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Before I took a sip of each wine in the flight presented at Napa Rose, I had a sense of what each one would taste like. That is because 90% of what we perceive as taste come from our sense of smell, explained Philippe Tosques, general manager of the award-winning restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. I learned more about wine and how it influences the food we eat in that one hour than I have in my adult life.
Napa Rose recently introduced a new Food and Wine Pairing experience that will appeal to novices and enthusiasts. Held at the Napa Rose Lounge on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the experience includes a sampling of 5 different wines accompanied by cheese and charcuterie. I’ve dined a handful of times at Napa Rose and each experience has felt unique and personal, with detailed attention paid to both the aesthetics and taste of their seasonal menu items.
During our one hour Food and Wine Pairing Experience, Tosques and his team of culinary experts and sommeliers discussed tasting notes, the origin of the foods we sampled and details about each of the wines served. While Tosques provided some very helpful wine tasting tips, the most important takeaway was the fact that tasting is subjective. Each person has a unique palate and while I may prefer a sweet dessert wine, my best friend loves a good red wine.
Guide to Wine Tasting
- Look at the wine. You can determine the age and origin of a wine simply by looking at it. Wine gets lighter with age. A white wine green tint reveals that the wine is young and originated from a cool climate. Also take note of a wine’s opacity, which can indicate both the age of the wine and the type of grape used to make the wine.
- Swirl the wine. This will help the scent of the wine reach your nose. You can also determine the viscosity of the wine which will indicate both the sugar and alcohol content.
- Smell the wine. Take note of herb, spice, and floral notes.
- Sip the wine. Be sure the wine is exposed to your entire palate. You may detect acid, sugar, bitter, savory, or salty flavors as you sip the wine.
- Taste the wine before and after each paired food. Notice how the wine influences the food and how the flavors of the food change the character of the wine.
The Napa Rose Food and Wine Pairing Experience can be booked online or via phone (714) 781-DINE). The fee is $95 per person* and includes a quintet of fine wines paired with artisanal cheeses and small-batch cured meats. Do let the restaurant know at the time of booking if you have a dietary restriction. I was able to get a vegetarian plate with wines that paired with each dish. Advanced payment is required at the time of booking and cancellations must be received 3 days in advance to avoid a full-price cancellation fee. The experience includes 5 hours of free parking at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Be sure to check in by 1:45 pm at Napa Rose.
Napa Rose Food and Wine Pairing Menu
- Honey Smoked Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast and Blonde Morel Mushrooms and Kumquat paired with a 2011 Conde Valdemar, Tempranillo (Crianza, Rioja DOCa)
- Lamb and Kalamato Olive Pate with Mustard Accents paired with a 2014 Stolpman Vineyards Estate Syrah (Ballard Canyon, Santa Barbara County)
- Laura Chenel Crottin (goat’s milk cheese) paired with a 2006 Reinhold Hart Riesling (Spatlese, Piesporter Goldtropfchen GG, Mosel)
- Fiscalini Family Creamery Bandage Cheddar paired with a 2011 Castiglion Del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino (DOCG, Tuscany, Italy).
- Rogue River Blue Special Reserve Cheese paired with Graham’s 10 Year Tawny Port (Douro Valley, Portugal).
Vegetarian Menu
- Roasted Gipsy Pepper Stuffed with Braised Beluga Lentils
- Olive Oil Poached Delta Asparagus with Gribiche
This experience shed some light on the intricacies of pairing wine and food. I came away with an appreciation for the wine experts and the culinary staff who help provide wine suggestions for meals. I also found that the knowledge has given me a bit more confidence when selecting wine to pair with the meals I prepare for dinner guests.
For more information or to book a Napa Rose Food and Wine Pairing Experience, visit Disneyland.com.
*It should be noted that guests must be 21 years of age to participate in this experience.
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