Welcome to the world of dough wines! We are delighted to have you join us on our road to both make good, and do good.
First, we wanted to introduce ourselves and explain a little bit about both our wines and our work with the James Beard Foundation.
Just the facts: dough wines is the first collaborative wine brand with the James Beard Foundation, in conjunction with Distinguished Vineyards and Wine Partners (DVWP). DVWP as a company, strives to be a force for good with a longstanding history of supporting the James Beard Foundation, and the wines from dough are rooted in that purpose, partnership and culinary experiences. This collaborative initiative is a result of the shared values between DVWP and the James Beard Foundation, and the common desire to both make good, and do good.
Through this partnership, dough will provide the James Beard Foundation with an annual “dough-nation” (we couldn’t resist) to provide support around some of the key issues affecting the culinary and beverage industries, and society as a whole, today: equality in the kitchen, heightened food sustainability, and restaurant recovery during these challenging times.
Why dough? Both bread and wine are combinations of a few simple but essential ingredients, mixed together to create something truly transcendent. Dough, the building block of bread, requires time and nurturing to reach its true potential, whether it be a traditional yeasted dough or a pandemic inspired sourdough.
Bread is also a symbol of sharing and nourishment across the globe. Chefs, baking enthusiasts, and home cooks alike utilize bread as a token of appreciation or love for their guests. The act of “breaking bread” fosters meaningful connection and cooperation, and is something shared across cultures. Sharing a meal and drinking wine with a group of loved ones, whether in person or virtually, creates togetherness; a safe space for important conversations and lasting memories.
Tell me about the wine: Similarly, wine begins with a few simple ingredients: grapes and yeast. The dough wines are made with grapes sourced from some of the most prestigious wine growing regions in the country, blended to be accessible, readily drinkable and food-friendly.
The goal was to create the most delicious wines by world class winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen; wines that are rooted in both place and purpose. Heidi worked with an advisory panel of renowned chefs and sommeliers, including Lee Anne Wong and Bill Telepan and their input was crucial to create the perfect blends for homes and restaurants. The initial launch includes these “core four” selection of wines.:
- 2019 Sauvignon Blanc (North Coast, CA): hints of ripe green melon and grapefruit; try it with seafood–shrimp tacos, salmon, even a tuna fish sandwich!
- 2018 Chardonnay (Sonoma & Monterey Counties): Crisp and creamy finish with juicy fresh pineapple, nectarine and crisp Fuji apple, this wine finds its inspiration in the Chardonnays of Chablis and Burgundy. It pairs with both a cheese board: local artisan cheeses,warm crostini, Marcona almonds and a pot of fig jam or an hour to two of binge watching your favorite tv show.
- 2019 Pinot Noir (Oregon): rich cocoa flavors, with black cherry and raspberry; perfect for those who enjoy the dredge of fresh sourdough baguette in the buttery garlic-infused sauce as much as the main course of escargot itself.
- 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (North Coast, CA): with notes of black cherry, blackberry, plum, blueberry and licorice; a versatile cab that is at home with classic pastry-wrapped Beef Wellington, or a piled-high tri-tip sandwich on grilled sourdough.
The “core four” are available nationally in select retail shops and at some of your favorite local restaurants. An additional 14 wines will be sold exclusively through the dough wines website starting December 2020.
Here at dough, we believe that the dialogue that you share over a meal and a great glass of wine can truly make a lasting impact. By purchasing wines from dough, we’re able to support positive systematic changes in our country’s food systems.
Stay tuned here for more information about our wines and the people behind them. Plus, stories and recipes to inspire us all. In the meantime, you can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.