The Ultimate Guide to Pairing Local Wine

Even if you love enjoying the wonderful wines of Washington, you may not be familiar with pairing local wine with food. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we are lucky enough to have access to a variety of amazing wineries in prime grape-growing regions. Many people across the state are wine enthusiasts and appreciate shopping locally for their favorite wines. Whether you prefer red, white, rosé, or love to try it all, Tacoma Boys offers a variety of local favorites for every palette and sipping occasion— In addition to varieties from regions all over the world!

Pairing Local Wine

You can go about pairing local wine in many different ways. One straightforward way is simply pairing locally produced wine with locally grown food and cuisines. Many wine aficionados pair food and wine based on traditional pairings, like dark red wines with dark foods (think steak, dark chocolate, berries, rich tomato sauce). Science even dictates these traditional pairings: The pair should either complement or contrast each other. The acidity, sweetness, fat, and even the weight of both the wine and food come into play when pairing wine comes down to a science.

That being said, when pairing local wine, what really matters is that you and your guests enjoy the pairing! It’s easy to find a solid pairing since there are so many different local wines to choose from. In fact, Washington state produces the second most wine in the country, after California. There will almost certainly always be a new local wine to try.

How to Pair Wine and Food

If you’re not sure how to pair wine and food, don’t fret! You can certainly eat whatever you want while drinking whatever you want. And generally speaking, any wine will taste great with any food. There are some common guidelines for flavor pairings, though: White wine goes with seafood and lighter fare, like salad and nutty cheese. Red wine pairs well with red meat and spicy, robust, and smoky flavors.

Wine and cheese is one of the most classic pairings of wine and food because the fat in cheese balances so well with the acidic tannins in wine. Learning how to pair wine and food can start there with wine and cheese: The duo is always customizable and doesn’t require cooking skills or a long time spent in the kitchen. To experiment even more with wine pairing with food, build a charcuterie board with a variety of meats, cheeses, crackers, nuts, and more. For example, try a red blend with Boar’s Head Sharp Wisconsin Cheddar, California Premium Jalapeño Jack Sliced Cheese, Columbus Calabrese Salame, and Stacy’s Parmesan Garlic and Herb Pita Chips.

Pacific Northwest Wines 

Across the region, Pacific Northwest wines are known for the grape-growing valleys in which they are produced. Many people recognize the Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, Willamette Valley, and others as prime wine producing regions for certain varieties. For example, Willamette Valley tends to be known for its pinot noir while the Columbia Valley may be known for cabernet sauvignon grapes. Tacoma Boys offers a variety of Pacific Northwest wines from these valleys and more: The following red, white, and rosé wines from the Pacific Northwest are just a small portion of our selection!

Red Wines

Waters Winery 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington)

• With deep tannins, this blend is a cross between cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc.
• Pair it with Mezzetta Calabrian Chili Spicy Marinara over spaghetti pasta, sprinkled with fresh herbs.

Latta Latta Red 2016 Columbia Valley (Washington)

• This red blend is mostly grenache with some syrah and tastes reminiscent of ripe berries.
• Pair it with roasted seasonal vegetables and fingerling potatoes seasoned with Tacoma Boys Lemon Pepper Seasoning.

Cougar Crest 2012 Estate Grown Merlot (Walla Walla Valley, Washington)

• A simple merlot with balanced acid.
• Pair it with Cougar Gold Smokey Cheddar.

Rosé Wines

14 Hands Brut Rosé Columbia Valley (Washington)

• Widely recognizable in the region, 14 Hands has a variety of white, rosé, and red wines. This sparkling rosé is dry but still sweet with a fruity finish.
• Pair it with Laurel Roasted Oregon Hazelnuts with Sea Salt.

Kerloo Cellars 2020 Lonesome Springs Ranch Rosé (Yakima Valley, Washington)

• A sweeter blend that’s perfect for sunny days in the spring.
• Pair it with Ford Farm Truffler English Cheddar.

Two Mountain 2019 Rosé (Yakima Valley, Washington)

• A dry, tart rosé with hints of florals and fruit.
• Pair it with Simply Grilled Salmon.

White Wines 

Blue Mountain Vineyard 2016 Grenache Blanc (Walla Walla Valley, Washington)

• Light-bodied and balanced acidity, this grenache blanc hints at citrus and tropical fruit.
• Pair it with Tacoma Boys Mexican Street Corn Breaded Shrimp.

Maysara Autees 2019 Pinot Blanc (Willamette Valley, Oregon)

• Pinot blanc tastes of ripe white grapes with balanced minerals and acidity. 
• Pair it with Tiberino Italian One-Pot Risotto “Venezia” Asparagus and Leek. 

Finn Hill Par Excellence 2018 Semillon Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, Washington)

• A solid chardonnay blend with semillon hints at tangy, floral finishes.
• Pair it with Grilled Zucchini and Corn Salad with Goat Cheese. 

Check Out Tacoma Boys Vast Wine Selection 

Stop in to Tacoma Boys for a wide variety of local, domestic, and imported wines and specialty foods to pair it with. Browse the selection and challenge yourself to try something new! To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list.