Classically, I've always been a dry white wine drinker. Ever since college, I enjoyed how crisp and cool it is. But lately (maybe now that I'm 28?), I've started to get into red wine too -- especially malbecs!
I recently had the opportunity to try Crios Malbec. The hints of spice in this wine make it perfect for fall, and I like supporting a family-owned brand (especially when it's friendly to the ol' budget). The Malbec is bold, with notes of black cherries, oak spice, and violets, and pairs really well with meat like lamb or hamburgers. It's the perfect red wine for lifelong white wine drinkers, like me ;) Each Crios wine has a background and an inspiring message, and the Malbec's is "Be brave." Susana Balbo, Argentina’s leading and most innovative winemaker, was inspired to change the perception of Malbec from a forgotten grape to Argentina’s iconic varietal. And all of the Crios wines are are harvested from specific areas in Mendoza and Salta in Argentina, where grapes are optimal for the fruit-forward style of Crios. I haven't been to Argentina before, but the Malbec reminds me of wine I had while traveling next door in Chile.
To celebrate my newly refined palette, I decided to make marbled cheese markers shaped like a goat, a cow, and a sheep, to indicate cheese type. (After all, what's wine without cheese?) I can't wait to use these for Thanksgiving appetizers this year!
To make the cheese markers, you will need:
- Oven-bake clay in black and white
- Rolling pin
- Two-inch cookie cutters shaped like a goat, a cow, and a sheep
- A hot glue gun
1. Start by rolling by hand the black and white clay together in a few separate long pieces.
2. Wind the pieces together, and then circle them, and roll flat with the rolling pin.
3. Carefully cut out one of each animal.
4. Freehand three sharp triangles from black clay.
5. Bake all pieces (3 animals, 3 triangles) according to clay package instructions.
6. Once the markers have cooled, attach a triangle to the back of each animal using the hot glue gun.
Gah! So cute, right? Kristie and I promptly demolished this cheese display (and a few glasses of malbec) as soon as I finished taking pictures. The sheep's cheese was my favorite -- almost like a blend of goat cheese and cheddar!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
