Let me start off by saying that there is not much that I love more than good wine and cheese, I could definitely survive on them alone if that were an acceptable diet. That being said last night I had the incredible opportunity to attend an Austin Food Bloggers Alliance event at Antonelli’s Cheese Shop featuring some of Antonelli’s best paired with wine from Sonoma County’s Jordan Winery.

This was my first AFBA event and I was so excited to meet some other Austin bloggers, and it was great not to be the only one taking pictures of my food at the table.

Jordan Winery is California’s first family owned wine estate that started back in the 70’s after Tom and Sally Jordan to a trip to France. When they returned they wanted to create a wine that rivaled their beloved French Bordeaux. Since 1976 the Jordan Winery has been creating beautifully balanced Cabernet and Chardonnay in aged oak barrels. Lisa Mattson, the communications director at Jordan, was on hand at the event to give us all the fun complex details of 4 different Jordan wines. A 2010 Chardonnay, a 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, a 2008 Cab and a 2003 Cab.

In tasting each wine we were advised to first smell the wine and then swirl in the glass and then sip. Our taste buds only have 5 taste sensations: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami so by smelling first our nose brings over 800 scents to our pallet.

Along with the incredible wines from Jordan, the brilliant Kendall Antonelli paired 4 delicious cheeses. Starting at the top of the board and moving clockwise we first had a A Ste. Maure from Pure Luck Dairy (a goat’s milk cheese) along with a lime marmalade. Second, A Red Hawk from Cowgirl Creamery (a cow’s milk cheese) paired with some alle-pia sopressa salumi. Then, a Ossau-Iraty from Onetik/ Pays-Basqu, France (a sheep’s milk cheese) with INNA jam Seascape. Last but not least, a Cabot Clothbound from Cabot Creamery aged at the cellars of Jasper Hill in Vermont (a cow’s milk cheese) along with a Dick Taylor 74% chocolate.

The Red Hawk from the Cowgirl Creamery and the Ossau-Iraty are tied as my favorite cheeses of the evening, also the 2003 Cabernet was incredible! There are SO many things to learn when it comes to wine and cheese tasting but the best tip I took from the evening was not to think about it too much, just choose what tastes best to you and enjoy it!

I highly recommend you head over to Antonelli’s if you are in the area and taste some of the incredible cheeses they have on hand.

Thank you to Lisa from Jordan Winery and Kendall Antonelli, it was an incredible evening and I am so grateful to have been invited.