When Cupcakes Bite Back

I was fortunate enough to be invited back to Corcoran Vineyards to do another Wine & Cupcake Pairing event. This time we were set-up in the Winery where the red grapes were fermenting. We were treated to a hands-on presentation as Lori Corcoran, the wine maker, did a “punch down” on the red grapes while educating us a bit about the grape harvest and wine making process. She does punch downs three times a day for all of harvest – that’s 6 WEEKS!

The pairing started with the ever-popular Pistachio Cupcake and Corcoran’s Apple Wine. The sweet almond flavor of the butter cream frosting and the salty roasted pistachios were perfect with the lightly sweet apple wine.

Next up we paired the Lemon Raspberry Cupcake with the sweet and smooth as silk Cello made from Petit Manseng grapes and fortified with spirits and lemon zest. The lemon cake was enhanced nicely by this fortified wine. While the raspberry frosting popped with berry flavor from the citrus contrast.

Round-3 was where the action really started to heat up. Turns out that pairing the spicy chocolate ganache filled Chocolate Chili Cupcake with Corcoran’s Malbec was genius!! Not only did the wine feature rich aromas of black cherry and a touch of spice but so did the cupcake! The cupcake featured two types of hot chilis and was even sprinkled with a dash of smoked hot chili powder as the final “bite” from this innocent looking mini cupcake.

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Uh oh, sorry folks … someone forgot to take a picture of
the Chocolate Chili Cupcakes!!

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Last but not least we paired the USB, a Universal Sweet Beverage, with the Dulce de Leche Cupcake. The cupcake consisted of a light chocolate cake filled with dulce de leche then topped with caramel satin frosting and drizzled with MORE dulce de leche. It was perfectly paired with Corcoran’s USB which is their version of “Port”. The wine uses Chambourcin grapes and is aged in whiskey barrels!! I ADORE this wine.

CHEERS! to another successful Wine & Cupcake Pairing Event. I had a great time meeting everyone and learning a bit about wine and the wine making process. The feedback has been amazing and I couldn’t be more excited or pleased. Please be sure to stay tuned to Shugar Shugar and Corcoran Vineyards for details regarding future events. Yep, that's right, there’s already talk of a Holiday event with sparkling wines {BUBBLES!} and we’ll also be teaming up to provide special pricing on wine and cupcake purchases during the event!

Stay Sweet!

Kay