Explore the Delicious Wine and Food Combination at Pairings

For the past three and a half years, Pairings at 600 Main Street has been more than just a wine store. Wine alone does not make the meal. “We never have offered just wine,” Co-owner Lori Schaefer said. “The question always is ‘what should we eat with it?’ We want our customers to enjoy the taste.”

The store offers plenty of alcohol, but food too. “We are always looking for unique, handcrafted foods made with love and passion,” Schaefer said. The store has a kitchen, and offers tastings every Saturday. “We open six bottles of wine and offer free food as well as 20 percent off our products.”

The Schaefers began their passionate work with a love of food. “We were always cooking, but are by no means chefs,” Schaefer said. As they continued to research wine, the Schaefers have visited almost 500 wineries worldwide.

This coming weekend, Pairings is offering an All American wine tasting from 4 to 7 p.m. on August 31. Sparkling wine will be paired with Champlain Valley Triple Cream, a crisp white with asparagus bruschetta, a rich white with a crab dip, a smooth red with landaff, another smooth red with summer sausage and a bold red with blue cheese popovers. The store has over 100 cheeses and different kinds of meats, olives and other delicious foods for sale.

“We love sharing the experience of food and wine,” Schaefer said. “We never want to push our influence on our customers. That’s why we open so many bottles and offer so much to eat.”