Vineyard Chardonnay and creamy pasta with our freshly caught uni. It’s the perfect pairing and was made even better with the right company. The time I get to spend with family -- and what it means to be grateful -- takes on new meaning this year." -Tiffany Saelee, Wine Club Assistant Manager

“Duck and Pinot Noir are a classic combination, but wild duck and our EnRoute Northern Spy Pinot Noir take it to the next level. Making wine and duck hunting happen to be my two of my favorite activities. Add to that the fact that Northern California is a natural habitat for both the grape and the bird, and it’s fitting that they go together so spectacularly. Lately, I’ve doing our wild duck seared, with a pinot demi-glace. Both the duck and the wine are deep, rich and meaty. Delicious on their own, but even better together.” - Michael Accurso, EnRoute Winemaker

I'd have to go with our Nickel & Nickel Bear Flat Vineyard Merlot with an Impossible Burger from Gott's Roadside please! - Savannah Juarros, Nickel & Nickel Hospitality Specialist

I’m super thankful for salads and our access to super fresh delicious veggies. Last year I discovered Yotam Ottolenghi's vegetarian cookbook, Plenty. My absolute favorite salad is his Soba Noodles with Eggplant and Mango. It’s super fresh and bright and it draws out the floral and nutty top notes, layered melon flavors, and tropical undertones in our Far Niente Napa Valley Chardonnay. I love it when wine and food pairings bring out the best in each other. These two are captivating together." - Nicole Marchesi, Far Niente Winemaker

"I’m thankful for a blue cheese like St. Agur and Dolce Napa Valley. In fact, when I was hired to join the Far Niente Family of Wineries & Vineyards team, I celebrated with a wedge of creamy, salty-sweet St. Agur and the 2002 vintage of this late harvest wine, which I had purchased during a visit many years before." - Nadia Kinkade, Far Niente Family of Wineries & Vineyards Director of Consumer Loyalty & Development

Ready to make your own food and wine memories? Grab your favorite bottles and start experimenting! We can't wait to hear what you come up with.