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Sweet Cheeks Winery & Vineyard
27007 Briggs Hill Rd
Eugene, OR 97405
541-349-9463Eugene, OR 97405
Tasting room hours
Open Daily
11:00am – 5:00pm
Spring 2026 Club Release Pairings
Spring release weekend is always one of our favorite moments of the year. It’s the first chance to gather with our community after winter, share the newest wines from the cellar, and celebrate the start of a new season together.
This year, we had a wonderful time pouring five new spring wines, each paired with a bite designed to highlight the wine’s character. Whether you joined us at the release party or are opening your bottles at home, we’re sharing the pairings so you can recreate the experience and enjoy these wines the way we did that weekend.
Below are the five pairings from the Spring Release Party — simple, flavorful dishes that bring out the best in each wine.
Chili-Lime Cashews
Paired with: 2025 Estate Dry Riesling
Bright, zesty, and just a little spicy — these chili-lime cashews mirror the lively acidity and citrus notes of our Estate Dry Riesling. The slight heat enhances the wine’s refreshing character while the lime ties the flavors together.
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw whole cashews
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp chili or sriracha powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, combine cashews with olive oil, lime juice, chili powder, paprika, cayenne, and salt. Toss until evenly coated.
- Spread cashews in a single layer on the sheet pan.
- Bake 10–15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until lightly toasted.
- Cool slightly before serving.
Smoked Salmon Blini with Ricotta Cream
Paired with: 2025 Pinot Noir Rosé
Light, savory blini topped with creamy ricotta and smoked salmon make a perfect partner for our Pinot Noir Rosé. The wine’s delicate fruit and bright acidity balance the richness while highlighting the freshness of the dish.
Blini Batter
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 egg
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ tsp salt
- Oil for cooking
Ricotta Cream
- 1 cup ricotta
- ½ cup cream cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Toppings
- Smoked salmon
- Capers
Instructions
- Whisk together all batter ingredients until smooth.
- Heat a griddle or pan over medium-low heat and lightly oil.
- Spoon or squeeze small rounds of batter onto the griddle and cook until bubbles form and the blini slide easily when nudged. Flip and cook the second side.
- Mix ricotta, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Top each blini with ricotta cream, smoked salmon, and a few capers.
Mushroom & Caramelized Onion Puff Pastry Bites
Paired with: 2023 Reserve Pinot Noir
Earthy mushrooms and sweet caramelized onions highlight the savory depth and elegance of our Reserve Pinot Noir. Buttery puff pastry adds richness that complements the wine’s silky texture.
Ingredients
- 2 Puff pastry sheets
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 1 large onion
- ½ cup salted butter
- ¼ cup of red wine
- Parmesan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Heat pan on low heat and add butter. Once butter is melted, add onions and simmer on low until they are translucent and completely cooked down.
- Heat pan on medium and add ¼ cup of red wine (we used Pinot Noir) and simmer until the mushrooms are cooked down.
- Cut puff pastry into rounds or squares and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet or in muffin tins.
- Spoon caramelized onions onto each piece of pastry and top with sliced mushrooms and grated cheese.
- Bake about 16 minutes, until puffed and golden.
Roasted Tomato Bruschetta Crostini
Paired with: 2023 Fences Cabernet Sauvignon
Slow-roasted tomatoes deepen in flavor and sweetness, creating a rich topping that pairs beautifully with the structure and dark fruit of our Fences Cabernet Sauvignon.
Ingredients
- French baguette, sliced
- 1 lb cherry tomatoes
- 1 tbsp thyme
- 1½ tsp garlic
- Salt and pepper
- Balsamic glaze
- Ricotta (optional topping)
- Olive oil
Instructions
- Roast cherry tomatoes with thyme, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a Dutch oven at 350°F for about 1 hour.
- Toast baguette slices in the oven at 375°F for 10 minutes until crisp.
- Spread with ricotta if desired, top with roasted tomatoes, and finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze and a pinch of wine sea salt.
Shortbread Flower Cookies with White Chocolate
Paired with: 2025 Rosy Cheeks
To finish the tasting, we paired Rosy Cheeks with delicate buttery shortbread cookies dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with edible flowers — a sweet, playful match for this bright and charming wine.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- White melting chocolate
- Edible dried flower sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment.
- Beat butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt until pale and fluffy.
- Mix in flour on low speed until a stiff dough forms.
- Chill dough 30 minutes, then roll to ¼–½ inch thick and cut shapes.
- Bake about 20 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool, dip in melted white chocolate, and finish with edible flowers.
Bringing the Release Home
Release weekend reminded us how special it is to gather around a table with good wine, good food, and great company. We hope these pairings help you recreate a little of that experience at home — whether you joined us at the party or are discovering these wines for the first time.
Cheers to a beautiful spring season and many shared glasses ahead.
Tag us on Instagram so we can see your pairings!
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