Wine and Dine: Perfect Pairings at Our Brewster Restaurant
As a North Central Washington winery and restaurant, it’s no surprise we have recommendations for pairing food and wine! Pairing the two enhances both flavors to create an exceptional dining experience. But a little bit of art goes into the right pairings. You want to balance flavors and textures to prevent the wine from overwhelming your dish – or vice versa. Our vineyard wines complement our restaurant menu, with flavors ranging from bright and crisp to rich and bold. Ready to wine and dine? Look at delicious pairings to elevate your vineyard dinner, or enjoy the perfect glass with your shareable!
The Art of Wine Pairing
The main goal of wine pairings is to create harmony. Neither the food nor wine should overpower one another. This doesn’t mean you always must pair like with like, such as sweet wines with sweet foods. You can also wine and dine with contrasting pairings. A typical example would be to pair a rich, creamy bechamel sauce or mac and cheese with a highly acidic wine like Pinot Grigio.
Food and wine pairing at restaurants like Lone Point Cellars is often far more straightforward than at home. Our chef selects new menu dishes that highlight and complement our wines' unique characteristics. Some items are even crafted with our wines!
You should always consider the attributes of your wine and chosen dish. Some wines are sweeter. Others are bright and acidic. Flavor profiles serve as the building blocks of every pairing. Consider these characteristics the next time you wine and dine:
Acidity - Crisp wines best complement rich, creamy, or fatty dishes. They cut through these flavors to create balance. You may also pair these wines with other acidic items like vinaigrettes.
Body—It’s often suggested that the body of the wine be matched with the weight of the food, such as a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with red meat dishes. This helps prevent wines from overpowering dishes.
Sweetness—Sweeter wines can contrast with spicy foods and complement sweet ones. To maintain balance, ensure the wine equals or exceeds the dessert.
Wine and Dine with the Ideal Pairings
Our Brewster winery offers a range of tasting offerings, including red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines. These wines are handcrafted using estate grapes and grapes from several premium Washington state AVAs. Each varietal highlights the distinctive characteristics of our terroir and offers unique flavors and aromas that pair wonderfully with dishes on our restaurant menu. Try one of our restaurant’s food and wine pairings for an exquisite culinary experience.
Prime Rib and Malbec
Prime rib, including Lone Point Cellars’ prime rib, is known for its deliciously rich and buttery flavors. This is mainly due to the attributes of this cut. Prime rib is the highest grade of beef, prized for its marbling and tenderness. The marbling, or fat, contributes to its flavor and moisture!
Most red meats pair well with red wines; prime rib is no exception. Malbec is an excellent choice for our prime rib because of its dark fruit flavors and smooth finish. Its medium-weight body provides just the right balance to the meat's richness without overpowering it.
An alternative wine-and-dine option, Cabernet Sauvignon, with its dark fruit flavors and structured tannins, would also complement prime rib.
Margherita Pizza and Pinot Noir
Love our Margherita pizza? We recommend pairing it with a glass of our estate Pinot Noir! The red fruit flavors and light body contrast with this classic Italian pizza's fresh herbs and rich cheesiness. The wine and pizza also help highlight one another’s flavor profiles.
Prefer to wine and dine with white or rosé wines over reds? Our Sauvignon Blanc's crisp, green fruit flavors beautifully complement the tomatoes and basil of our Margherita pizza.
Caesar Salad and Sauvignon Blanc
Our rich, cream-made Caesar dressing is perfect for a bright or acidic wine like Sauvignon Blanc. The acidity cuts through the creaminess for greater balance. The dressing also highlights other flavors within the salad, including the nutty, slightly fruity flavors of parmesan and mildly sweet romaine.
Cheeseburger and Cabernet Sauvignon
Prime rib and steak aren’t the only red meat dishes that pair with red wine. These wines highlight a variety of dishes, from lamb to cheeseburgers! One food and wine pairing you’d love is a cheeseburger with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. Our award-winning red wine delivers intense dark fruit flavors and firm tannins that complement our burger’s savory flavor profile. It also stands up well to rich cheddar cheese, creating an unforgettable wine and dining experience!
Fish & Fries and Sauvignon Blanc…or Brut!
Our classic fish and fries are made even better with our handcrafted wine! We suggest our Sauvignon Blanc. Red wines are typically avoided with this dish because they overwhelm its flavors. Light, acidic white wines and sparkling wines work best. Their acidity cuts through the rich coating of the fish and the creamy flavors and fattiness of tartar sauce.
You could also wine and dine with our Brut! Its dry palate and crisp flavor pair deliciously with our fried cod's savory, salty flavors. Brut’s fine, textured bubbles will help cleanse your palate between bites.
The Perfect Restaurant Food and Wine Pairings
You should always pair your food with a wine you genuinely enjoy. If you’re unsure, we welcome you to one of our Washington wine tastings. You’ll try our handcrafted wines and learn more about your preferred flavor profiles. Wine and dine at Lone Point Cellars to bring a whole new level of flavor to your food!