Wine and… Cheez-Its?

If you know me, you know I absolutely love wine and cheese, but I wouldn’t call myself a snob for either by any means. I’ll take a high-end bottle of wine or a box of classic Franzia any day. I’ll spray a can of processed cheese product directly into my mouth or grab some artisanal cheeses from Antonelli’s and enjoy them equally. I simply don’t think you have to be a snob to really enjoy cheese or wine. In fact, there are times that I think the best experiences of both can come from unlikely places.

Since quarantine started I’ve joined other Austin-based cheese lovers for multiple Antonelli’s virtual cheese tastings and tried some really unique pairings that prove to me that cheese love knows no bounds. From the Road Trip Tasting where artisan cheeses were paired with classic road trip snacks like beef jerky to the Easter Candy Tasting where handmade cheeses were served alongside Peeps and other classic Easter treats, I found that world-renowned cheeses can be made better by pairing them with some run of the mill, gas station fare. As for wine, I’ve never been one to turn down a glass regardless of how fancy it is or isn’t, and one of my best wine experiences as of late was a bomb peach wine-a-rita from an RV park concession stand.

Suffice it to say when I was offered a sample* of House Wine’s latest pairing with Cheez-It I was quick to accept with open arms. The way I see it there’s no pairing of wine and cheese I’ll say no to and no better time to try boxed wine with Cheez-Its than right now.

The box, which is currently sold out on House Wine‘s website, is a super cool concept for a get-together or, in today’s pandemic-ridden society, a night at home in your PJs with your family and pets watching old episodes of “Unsolved Mysteries” because you binged the entire new Netflix reboot in a single afternoon. The box includes a bag of wine equal to FOUR BOTTLES of House Wine’s rosé and over a pound of White Cheddar Cheez-It crackers that, in my expert opinion, should last about two days of committed drinking and snacking.

House Wine’s rosé is GOOD, y’all. This was my first time trying it or any of House Wine’s varieties and I’ll be honest, the first words out of my mouth (to my dogs, because I’m drinking in the afternoon, because quarantine) were, “Oh yeah I can get with this.” It’s slightly sweet, crisp, and not super dry like many rosés I’ve tried tend to be. It’s perfect for drinking on its own or mixing into a spritzer, sangria, or batch of frosé. I’m intrigued by the brand because they offer wine in bottles, cans, and boxes, which, to someone like me who respects wine in all its forms, is perfect. Sometimes I want to feel fancy with a bottle and other times I need my bag of wine to float in the pool.

The White Cheddar Cheez-Its are, well, White Cheddar Cheez-Its. Not my particular choice of Cheez-It (original all the way if I have an option) but I will say is a great choice to pair with rosé. The flavor is a bit more delicate at first bite and has a bit of sharpness at the end that the rosé cuts perfectly.

Don’t fret that the box is sold out, though, because although definitely a conversation starter and a fun prop for photos, the box isn’t super practical. If you want to keep everything packaged together and have your wine chilled then your Cheez-Its also have to go in the fridge and that’s just, well, weird to me. And yes, I know, you can separate the two but then you lose the aesthetic factor of the single-box packaging and at that point you might as well have just bought them separately, which I highly suggest you do, because if White Cheddar Cheez-Its and rosé aren’t your ideal choices there are many other pairings you can try.

Check out this Cheez-It and wine pairing guide. I’m personally a fan of the punny verbiage and the fact that, as someone who likes cheese and wine tastings, I can attest to certain flavor combinations being winners, like toasty flavors with sauvignon blanc and cheddar with cabernet sauvignon. In my opinion, House Wine really did their research when suggesting these pairings. Talk about a fun, socially distant activity to do over Zoom. Grab some wine and multiple boxes of Cheez-Its and have yourself a good time!

All in all, I recommend this pairing for those who want to have a little fun this Summer. Both the Cheez-Its and House Wine are delicious and, frankly, I’m down to try things from brands that, like me, think you don’t have to be snobby to enjoy some good wine and cheese.

*I was provided the House Wine and Cheez-It box in PR, however, this is not a sponsored post and no money was exchanged for my coverage of the product. All opinions and content are my own, honest interpretations of the product.