How often do you struggle with the question of “What’s for dinner?” We certainly do. It got so bad we had to make a rule - Wednesday needs to be special. So, we thought we would share what we are eating this week, and what we are drinking with it, to make Hump Day amazing. This week is paella and wines from Spain and Portugal.

This one is pretty obvious - Cabernet Sauvignon and Steak. But Cab can also be paired with bitter greens like mustard greens or egg plant. If it has strong tannins, try adding black pepper to the dish and you will find those tannins are a more subdued. Avoid spicy-hot foods, strong cheeses, or anything delicate. Check out the rest of the article for recipes and tips that will get you ready for this week's Wine with Dinner pairing.

Rioja wines and Tempranillo in general are characterized by their cherry, plum, dill, dusty earth, and leather notes. Rioja wines pair best with tender, fatty meats like lamb or chorizo, but goes great with many of the classic Spanish tapas like patatas bravas and grilled octopus. For our Wine with Dinner virtual tasting, here are some of our favorites to pair with Rioja.

Figs have a great richness and earthy sweetness that I think pairs great with wine and cheese, so I am always excited when fig season comes around. If you are joining us this week for our Wine with Dinner virtual tasting, this would be a great starter that will pair well with the Chateau Carbonnieux Blanc as well as using the Valdeon blue cheese from the Cheese tasting kit.