Wine , cheese and ribs

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Drove up the coast though the thick fog to Belmont Shore to the Venissimo Cheese store. I have heard of the establishment and had tasted cheeses from here but had never set foot in the door. After the shop closed for the days business they set up a large table in the front that took up the entire area. 11 of us sat down for this tasting. There was an assortment of crackers, bread, salami, nuts, fruit etc for us to nibble on. Margie and I donated the wines for this event. The store charged us $20 per person and we got to take a cheese knife home with us. A real bargain evening for everyone.

Six cheese's with wine pairings were on the menu. All the cheeses were excellent and the wines were good. All of the pairings were fantastic except one which was very good but just a notch below the others. But I would take it any day.

Caprichio Cabra (spanish goat) , creamy with a hint of blue. Wine was a Paul Goerge Blanc de Blanc Premium Crut Brut Champagne.

Ewephoria (dutch sheep), a gouda style cheese paired with a NV Noviate Jesuit California Dry Sherry. This wine had to be a least 20 years old.

Old Croc (australian white cheddar). Paired with a 2006 Meeker Petit Syrah.

Tilster (german cow) , creamy & nutty. Wine was a Halter Ranch 2011 Rose (grenanche, syrah, mouverdre & picpoul blanc). This was the pairing that was not quite. But a really good pairing as far as I am concerned.

Ami Chambertain(french cow) bacony flavor. The wine that was paired was back up and I did not get it on my list. I am sure that when Margie reads this she will let me know and I can edit the post.

Moody Blue (american cow) smoky, Would be excellent on any meat.  Paired with a 2001 Baker & Brain Gruner Vetliner. (yes that is BRAIN)

A great tasting and well worth the trip to go back. They had at least 100 cheeses in their cases. Most I had never heard of. I did buy five cheese in the afternoon when I took my wine down the store early. The five cheeses were quarter pound pieces and came to $42. Not cheap but well worth the price. They were all cheeses I had never heard of and I am willing to try. I am always open to trying new things. If I don't like it I don't have to finish it nor do I have to buy it again. When I think of all the good things I ended up tasting and liking I am so glad I did try them.

After the cheese tasting we headed over the bridge to Naples and the Naples Rib Company. The restaurant charged us a flat $40 corkage so that worked out to about $3 per person.

I ordered the "smaller senior" portion of the ribs  I was so full from the tasting that I could have forgotten the dinner.

I brought a 2006 Huber Charlottes Reserve Dornfleder which I felt went well with the meat.

Other wines brought to the table:

2003 Chateau St. Pierre Saint Julian, Bordeaux
2009 Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel
2007 Turley Howell Mtn, Cedarman, Zinfandel
2009 Brauhaus Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon
2011 Macchia Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel
2008 Dunham Columbia Valley Syrah
NV Perrier Joulet Grand Brut Champagne
2006 Green & Red, Tip Top, Zinfandel
2010 Merry Edwards Russian River, Olivet Lane, Chardonnay
2005 William Selyem Russian River, Forchini Vineyards, Zinfandel

A great evening, fantastic cheeses, good wine and a great group of people to hang with. It could not be better.