For thousands of years wine was thought of as a food item rather than a beverage in Europe. More Americans are also coming to this way of thinking as wines are ordered with meals. Wine is an ingredient in many recipes. WineTrailTraveler.com has over 200 recipes that feature different wines as one of the ingredients. To further promote wine as a food trend, the Food Network has paired with Wente Vineyards to produce entwine, a portfolio of wines to have with meals. The four wines will debut in August 2011 and retail for $12.99.

Wente Vineyards in Livermore, California is over 125 years old and continues to be family owned and operated. The winery sources grapes from their close to 3,000 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards. Working with the Food Network, four wines were created for the entwine portfolio: 2009 Pinot Grigio, 2009 Chardonnay, 2009 Merlot and a 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon.

We had an opportunity to taste these wines prior to release at the 2011 Wine Bloggers Conference in Charlottesville, Virginia. The easy drinkable Pinot Grigio was a straw color and offered citrus notes. The Chardonnay was a light yellow color and offered apple and pear with citrus nuances. It had a crisp finish begging for food. The Cabernet Sauvignon was a transparent ruby that had a dark fruit aroma and taste. There were mild tannins on the crisp finish. This Cab also begs for food. The Merlot was a transparent red color that offered dark fruit and a touch of earthiness. Mild tannins accompanied the fruity aftertaste.

The word entwine represents the coming together of the flavors of food and wine and how they create a unique experience for people. Check out the wines with your lunch and dinner beginning in August 2011.

Cheers,
Terry