House Wine: Weeknight Food & Wine Pairing Made Easy

Charles Smith of K Vintners founded Magnificent Wine Company in 2004. In the fall of 2006, a majority of Magnificent Wine Company was sold to Washington State-based Precept Brands. Magnificent’s flagship brand is House Wine, originally just offering two wines, a red Cabernet blend and a white Chardonnay blend. Since then, the House Wine line has expanded to include additional wines. When people refer to a “house” wine, they generally mean something they would drink anytime with anything and that is affordable. That is exactly what these wines are designed to deliver. The House Wines have easily recognizable black and white labels.

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste several of the House Wines in a blind samples tasting, the 2012 Fish House Sauvignon Blanc, the 2012 Market Moscato, and the 2010 Steak House Cabernet Sauvignon. All three wines are good and make weeknight food and wine pairing easy.

Fish House pairs well with fish or chicken, and Steak House works well with steak, burgers, and even pasta with red sauce. The Market Moscato is nice with fruit or a light summer dessert or can be enjoyed on its own after dinner. The top line retail price for these three wines is $12, but they can frequently be found for under $10.

2012 Fish House Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Pale, straw yellow. Aromatic with melon, floral notes, and a touch of honey on both the nose and palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a very long, refreshing finish. Residual Sugar: 0.12%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12; Available elsewhere, $12

2012 Market Moscato (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Moscato. Pale, straw yellow. Nice nose with apricot and honey aromas and flavors. Medium sweet and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish. Residual Sugar: 5.4%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12

2010 Steak House Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 5% Syrah. Deep, dark ruby red. Aromatic with black fruit and spice on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12; Available elsewhere, $8 to $15

House Wine: Weeknight Food & Wine Pairing Made Easy was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.