White Wine and Cigars

[Colt45]

I usually only drink red wine, and don't normally smoke cigars while doing so,

as I find that cigar smoke tends to really bring out the wine's tannins and mute

the flavor.

It has been suggested here, by Dr. K. Gargett phd, ba (professional habanos

delinquent, bachelor of alcohol), to try white wine (including champagne) with

cigars, so I finally gave it a shot.

The wine was Bogle chardonnay. Bogle makes very nice, value priced wines

across the board. The chardonnay was no exception. Predominently tart apple,

not overly acidic, and relatively dry. Very nice on a very warm evening.

The cigar was NC, so I won't expound on it.

The pairing was a pleasant surprise. While I don't feel they complemented each

other (meaning they didn't really add to, or enhance each other), what I really

found interesting, and enjoyed, was that each kept it's own character, and neither

was diminished by the other.

[Professor Twain]

I will have to dig in and read Ken's recommendations on white wines, but I like them too. I tend to enjoy Chardonnays or similar wines if they are unoaked or very little oak.

There is a nice Australian, Virgin Chardonnay from Trevor Jones, that is one of my favorites, I am also enjoying a California Chardonnay, Sonoma-Loeb. I think that these bring out the citrus type flavors in cigars--I have some Cohiba Exquisitos with a bit of age on them that seem to be a nice pairing.

[Well Armed]

White wine and cigars would seem to clash. Like oranges and milk.

[PorscheC4S]

I've never really liked white wine. It probably goes back to my distaste for white grape juice as a boy. I would be willing to try some Dom Perignon with a Davidoff Dom Perignon. I don't usually smoke churchills, but would make an exception to test the pairing;-)

By the way Colt, impressed by your correct use of complement rather than compliment. I've seen this misused in adverts in major magazines, five star hotel brochures and even on the Cigar Masters website. I e-mailed them, but I never noticed them correct the mistake.

[Ken Gargett]

» I usually only drink red wine, and don't normally smoke cigars while doing

» so,

» as I find that cigar smoke tends to really bring out the wine's tannins

» and mute

» the flavor.

» It has been suggested here, by Dr. K. Gargett phd, ba (professional

» habanos

» delinquent, bachelor of alcohol), to try white wine (including champagne)

» with

» cigars, so I finally gave it a shot.

did i really?? awful thing when the mind goes. possibly. certainly champagne does go with a lot of smokes far better than one would think. perhaps just because i like both?

[El Presidente]

I find big alcohol...big buttery Chardonay go great with cigar. It is an experiment that never ends.

[Ken Gargett]

» I find big alcohol...big buttery Chardonay go great with cigar. It is an

» experiment that never ends.

yes but you think that big buttery chardonnay goes with everything from ice cream to catching a bus.

[PartagasIV]

» » I find big alcohol...big buttery Chardonay go great with cigar. It is an

» » experiment that never ends.

»

» yes but you think that big buttery chardonnay goes with everything from

» ice cream to catching a bus.

I would actually tend to agree on 'big' whites...I've found that it helps cleanse my palate in between puffs, and doesn't detract much, if at all, from the smoke.

[anacostiakat]

I have not been drinking a lot of wine lately and I dont like oaky chardonnay at all anyway. I too prefer reds to white.

However I will say that I find crisp whites go well with cigars in general for me. Smooth reds do too, like bordeaux or rhone reds.