Bacon! Bacon! Bacon! and wine.

Are you looking for an excuse to gather with friends after the holidays? Or need something to bring friends and family indoors during these cold winter months? Recreate our most popular tasting in the comfort of your home with these recipes brought to us by one of our favorite people - Chef Andrew Martin. 

You may wonder why we pair bacon and wine, so let's take a brief look into why they pair so perfectly together. Many salty foods, such as buttered popcorn or caviar, complement acidic wines and produce a balanced finish. The salt cuts through acidity while softening it at the same time. Bacon also has a high-fat content, which can offset the astringency and bitterness of tannins in red wine. At the same time, the tannins prevent fatty foods from coming across as too rich. The saltiness and fat are perfect for the high acidity in our Brut Rosé and Rosé, while those same characteristics often soften the tannins in red wines.

So now we've got all the details out of the way, let's get to the fun part. 

First, let's gather the supplies:

• 1 bottle of Brut Rosé (chilled)
• 1 bottle of Rosé (chilled)
• 1 bottle of Double Barrel
• 1 bottle of Coach Gun
• 6 to 8 wine glasses
• 6 to 8 small plates
• 1 platter
• Print placemats and flavor cards (email us for these)

Now let's cook! Preheat the oven to 350 F. Place 2 lbs of your favorite thick-cut bacon on a rack on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the ingredients for each flavor in small bowls, mix well, and set aside.

• 13 1/2 ounces Light coconut milk (1 can)
• 1 tbsp Thai curry paste
• 2 tbsp Curry powder
• 2 tsp Fresh ginger (minced)
• 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
• Dash of Cayenne pepper
• Kosher salt to taste
• Ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 lb Thick sliced bacon

• 1/2 Grapefruit, zested
• 2 tbsp Grapefruit juice
• 1/2 Lemon, zested
• 1 tsp Lemon juice
• 1/2 Orange, zested
• 1 tbsp Orange juice
• 1/2 Lime, zested
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1 tbsp Sugar
• 1/2 lb Thick sliced bacon

• 1 tbsp Korean chili flakes
• 1 tbsp Sweet soy
• 1/4 tsp Sesame Oil
• 1 tsp Water
• 1/2 lb Thick sliced bacon

• 1 tbsp Miso
• 1 tbsp Tahini
• 2 tbsp Water
• 1/2 lb Thick sliced bacon

Remove the bacon from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes. Once cool, brush or spoon each flavor on both sides of 1/4 o

f the bacon until you have equal amounts of each. Return all the bacon to the oven and bake for an additional 5-8 minutes or until the bacon is crispy.  

Set the bacon aside to cool for 3-5 minutes. While the bacon is cooling, open the wines and pour them evenly into the glasses. Serve bacon warm, rosés chilled, and red wines at room temp. 

Looking to mix it up a bit? Create a blind tasting and let your guests guess the bacon flavors or the varietals of each wine. Or set it up as a bacon bar and let your guests pick and choose their own pairings. We hope you share your experience with us however you choose to enjoy it.

We invite you to explore our seasonal bacon & wine pairings offered at the Priest Ranch tasting room. Next time you're in Napa Valley looking to experience the unexpected, book a reservation with us online.