Shani and I love wine! I’m always on the lookout for the next good value I can get for under $10 at TJ’s, which has led us into our own wine tasting events. It’s always fun and sometimes we find a new favorite, which is what happened this week when we tried 3 new reds with a little cheese and crackers. Just be careful, it’s easy to over do it with all those bottles open.
Wine Tasted:
- Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel
- Red Diamond Syrah
- Project Happiness Syrah
Cheese and Cracker Plate:
- Trader Joe’s Spanish Cheese Tapas Sampler – Tapas De Queso with Iberico, Manchego and Cabra Al Vino
- Tintern Creamy Mature Welsh Cheddar with Chives and Shallots
- Trader Joe’s Original Savory thin mini Crackers (made from rice)
- Trader Joe’s Baked Sea Salt & Pepper Crisps Made with Rice
- Slices of Prune Walnut Log
Our conclusion: Shani has a delicate palate but found two new Syrahs to enjoy. Todd is a brute and will drink just about anything. Seriously, though, the Red Diamond won this tasting by a decent margin. Both Shani and I felt it was the best, though the Project Happiness still seems like a good value for the money and we’ve had a few bottles in the house since the tasting.
As far as the cheeses go, we still haven’t found a replacement for the Unexpected Cheddar, but my sources tell me it should be back on the shelves in April. Until then, we’ll soldier on and keep trying the new varieties that show up in the cheese section!
What’s your favorite wine and cheese combo?
I love the Dubliner cheese