5 Food-and-Wine Pairings for Camping
While visiting one of California’s fastest-growing wine regions, Tyler and I decided to make our Paso Robles camping trip extra special by having a night around the fire, tasting local wines. Of course, when you have wine, you have to have cheese, bread, fruits, nuts, popcorn, burgers, french fries, oh and maybe throw in a s’more or two. To help you create your wine night at the campsite, here are some snacks to pair with five different types of wine.
1. Chardonnay
Depending on whether it’s been aged with oak or not, Chardonnay’s can also vastly differ by region. We opted for an oaked-aged buttery chardonnay from Edna Valley Vineyard in Paso Robles, CA. With its creamy vibe with fruity notes and subtle oak hints, we paired the Chardonnay with creamy brie, nutty aged cheddar, toasted almonds, and rich figs.
- Brie
- Aged Cheddar
- Roasted Almonds
- Figs
2. Cabernet Sauvignon
High in tannins and complex in its taste, Cabernet Sauvignon pairs wonderfully with high-fat snacks that can match its boldness. We paired the Caretaker Wines Cabernet Sauvignon with crystalized aged gouda, fatty walnuts, a delicious burger, aged cheddar, and tart yet sweet dried cherries.
- Aged Gouda
- Walnuts
- Burger
- Aged Cheddar
- Dried Cherries
3. Champagne
Ranging from dry to sweet, Champagne can vary from type to type and region to region. The only varietal of the group not from Paso Robles, we selected Brut leaning toward the dryer end of the dry/sweet spectrum. We paired it with sweet grapes, slices of creamy brie, savory buttered popcorn, and french fries to balance the acidity. Yes, french fries! It’s a thing; Haven’t you heard? The saltiness of french fries is the perfect match for the acidity and bubbles of a Brut.
- Buttered Popcorn
- French Fries
- Grapes
- Brie
4. Pinot Noir
A lighter body than its fellow red Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir’s thinner-skinned grapes and lighter body make it a culinary favorite. We paired our Liberté Wines Pinot Noir with heavy dark chocolate, complex gruyere, and rich s’mores.
- Dark Chocolate
- Gruyere
- S’more
5. Sauvignon Blanc
Refreshing as an appetizer wine or during the dog days of summer, Sauvignon Blanc’s freshness is best paired with fellow fresh-tasting snacks like as goat cheese, mango, strawberries, and olives. We loved the pairing of JUSTIN’s Sauvignon Blanc with the fresh fruit we had picked up earlier in the day while running errands.
- Goat Cheese
- Mango
- Strawberry
- Olives
Looking for campgrounds in or near America’s wine country? Be sure to visit our helpful Camp Guide post that breaks down the large list of campgrounds on Campspot near eight different United States wine regions.
