Some, Unfiltered among them, might say that in the pantheon of food and beverage pairings, no gustatory grouping surpasses that of wine and cheese, challenged only by the likes of Champagne and french fries or, possibly, a seasonal consideration for beer and buffalo wings. These are time-honored pairings, celebrated throughout history, from Pliny the Elder's love of Falernian wine and the diverse cheeses of the Roman Empire to Sir Winston Churchill's passion for Champagne, and Port, and Stilton, and Gruyère … to Doug Flutie's recipe for flaming-hot wings. But the culinary landscape is constantly shifting, and we're always looking for the next big pairing (Doritos and wine still hasn't quite caught on). This week we learned that House Wine, founded by winemaker Charles Smith and one of the brands leading the charge of great value, quality wines in cans and boxes, is pairing up with another classic indulgence that comes in a box: Cheez-Its.
Beginning this Thursday, July 25, at 5 p.m. EST, a limited run of combination House Wine Original Red Blend (a 50-50 Cabernet-Merlot from Chile's Central Valley) and Cheez-It boxes will go on sale at OriginalHouseWine.com for $25 each. (A regular 3-liter box of House Wine goes for about $25 without any Cheez-Its attached, so, you know … this is basically free Cheez-Its, and we're not ones to look a free Cheez-It in the mouth.) “We make wines for people to enjoy anytime and anyplace—just like Cheez-It,” said winemaker Hal Landvoigt in a statement issued by Cheez-It brand owner Kellogg and House Wine, now owned by Seattle's Precept Wine. “I create wines that run the spectrum of flavor—from crisp and bright to savory and spicy. From there, I looked for combinations that complement the real cheese found in each flavor of Cheez-It to make the perfect pairing.”
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