Sunday, March 8, 2015

Wine Pairing: Girl Scout Cookies


On my honor, I will try… to not spend my entire paycheck on Girl Scout cookies.


I came across this article by Thrillist which paired wine with Girl Scout cookies, so I decided to come up with Missouri wine pairings for my favorite cookies to share. I was a Girl Scout when I was growing up, so I’m a traditionalist when it comes to which cookies I eat. We limited our pairings to 5 cookies that have been around for years. (Really though, who wants Rah-Rah Raisin??)

Let’s begin with my favorite cookies, the Samoas! These bursts of caramel covered in coconut and chocolate also go by the name of Caramel deLites in some parts of the country. I suggest pairing these cookies with dry Missouri red wines, such as Chambourcin or Norton. I particularly enjoy them with Montelle’s Winery’s Chambourcin.



Likely the most popular Girl Scout cookie is the mint-flavored patty covered in chocolate, the Thin Mints. Pair this cookie with a smooth, semi-dry red, such as wines made with St. Vincent grapes that won’t overpower the mint. West Winery’s Little Red Caboose is a perfect pairing for your next cookie binge.

Peanut butter dipped in chocolate could only mean one cookie, Tagalongs (or Peanut Butter Patties)! I find that if you pair these cookies with a semi-sweet red, it creates a peanut butter and jelly flavor that is exquisite. One of my favorite semi-sweet blends is Ladoga Ridge Winery’s Toad-A-Lope Red. This light, fruity wine compliments this rich, flavorful cookie well.

Classic and sophisticated. Trefoils/Shortbread Cookies are the traditionalist of all the cookies. This perfectly simple, yet delicious cookie can only be made better by a glass of Missouri sparkling wine. Try my all-time favorite sparkling, Les Bourgeois Vineyard’s Brut! If you can’t get your hands on a sparkling, go for a semi-sweet white such as River Ridge Winery’s Nooner which is a blend of Vignoles and Seyval.



Last but not least, we have Do-Si-Dos/Peanut Butter Sandwiches. Grab a rosé or blush when you indulge in these crisp and crunchy oatmeal cookies with creamy peanut butter. Edg-Clif Farms Winery has an excellent semi-sweet blush, Sunset Chambourcin wine, full of strawberry and watermelon fragrances that enhance the peanutty goodness of Do-Si-Dos.

While you’re stocking up on Girl Scout Cookies this year, make sure you grab a couple bottles of Missouri wine to pair with your delicious treats!