Wine... well, the Russian River Valley is growing some superb Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. I've also been getting into Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne both as single varietals and blends.
And I've had the pleasure of tasting some of the very fine wines from around Pauillac, Margaux, et alia.
How is the Chateau Margaux? I am jealous. That one is a dream if I can order a glass of it.
Unfortunately I've never tasted any of the Premiers Crus (with the exception of a mighty fine Sauternes). The wine I had, quite a few years ago now, was a 1982 Château Rauzan-Ségla, which is merely Deuxièmes Crus. I wish I had taken notes because all these years later all I can recall was splitting with my father one of the most fascinating (and probably the most expensive) bottles of wine I'd ever have.
I'm just a casual wine drinker, but I do love a good cabernet sauvignon.
I'm more of a whiskey, scotch, and beer guy.
Probably the two best beers in recent memory I've had were:
Chimay Grande Reserve (Blue)
Aventinus Eisbock
I'm a big fan of IPAs and Ambers, but will pretty much go for anything except dark porters.
Wines.
I like wine, mostly Bas-Médoc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling wines from Rheinhessen.
But I love beer.
Being just a few kilometres from Belgium means I am never short of a few brews.
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What has surprised me in the last decade is just how good American Craft Beer has become, such a vast change to how it was in the 1980s.
Beer. All the way.
Belgium's, English, American, Strong Ales, Dark Ales, Stouts, Hefs, Porters, IPA's, Imperial IPA's, Imperal Stouts. Not real big into the fruit beers.
One of my favorites is Stone's Arrogant Basterad Ale. Love it!
So pretty much beer in General...lol.
When it comes to food... how do you guys enjoy pairing... wine or beer?
Beer. I actually run a Michigan beer news website, http://mittenbrew.com. Michigan has roughly 150 breweries, and being in BeerCity USA (Grand Rapids) is GREAT.
Definitely looking forward to the Founders KBS release in the coming weeks.
When it comes to food... how do you guys enjoy pairing... wine or beer?
Depends on the food. I find the traditional rules are a good place to start, but as I have enjoyed red wine with poultry on occasion would never say they should be a straitjacket.
I wonder how well red wine and fish or sushi would pair up?