The tray contained a double cheeseburger (with lettuce, tomato, ketchup and mustard), a honey mustard chicken wrap, and cajun fries. While it may look a bit tired in this photo, trust me, the flavors were alive.
The first wine I decided to crack open and try was the 2014 Cline Zinfandel from Lodi, California. I truly did enjoy this wine a lot. It only cost me $9.79 for a 750mL bottle, and I say only because it tasted like a very fine wine (to my inexperienced palate). The wine was very fruity upon smell and taste with what I would call a medium body. I enjoyed the extra flavors it brought to the meat on my burger as well as the new flavors it helped expose within the cajun fries. It was a bit clashing with the honey mustard on the wrap however. All in all, this wine paired very well.
The next wine I decided to pair with my dishes was the 2015 Big House Wine Co Pinot Grigio. While I usually like Pinot Grigio, this $7.79 bottle of wine disappointed me. I am not familiar enough with wine to say, but I upon tasting the wine a few times, I kept tasting yogurt. And I mean, a very strong flavor of yogurt to the point that it was almost as if I was eating a plain Dannon's yogurt cup. I didn't find it pleasing with either the burger or the cajun fries, but it did mesh very nicely with the honey mustard and tortilla combo of the chicken wrap. To sum up, I would not recommend buying this wine.
The last wine I decided to pair with my dinner was something I had never tried before, a sparkling red. The 375mL bottle I chose was a 2014 Rose Regale from Piedmont, Italy. This wine was very interesting to me, but I don't think I will buy it again. When I first began drinking wine, I liked champagne and the bubbles within it. Now, I feel that the bubbles turn me off, especially because of the fact it was so sweet. I tasted and smelled flowers and sweet fruits. It paired well with the sweet honey mustard chicken wrap, but definitely was not a good match for the spicy cajun fries. I wouldn't say it was good or bad with my cheeseburger. I feel it paired well with parts of the burger, like the cheese, but didn't go too well with all of the ingredients. After this experience, I think I will stay away from rose.
While this may be the cheapest meal I could find, I tried to spend a decent buck on my wines to get somewhat of an experience. All in all, I had a blast trying all of these wines, especially with a meal that I always get because it gave me a new angle on the flavors. I cannot wait to make another review!
