A California wine to drink with your BFFs

“Tell me who you drink with, and I’ll tell you who you are.”

That’s what the folks at New Craft Cellars believe, and enjoying wine with friends was the genesis for Los Vinos de Compadre,* their California-blend red wine, which hit the market last September.

Compadre was created by Meggan Sorensen of Long Beach, Calif., a former viticulture major at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, who, not surprisingly, met her husband at a wine and cheese party while they were in college. Fast forward a few years and Sorensen enlisted family friend Jose Lozano as a business partner. Together with Jose and her Napa-based cousin Mark, Sorensen created a label whose mission is to bring good food and friends together.

Why Compadre?

“Jose is our son’s godfather,” says Sorensen. “He introduced us to a culture that values family and great food.” Sorensen wanted to emulate that familia spirit in a wine that was easy to drink and paired well with Latin American food. The word ‘compadre’ best encapsulated her vision.

With delicious red fruit aromas, some delicate vanilla notes and well-balanced acidity, Compadre pairs well with Manchego cheese (I tried it last night!), grilled steak, or mildly spicy foods. Because of the tame alcohol content, the wine won’t add fire to an already spicy dish.

You can buy Compadre online for $20 at http://www.newcraftcellars.com, or you can find it at some Orange County, Calif. wine shops and restaurants. If you’re in the L.A. area, Compadre is on the wine list at the Willmore Wine Bar in Long Beach.

So remember, chicas y chicos, choose your vino the way you would your best amigos: Likes the same foods you like, easygoing, and always up for a casual get-together. ¡Salud!

*EL FULL DISCLOSURE: Señorita Vino received a complimentary bottle of Compadre wine to sample, but the opinions and findings expressed in this post are entirely my own.