HauteLife recently sat down and discussed wine with Executive Chef Ryder Zetts of Archetype.
Tell us about some of your favorite wines on the list right now and why they go well with your cuisine? “Our food tends to pair nicely with white wines and thinner skinned red varietals. I like everything that Schramsberg does and it’s only a couple miles away. Their sparkling wine is versatile with our vegetable driven dishes and seafood, plus it’s just more fun to drink bubbles. The Stony Hill Riesling is dry and full of minerals that pair well with everything from rich and creamy to spiciness and smoky. As for a red, I enjoy the T-Vine Grenache, this style of wine has a big backbone but approachable tannins. It doesn’t kill your tongue so you can pair it with smoky vegetable courses and red meat if you’d like.”
Schramsberg Vinyards is located in Calistoga, California in the Napa Valley founded by Jacob Schram and then reopened by Jack and Jamie Davies. Schramsberg is known for their sparkling wines that use the same method as champagne. One particular sparkling wine is the Blank de Blancs which is made from Chardonnay. It was Schramsberg’s first wine produced and was America’s first commercially produced Chardonnay-based brut sparkling wine. The 2011 vintage of Blanc de Blancs according to winemakers Keith Hock and Hugh Davies, “has fresh aromas of green apple, pear, grapefruit and lime zest. The fruitful nose is complemented by developed nuances of “fresh from the oven” bread and candied citrus. Generous flavors of grapefruit, lime and pineapple are present in this wine. The palate is crisp on entry with a long, tangy and refreshing acidity.”
Stony Hill Vineyard is located St. Helena, CA (also in the Napa Valley) originally started by Fred and Elanor McCrea in 1943. Stony Hill’s 2012 White Riesling is a pale straw in color with has hints of drops and cantaloupe notes on the tongue. “This Riesling is perfectly balanced with a delicate intensity and lingering fruit-filled finish.”
T-Vine Cellars is located in in Calistoga, California. One of their most famous wines is their Grenache from the Frediani Vineyard. The 2011 vintage has “Ripe layers of raspberry, dark chocolate wild plums, apricots, and blackberries mingle with creamy oak and sassafras. This wine is seamless, with great fruit purity, soft tannins and acomplexity that draws you in for another taste.”
