What to sip on while you have your cake and eat it, too!

From birthdays to anniversaries, we love celebrating life's momentous occasions with wine. 2022 was a milestone year for us here at Kendall-Jackson when we celebrated the 40th anniversary of our very first harvest of Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay in 1982. Since then, we've continued to produce iconic wines from Sonoma County and across California's most prized growing regions. But what would a celebration be without cake? That's why we’ve paired some of our most beloved wines with classic cake flavors. Whether you’re commemorating an anniversary or blowing out the candles at your own soirée, go ahead, eat your cake, and drink your wine, too!  

FUNFETTI + VINTNER’S RESERVE ROSÉ

Pink frosting, rainbow sprinkles, paired with pink wine—what’s not to love? The crisp strawberry, watermelon, and floral notes of the wine combined with the classic Funfetti vanilla flavor are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. Make things extra fun by adding a splash of Rosé to the cake batter before baking.

BUTTERCREAM CAKE + VINTNER’S RESERVE CHARDONNAY

A classic cake deserves a classic wine. Pair this quintessential vanilla, buttercream cake with our buttery and toasty oak Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay. This match will now and forever be referred to as ‘America’s Favorite Chardonnay & Cake Pairing’. 

LEMON POUND CAKE + GRAND RESERVE CHARDONNAY

A good rule of thumb when choosing desserts and wines to pair is to pick a pairing that shares similar tasting notes. A lemon pound cake will complement the citrus notes in the Grand Reserve Chardonnay. The wine's silky texture will also make the perfect palate cleanser for this dense dessert. Bite, sip, rinse, repeat. Yum!

RED VELVET + PINOT NOIR

The classic red color usually comes from red dye, but we have something better...red wine. Since we’re treating ourselves, why not try it two ways: with a glass of Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Noir and a glass of Jackson Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir.  

BLACK FOREST + MERLOT

Ultimate decadence is the only word for this pairing. Fit for royalty, the richness of the black forest cake will highlight the intricate dark fruit notes of the Vintner's Reserve Merlot. Grab a crown instead of a birthday hat for this one.

Love these pairings? Share your celebration with us and tag us @kjwines. Cheers!