pairing Archives - Community Food Co-op

Wine for the Holidays

Whether you're planning your holiday dinner, looking for a gift, or just want to try something new, these wines curated for the holidays will be a perfect addition.

Red Wine

Iris Vineyards Pinot Noir
2020
A prototypical Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from a small family producer, and at a very reasonable price. Medium-bodied, with nicely balanced elements of cranberry, singed alder leaf, rhubarb, cocoa nib, and raspberry.

Pair with grilled chicken or mushroom crostini

Lava Cap El Dorado Zinfandel
2019
This zesty Zinfandel is full-bodied, rich, and packs a punch. Soft tannins accompany notes of black plum sauce, clove, mocha, blackberry, and vanilla.

Pair with classic barbecue or eggplant tagine

Alvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat
2020
Priorat is one of the most highly regarded wine regions in Spain. This classic example is medium-full, fresh, and finely tannic. Notes of Lapin cherry, lavender pastille, Earl Grey tea, vanilla spice.

Pair with lentil soup or rib eye steak

Fall Line Winery Exhibition Red
2019
A harmonious blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc makes this one of the best Bordeaux-style reds out of Washington State. Medium-bodied and framed by fine tannins, with notes of Bing cherry, kalamata, mineral, sage, and rose hip.

Pair with grilled steak or mushroom-stuffed bell peppers

White Wine

Michel Lynch Graves Blanc Reserve
2019
Combining both Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon from the French Graves region, this white blend has wide appeal. Succulent, with notes of white peach, vanilla wafer, lemon custard, and pear tart.

Pair with grilled salmon or asparagus in hollandaise

Diatom Santa Barbara Chardonnay
2021
A crisp and clean Chardonnay from winemaker Greg Brewer. Medium-bodied and creamy, and fruit-forward, with notes of Meyer lemon, Opal apple, nectarine, and clover.

Pair with shellfish or lemon risotto

Sparkling Wine

Vita Vivet
NV
A prototypical Cava that's several notches above your entry-level version. Medium-bodied, clean, and bone-dry, with notes of lime leaf, white pepper, almond brioche, and lemon balm.

Pair with vegetable tempura or oysters

Caves Sao Joao Espumante Bruto Rose
2020
It's not often you find a sparkling wine from Portugal. This dry rosé shines on its own, bringing with it a soft, silky texture. Notes of thimbleberry, thyme, calendula, mustard seed, and a hint of yeast.

Pair with spicy Asian cuisine

Domaine Tissot Cremant du Jura
NV
This blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Poulsard, and Trousseau is the best sparkling wine we've tasted this year, easily rivaling genuine Champagne at half the cost. Dry, piquant, and generous with notes of raspberry, sourdough, Rainier cherry, fennel, almond, Honeycrisp apple, and mineral.

Pair with roasted ham or Caesar salad

Dessert Wine

Valdespino Pedro Ximenez Sherry El Candado
NV
This scrumptious fortified dessert wine comes from the Spanish Jerez region. Rich yet soft on the palate, with notes of fig, French roast coffee, plum, toffee, pipe tobacco, and walnut.

Pour over vanilla ice cream or pair with blue cheese

First Milk Gouda: The Star of Your Summer Picnic

Stephanie — the Co-op's big cheese, the cheese department head that is — and Tim, our in-house wine expert, have come together to share an exclusive cheese and wine pairing.

The Art of Gouda

The Co-op is excited to announce that we have the Artikaas Youngsters First Milk Gouda. This very special cheese is made using traditional, sustainable methods going back 2,000 years. The Youngster First Milk Gouda is a semisoft cheese that is rich, creamy, and decadent. Artikaas makes an exceptional Gouda by collecting milk after the cows have their first taste of Holland’s tender spring grasses. Artikaas turns the cow’s rich, nutritious milk into an irresistibly smooth Gouda.

Artikaas is a sixth-generation, family-run cheesemaker in Holland. They use only the finest ingredients from local family farms. Each year the Co-op’s cheese department procures a limited allotment that is only available in stores for a short amount of time.

The cheese is released once a year and sells out quickly. We suggest using Gouda for your cheese board, snacking, slicing, and it is a superior melting cheese for a decadent grilled cheese sandwich.

Wine Pairing for Gouda

Such a special Gouda deserves the right wine to bring out the smooth, creamy flavors. Our panel of wine tasters selected the perfect wine to pair with the Artikaas Youngsters First Milk Gouda — a Foris Vineyards Fly-Over White. The 2017 Foris Vineyards Fly-Over White is a 50/50 blend of Riesling and Pinot Blanc. It is a zesty, pleasingly textured white from Oregon’s Rogue Valley. When you drink it, expect nicely-balanced elements of kiwi, honeydew melon, mineral, nectarine, fennel, Satsuma, and Bartlett pear. There’s just a touch of sweetness. The wine's acidity harmonizes and highlights the creaminess of the Gouda cheese.

Local Stone Fruits to Round Out the Pairing

The Artikaas Youngsters First Milk Gouda and the Foris Vineyards Fly-Over White pairing are a delight for your summer picnic or charcuterie board. Both are complemented by stone fruits, such as cherries, nectarines, plums, and peaches — all of which and more are in season, local, and organic right now at the Co-op.

You, your friends, and your family will appreciate enjoying the Artikaas Youngsters First Milk Gouda with a balanced wine and local stone fruits. One of the best ways to enjoy the summer is with a spring cheese.

Learning to Make Mocktails

With fewer people drinking alcohol and dry January around the corner, it’s time to freshen up your mocktail skills! The Community Food Co-op has some recipes, tips, and tricks for even the most novel of mocktail creators. Mocktails Made from Scratch 1. We’re celebrating citrus season with this grapefruit and [...]

Shop Small: A Gift Guide

Support the Co-op on Small Business Saturday and buy some fun items for your holiday gifts. The Co-op has unique items for gifts, stocking stuffers, and for yourself. Supporting the only locally-owned grocery store in Bellingham helps strengthen our community, local food network, and local producers. We’ve selected some of [...]

Celebrating Red Wine Day with some Co-op Favorites

August 28 is Red Wine Day! There's no better way to celebrate than with a good meal and a gorgeous wine to pair. Not sure where to begin in the vast red wine aisle? We've got you covered. Below are three late-summer recommendations from Tim, our wine expert. We have [...]