Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Abzu and Sella & Mosca's La Cala

Ahh my first wine and game pairing. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect match. I did this pairing back in August, and I had been looking forward to Abzu for most of the summer. I really enjoyed the beauty and the quiet moments of Journey and Flower, so when I heard about a new underwater experience coming out from the same developer I turned starry-eyed. I had just moved into a tiny new apartment and I was still feeling a little self conscious about the space and how much noise I was making. I knew that sinking into a game would help me feel a little bit more at home. So I pulled out my headphones, nestled into my papasan, swirled my glass of wine, and booted up the game. And wow was this a gorgeous game. I’m pretty sure I actually uttered a few wows and oooos while diving through the vibrant saturated reefs and sparkling temples.
Now for the wine: Sella & Mosca’s 2015 La Cala Vermentino Di Sardegna. I read the description for the wine on the shelf and I couldn’t even believe how spot on it was. The grapes for this wine grow in a cove by the sea, resulting in a fantastically balanced salinity in the wine (incredible). Bright and refreshing, this white also carries notes of exotic fruit and citrus. It was absolutely perfect for sipping while exploring the extraordinary oceans of Abzu.
What would you pair with Abzu? Can you think of another game that would pair well with this ocean-tastic wine?

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Welcome to Wine and Game Pairing

Hello!

I love wine, and I really love games. So obviously I enjoy drinking wine while playing games.

If you're like me, you may still be anxiously awaiting the arrival of smell-o-vision so that we can really submerge ourselves in our gaming experiences. My friends tell me I need to drop this idea...but I refuse to let it go despite all of the horrible implications that could come with it (I choose to focus on the scent of pine while riding through snowy Skyrim forests).

What does this have to do with wine? Well, when paired well, maybe you'll be able to taste that starfruit that Sora keeps talking about in Kingdom Hearts, or maybe you'll be able to catch that light grassy smell of summer in Stardew Valley. So for now, perhaps we can sniff and sip some wines and treat our senses to a little bit more of the world we are playing through. Whether its sipping the darkest Petite Sirah you've ever seen while struggling through Dark Souls, or you've found a crowd pleasing rice wine to present to your Sushi Go group, I aim to level up our game time with a nice glass of wine.

Special thanks to 2017 for giving me the motivation to start this new project and share it with you!