ISO Wine Suggestions

[mommycook]

I am having a dinner party next Saturday and am looking for wine suggestions. One person prefers red but will drink white. Everyone else likes white. For the most part, my guests know a lot more about wine than I do!! I am looking for a bottle or 2 to serve with appetizers and another couple bottles to serve with dinner, probably coffee with dessert.

I live in CA so wines from this area are a lot easier to find than out-of-state wines.

Here is what I am serving:

Appetizers:
Brie Cheese with Cranberries and Almonds in Puff Pastry
Gouda Cheese
some other cheeses
Crackers
Fresh Fruit
Spiced Nuts

Dinner:
Prosciutto-Stuffed Pork with Mushroom Sauce
Winter Squash Soup with Gruyere Croutons
Caesar Salad
Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Shallots
Creamed Spinach (maybe)
Maple Glazed Carrot Coins
French Bread with Garlic Chunks

Dessert:
French Chocolate Cake
or
Chocolate Coffee Cheesecake
or
Simon Hopkins Chocolate Tart
(all basically involve a lot of dark, rich chocolate)

Menu suggestions/comments/changes are welcome too!

Thanks in advance!
Cindy

[manetta]

Nothing starts a party off like champagne or a good sparkling wine in my book. Schramsberg makes some excellent and affordable sparklers that you should be able to find easily. I especially like the Brut Rose and think it would pair beautifully with your appetizers.

I know that you want a white wine with your entree, but I think a red would better complement your meal. My first choice would be a Pinot Noir. We have been drinking and enjoying Estancia a lot lately. Robert Sinkey is a little pricier, but can't be beat, too. If you really want to serve a white wine, I am sure that someone else will chime in with suggestions.

I would offer a port with dessert as well as coffee. You shouldn't have any trouble finding a good one. If you want to stick with wines from California, Prager makes some excellent ports.

Your menu sounds lovely. Have a great time! :)

[mommycook]

bumping in hopes of getting more suggestions.

[swquilts]

Here's a couple of white suggestions:

La Crema Chardonnay (around $14)
Toasted Head Chard (anywhere from $10 to $13)
Francis Coppola Chard (about $14)

You do do a Zinfandel which is on the less heavy red side. We really enjoy any Zin from Rosenblum.

[Laurielee]

your rmenu soundsyummy, I would do a sauvignan blanc and a chardonnay for the appetizers and a red like a pinot for dinner, which is nice and light.

Laurie

[mommycook]

Thank you for the suggestions.

I have a list ready and will see what I can find at the store.

:)
Cindy

[Rosalie]

Just had the Monkey Bay Savignon Blanc Saturday night. It complimented the smoked salmon and cheese course we started with very nicely. It's a $10.00 bottle.

It's almost always a guarentee that the $40.00 bottle will be great...my favorite part of wine is finding a great bottle under $15.00....this was one that I felt fit the bill.

I really like the Rodeny Strong Cabernet as well! That's about $16-18.

[krhm]

Cindy, I agree that a white would be my first choice for the appetizers (a sauvignon blanc would be good). Prosecco or champagne would also work well, imho, and get the evening off to a good start.

The first wine I thought of when I saw the dinner menu was pinot noir. I love Smoking Loon and Turning Leaf, but those are more "everyday" wines and only around $10 a bottle. My FIL loves Baileyana (?) pinot noir.

And for such chocolate-y desserts, my preference would be a good cabernet, but I'm weird like that. :D

I do think one of the best things you can do is find a good wine store, take your menu, and ask to speak to the most knowledgeable wine person. This has only backfired on me once, and that was because my regular guy wasn't there!