Tacos and Terroir: Unexpected Taco Bell Pairings
Taco Bell Tuesday – itä style!
Not sure if you know this, but I’m a big fan of an obscure, off-the-beaten-path wine pairing. A few weeks ago, I posted an infographic on social media that included pairing cab franc and Taco Bell. What do you know? The next Saturday my good friends Katie and John showed up in the tasting room, Taco Bell in hand, to test the theory.
“Kelsey, we have to try this cab franc and Taco Bell thing,” they said. “We brought some for you too.”
It was quickly turning into one of my favorite Saturdays at the tasting room. I already had all the current releases open for tastings, and Katie and John had brought a good array of menu items from Ye Olde Taco Bell, so we were really going to put this idea through its paces.
With a little guidance from the internet, which assured us that “pairing a Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch with a sémillon white wine is an excellent, sophisticated choice,” we got started.
Now, I’ll admit that I was a bit skeptical at first, but you know what? It worked! The wine’s bright acidity and citrus notes were the perfect foil to the rich, savory flavors of the Gordita. Plus, the slightly creamy texture of the sémillon helped balance out the crunch of the shell. It was a match made in heaven – or at least, in the Taco Bell test kitchen (where I assume they often have a glass of wine in hand).
Thrilled by this early success, we pressed on with the hard work of determining the platonic ideal of pairing wine and Taco Bell. A few combinations later, we struck gold again with the 2022 merlot with classic beef tacos from the Bell. And let me tell you, it was a GD revelation. The wine’s bright red fruit and subtle spice notes were the perfect complement to the rich beef and tangy toppings. *Chef’s kiss*
I had so much fun pairing itä wines with the Taco Bell menu, especially since I don’t think I had ever had Taco Bell before… which I almost didn’t include in this blog post. I grew up in Seattle, ok? It’s a Taco Time town! But it just goes to show that great wine pairing isn’t always about sticking to the traditional “rules.” I’ve come to find the most unexpected combinations to be the most delightful.
So, what do you say, friends? Will you be giving these Taco Bell pairings a try on your next Taco Tuesday? Let me know if you have any other obscure or high-low combos I should be exploring. I’m always up for a culinary adventure!
Cheers,
Kelsey
