“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Our “Red, White, and Blue” Pairing of the Week this week is the smallest possible attempt to bring some light to a week full of darkness. We sample delicious things from coast to coast this week while we remember all the goodness, diversity, and beauty that surround and unite us.

Music:
Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” was written in 1942 in response to America’s entry into WWII and Vice-President Henry Wallace’s comment that we were entering the “Century of the Common Man.” The short piece for brass and percussion is touching and approachable yet the open, almost hollow-sounding intervals have a hint of the mysterious about them. There is plenty of air in between musical entrances and in those open chords allowing plenty of time to take in the rich aromas and flavors of our wine and cheese choices. 

American composer Carlisle Floyd composed his opera Susanna in the mid-1950s, some speculate as a response to the paranoia of McCarthyism. It tells the story of 18-year old Susanna from New Hope Valley, Tennessee who is shunned by her community initially only because of her innocence and beauty. The beginning of her aria, “Aint it a pretty night?” is soft gentle opening but rises in intensity as she dreams of bigger things away from her hometown. Think of those big dreams as you sip your wine! As an aside, this version was recorded a few years ago at Ash Lawn Opera in Charlottesville, Virginia by my friend, Leah Partridge.

Wine
Turiya: a state of consciousness wherein reality and truth are harmonious.
Turiya WInes is run by our friend, Angela Soleno, up in Lompoc, CA. I had the chance to meet her and taste her truly magnificent wines a few weeks ago. This 2009 Petite Verdot particularly blew my mind. The price tag on this bottle calls for a special occasion, but the message behind its name hits so close to home as to merit being included in this week’s pairing.

White Chocolate
As we all know, white chocolate isn’t really chocolate but rather a mixture of cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids. Some love it, others hate it, but it’s worth a try if you’re still a skeptic.

Try this delicious truffle, humorously named Passion Aggressive from our friends over at Bitchfix. 

Bayley Hazen Blue
From the beautiful state of Vermont, the Bayley Hazen Blue is my go-to blue cheese on any day. Named for an old military road commissioned by George Washington, Bayley has a fudge-like texture, toasted-nut sweetness, and anise spice character. The paste is dense and creamy, with well-distributed blue veins. Why not try it with a bite of white and bite of dark chocolate and taste the difference!
(notes borrowed from Jasper Hill Farm’s website).