In the COVID era, wine tasting rooms are getting more and more creative to attract guests. Silver Trident has a new offering that caught my attention immediately, The Potato Chip Extravaganza. If you're a fan of chips and like to have sips, then I've found the perfect wine tasting experience for you. It features five different artisanal potato chips paired with five Silver Trident wines.
Who says a formal Napa Valley wine tasting needs to take itself too seriously? Let the wine be the mystery guest.
Silver Trident's knowledge base of luxury and pampering doesn't come by chance. Not at all. It comes from its founders, former hospitality executives, Bob Binder, co founder of Oceania Cruises and Sr Vice President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises (my mother's favorite luxury cruise line) and Walter Jost, a past president of one of the world’s most prestigious travel companies, Virtuoso. These men are legends in their fields of luxury travel and hospitality. Together, along with winemaker Kari Auringer, they make a powerful winery team. Before joining Kari spent six years working with auspicious vintner-consultant, Celia Welch, on many of Napa’s Cult Cabs, including the 100-point Scarecrow, Lindstrom, Hollywood & Vine, and Keever. Kari and her winemaking team focus mainly on single-varietal wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as a proprietary Napa Valley Red Blend. The annual production for the boutique winery is 3500 cases.
Did someone say a Potato Chip Tasting?
The background is that, Mr. Binder was on a airplane where he was offered potato chips, along with his screw-cap wine. Voila, a lightbulb went off. He thinks, let's have some fun at the Silver Trident Tasting Loft and do a wine and chip pairing experience. Remember, wine tasting does not have to be too high brow, have some fun. We all could use a little fun these days, right?
First, let me say, my experience was highlighted by the extraordinary guidance of General Manager, Shane Soldinger and Mallory McEligot, Director of Events and Membership. Thank you for your gracious hospitality. When asked about The Potato Chip Extravaganza, Shane explains:
"We wanted to have some fun and put a smile on people’s faces with this new tasting,” winery General Manager Shane Soldinger explains. “We spent time tasting a lot of... creative potato chips from small producers around the country. Our goal was to focus on the approachability of our wines and to showcase them creatively with a fun and casual presentation,” he commented.
Now, the tasting. Note: the Extravaganza pairing names are fun and whimsical.
First, I was served a " Welcome Splash" of Apollo’s Folly Sonoma Coast Rosé of Pinot Noir paired with Zapp’s Spicy Cajun Crawtators New Orleans Kettle Style Potato Chips. To know me, is to know I love rosé. Zapps is owned by my favorite hometown brand, UTZ Snacks. The Zapps brand embraces their Louisiana roots by using playful hometown thematic names, such as "Spicy Cajun Crawtator," "Sour Cream and Creole Onion" and "Cajun Dill Gator-tators." The rose and cajun pairing was the perfect balance of spice to refreshing, bright acidic rosé of Pinot Noir.
Symphony No. 9 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc with Route 11 (founded in Virginia in 2008, with sustainability in mind) Sour Cream & Chives Kettle Cooked Potato Chips came next. Why named Symphony No.9? Well this symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven has been the widely discussed or been a greater divider of musical opinion of any symphony ever. It is an example of a symphony adding layers upon layers, as it is the first example of a major composer using voices in a symphony. At my first sip, I welcomed a bright, juicy and vibranct taste with acid, quickly followed by a slight creaminess, layers of ripe summer fruit and sweet Meyer lemon flower blossom. A lovely mouthfeel; a complex symphony that delights, the senses.
The Sour Cream & Chives Kettle Cooked Potato Chip crunch and creaminess paired well with the wine’s bright acidity and its touch of mid-palate texture.
Benevolent Dictator Russian River Pinot Noir with Zapp’s Cajun Dill
“Gator-Tators” New Orleans Kettle Style Potato Chips. Well, you had me double wowed. I adore Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, so the chip pairing took the sips over the top. This pinot noir has been on the Silver Trident lineup since 2009. It is a winner!
The dill, brine and spice flavors of the chip create a savory component that brightens the red fruit core of the wine.
Playing With Fire Napa Valley Red Blend with Zapp’s Voodoo New Orleans Kettle Style Potato Chips:
Fire and Voodoo, two things that you’re not supposed to do: but this wine pairing did. Red Blends are the rage and this didn't disappoint. The pairing worked!
Twenty Seven Fathoms Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon paired with Kettle Style salted potato chips enveloped in dark chocolate ‘bark.’
Silver Trident and Kollar Chocolates are Yountville neighbors and teamed up to pair world class wines with world class chocolates. The Zapp’s “Regular” New Orleans Kettle Style chip was mixed into Kollar's 72% single origin dark chocolate from Venezuelan cacao beans. Wow, amazing! The special bark is available for sale and was made especially for the winery.
The Silver Trident team offers a video which talks the taster through each pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY3O7lUX-OU. Best news is that you can order an Extravaganza sent to your home nationwide, accompanied by a video hosted by winemaker Kari Auringer and the hospitality team, insuring a memorable event.
The delivered experience includes enough chips, wines and fun for four tasters.
Price is $325 or $295 for wine club members.
Follow CITYPEEK Food, Wine & Travels on Social Media: "Wine Country Muse" and email her: patti@citypeek.com
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