Burger & pizza red – Old Vine Red Lot 74

 

 

It’s one of the most basic (and important) rules

regarding the pairing of wine & food.

While it seems incredibly obvious, 

nonetheless it’s worth repeating.  

 

For any food & wine pairing to work,

you have to like the wine.   

 

Foodies and wine experts go to great lengths

in achieve a delicate balance…finding just the right

red or white to compliment the main course. 

Those efforts are appreciated.

But their suggested marriage will wind up in divorce

if it’s one-sided.

 

For example, consider Chenin Blanc and oysters. 

It’s regarded as a classic food & wine match.

But for someone who doesn’t like Chenin Blanc,

classic or not, it’s a flop.

Basic RGB

It’s Wine Thursday!

when we check out a good wine

that sells at a reasonable price and is

easy to find at retail and online. 

 

The red we’re featuring checks

a couple of important food & wine boxes…

it’s easy to pair and easy to drink. 

 

Screenshot 2024-03-13 at 5.16.22 PM

 

 

Where it’s from   

Geyserville is short on population but long on wine. 

In and around this tiny Sonoma County town…

population just shy of 700…

a number of prominent wineries have set up shop. 

That includes Marietta Cellars, credited with pioneering

the California red blend a couple of decades ago.

 

What it is

Released in lot numbers instead of vintages,

Marietta’s Old Vine Red is typically a mix of Zinfandel, Syrah,

Petite Sirah and other grapes.  For the latest version, Lot 74,

Grenache and Barbera also made the cut. 

 

This is an uncomplicated easy-to-like wine…

bold but not overpowering. 

It’s not as jammy as you’d expect from a Zin-based blend. 

Ripe fruit flavors of blackberry and black cherry are prominent. 

The beauty of this wine lies in its versatility. 

It’s a weeknight wine that’s ideal for weeknight fare. 

It works with burgers, pizza, pasta with red sauce, tacos

casseroles as well as roasted vegetables. 

 

Where to buy it

Marietta’s Old Vine Red Lot 74 is at Total Wine for $14.49. 

The price at Fred Meyer and Ralphs is $16.99. 

QFC and Albertsons has it for $17.99. 

Safeway’s price is $18.99. 

You can order it from Garnet Wines for $12.59  

https://www.garnetwine.com 

Vine Republic has it for $13.98  

https://www.vinerepublic.com 

Stirling Fine Wine’s price is $13.99  

https://www.stirlingfinewine.com 

It sells for the same price at Luekens, $13.99  

https://www.luekensliquors.com 

and it’s $14.99 at K & L 

https://www.klwines.com