Pairing Food with Texas Pinot Noir

With its complex yet delicate flavors, Pinot Noir is a versatile choice that can enhance a wide range of dishes without overpowering them.

Being native to Burgundy, France, Pinot Noir is now grown in many regions around the world, including California, Oregon, New Zealand, and Australia.

But did you know that Texas produces great Pinot Noir as well?

Due to the warmer Texas climate, at first, most wine enthusiasts were pretty skeptical about growing the delicate Pinot Noir grape there.

As it turns out, they were wrong.

These two great Texas Pinot Noir producers are worth mentioning:

Bar Z Winery Pinot Noir

The Bar Z Winery is a small winery that can be found on the outskirts of Canyon, Texas, located right at the edge of Palo Duro Canyon.

The Pinot Noir, produced at Bar Z Winery, is delicate and elegant, and at the same time much louder than its counterparts from other parts of the world.

It presents a predominant bouquet of chocolate, dark fruit, and raspberry, followed by gentle flavors of ripe strawberry, licorice, and mushrooms.

Landon Winery Pinot Noir

Landon Winery is one of the largest wineries in Texas. It has earned many medals and recognition for its wines.

This Pinot Noir showcases a delightful combination of cherry, strawberry, and raspberry notes, accompanied by a subtle oak influence. The distinct combination of refreshing acidity and light texture provides a unique sensory experience.

According to Stan Kushkin, a sommelier and blogger at Wine Rooster, these are some great food pairing ideas with Texas Pinot Noir:

Appetizers with Texas Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir’s light body and soft flavors make it a great match for a wide variety of appetizers such as:

Stuffed Mushrooms

One of the simplest and most delicious recipes for stuffed mushrooms is a combination of cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and herbs.

The earthy and savory flavors of mushrooms complement the fruity and earthy notes of Pinot Noir making for a delightful pairing.

Bruschetta with Prosciutto

Bruschetta with prosciutto is a classic Italian appetizer that can be a very tasty and simple pairing with Pinot Noir.

The refreshing acidity of Pinot Noir wine will perfectly match the sour taste of fresh tomatoes and make a great contrast to the toasted bread and the cured meat.

Cheese Board

When it comes to cheese pairings, Pinot Noir pairs best with light and soft cheeses.

Try making a cheese board with some soft to medium textured cheeses such as Comte, Brie, Camembert, and Taleggio. It is a mouthfeel to remember.

The nutty flavors of Pinot Noir make a great complement to the nutty cheese taste.

Entrées with Texas Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is a versatile wine that pairs very well with both light and delicate main courses like poultry and seafood, as well as rich and heavier meals such as grilled steak or roasted lamb. Some great suggestions would be:

Roasted Salmon

Roasted salmon has a more robust and earthy flavor than other fish making it a great match for a medium-bodied Pinot Noir red such as one from Texas.

The wine’s fruit-forward notes, such as black cherry and raspberry, complement the salmon’s natural sweetness while its soft tannins provide a smooth finish that balances the dish’s richness.

Grilled Pork Chops

Pinot Noir is a great pairing for grilled pork chops due to its fruity and earthy notes that complement the smoky flavors of the meat.

The wine’s acidity helps to cut through the richness of the pork while its medium body doesn’t overpower the dish.

Beef Tenderloin

The richness and tenderness of beef tenderloin can be balanced by the acidity and tannins in Pinot Noir.

Adding a rich and savory mushroom sauce to the beef tenderloin gives this pairing a delicious twist. The mushroomy flavors of the Pinot Noir heavenly match the mushroom sauce of the beef tenderloin.

By Stan Kushkin – founder of WineRooster.com, Sommelier, and enthusiast of all things wine