Wine Pairings for Pie Lovers

With less than a week to go before Thanksgiving, we are putting the final touches on our menus and getting excited for all of the mouthwatering foods and treasured traditions that this season brings. Here at Ruby Hill winery, we like to keep wine simple, fun, and approachable to all. This year, our wine pairing recommendations for turkey day are geared specifically toward pies and the people who love them. In our opinion, pie is the crown jewel of holiday dinners, so there’s no better foundation on which to build! 

Apple Pie - Cabernet Sauvignon

If you are reaching for the apple pie, you know how to appreciate a true classic. We recommend picking your favorite Cabernet or Cabernet-forward blend for Thanksgiving dinner. Lighter Cabs on the jammier side will offer just the right amount of flavor and gravitas to enhance your meal.

Berry Pie - Jewel Petit Verdot

Whether you’re feasting on blackberry, blueberry, or a juicy mixed berry pie, you like to savor naturally luxurious flavors. Our Jewel Petit Verdot is for you! With pleasant and refined flavors, this underappreciated Bordeaux varietal will step into the spotlight. 

Pumpkin Pie - Peacock Patch Zinfandel 

All of our pumpkin pie lovers know how to treasure the enchanting warmth of baking spices. For you, we suggest Peacock Patch Zinfandel to wow your palate with its vibrant combination of jammy flavors and accents of spice. Plus, the pleasant acidity makes a perfect companion for foods of all kinds. 

Sweet Potato Pie - Jewel Chardonnay

If you’re comforted by the warmth and sweetness of a sweet potato pie, hopefully made from your grandmother’s recipe, enjoy it with a beautifully golden glass of Jewel Chardonnay. Notes of caramel, marshmallow, vanilla, and baking spices come together perfectly. 

Pecan Pie - Reserve Mirage

Toasty, nutty, and caramelly, pecan pie is a rich vintage classic, perfect for pairing with a velvety red blend like our Mirage. The Reserve Mirage offers deep fruit notes and balanced acid, with subtle spice and cocoa notes to entice the senses. 

Chocolate Pie - Petite Sirah

All our chocolate pie lovers are looking for something bold and rich, with all the coziness of their favorite flavors. You can find all this in our Reserve Petite Sirah, which is plush with dark fruit notes accented by vanilla and dark chocolate. 

Lemon Meringue Pie - Sauvignon Blanc

Just because it’s fall doesn’t mean we are ready to leave behind bright flavors of tropical fruit and citrus! Vivid and expressive, our Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect companion to all of the fresh flavors on the Thanksgiving dinner table. 

If you have a sweet tooth but pie isn't your treat of choice, consider a dessert wine such our Solera in Perpetuum, to satisfy that craving for something rich and delicious. 

From our family to yours, happy Thanksgiving from Ruby Hill Winery. We are thankful for each and every one of our guests and members. May your holiday season be filled with wonderful moments with family, delicious food, and of course, great wine. Cheers!

Unpacking Petite Sirah

       This November, we are taking time to celebrate our Wine of the Month: Reserve Petite Sirah. Not only has this delectable wine earned a 93-point score from Wine Enthusiast, it has gained popularity and attention from our beloved members and guests. This deep, rich red is especially perfect this time of year as the weather encourages us to stay inside and get cozy. This vintage overflows with flavors that complement the chill in the air, dense with warm, cozy flavors and a balanced body. If you haven't had a chance to taste our 2018 Reserve Petite Sirah, you can expect to be delighted when you do! In this blog, we are unpacking the tasting notes of this vintage, and exploring what makes Petite Sirah special. 

        It’s important to note that Petite Sirah is anything but “petite” on the palate. This name was earned in the late 1800s due to the size of the grapes themselves in comparison to Syrah grapes. It’s the small size and the relatively thick skin that gives Petite Sirah weather hardiness as well as the deeply rich tannins and flavor. Our 2018 Reserve Petite Sirah showcases this in notes of black pepper on the nose and mulling spices, dark chocolate, and black tea on the palate. These deep flavors are lightened by the fruit elements, reminiscent of French plum and blackberry, and are balanced by the oaky notes of toast, mulling spices, and vanilla. This vintage was aged in 60% new oak, a combination of French, American, and Hungarian, for 21 months before bottling.  

        The complexity and power within each bottle of our Petite Sirah are a product of varietal, terroir, and winemaking finesse. Even though Petite Sirah hails from France, the Californian climate is a happy place for the vines. Furthermore, the wine itself has found more of a foothold in New World markets rather than finding popularity in the Old World. Today, it is the 6th-most planted red varietal in California, a number which, in our opinion, should go up.

        Petite Sirah is known for its density, boldness, and body, and rightly so. Our 2018 Reserve Petite Sirah entices the senses with cozy layers of rich texture and deep flavor, from tea leaves to dark fruit and chocolate topped with vanilla and spice. Don’t miss this underappreciated varietal. You might just find a new favorite!

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