Make California Wine the Star of Your Oscars Watch Party

Five Easy Recipes for Fancy Bites with Golden State Wine Pairings

SAN FRANCISCO — The 95th Academy Awards broadcast — known as the Oscars — is set for March 12, and there’s no better way to celebrate the winners and the Golden State’s iconic film industry than by toasting with California wine. The glamour of the Oscars calls for a next-level watch party menu that pairs California wines with fancy finger foods and small plates. Best of all, guests can enjoy the party spread from the best seat in the house — your sofa.

California wine and the Academy Awards make an especially fitting match. Not only is the state home to Hollywood and the world’s most famous movie studios, some of the industry’s top luminaries — Oscar winners themselves — are also California vintners. This includes legendary film director Francis Ford Coppola (Francis Ford Coppola Winery) and director-producer John Lasseter (Lasseter Family Wines), known for his work with Disney and Pixar. Musician John Legend — an “EGOT” because he has won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony award — is also the man behind LVE Collection wines, a collaboration with Napa Valley’s Raymond Vineyards.

Here are five red-carpet recipes for elegant watch-party appetizers, paired with an array of Golden State sips. For more recipes and a search tool for locating wineries across the state, visit DiscoverCaliforniaWines.

Best Spin on a Timeless Classic:

Beef Carpaccio Crostini

Thinly sliced beef is paired with fresh and crunchy cucumber as the perfect complement to raw prime beef. Enjoy this new take on the classic dish with a glass of California Cabernet Sauvignon or California Pinot Noir.

Best High-Low Food Fusion:

Gougères with Pimento Cheese

Pimento cheese is a Southern classic and it’s especially delicious when paired with fancy French cheese puffs. Both the pimento cheese and the cheese puffs can be made days in advance and then assembled right before guests arrive for easy entertaining. Serve with a glass of California Chardonnay or California sparkling wine.

Best New Taste:

Carrot Hummus with Spring Vegetable Crudités

Blending carrots, chickpeas and tahini produces a hummus with a captivating new taste with a fresh and vibrant California twist. Cook the carrots first to heighten their sweetness, then surround the fluffy spread with a garland of crunchy spring vegetables for dipping. Pair with California Sauvignon Blanc or California Chardonnay.

Best Performance of Prawns in a Starring Role:

Rice Paper Rolls filled with Pepper-Dusted Prawns and Matchstick Vegetables

These light vegetable spring rolls are crunchy and spicy, with a hint of sweetness. Pair these healthy, flavor-packed bites with California Sparkling Wine or California Pinot Gris.

Best Finale:

Chocolate Grazing Board

There is no real right or wrong way to make a chocolate board. Plan to have 2-4 ounces of chocolate per guest, as well as a variety of fresh and dried fruits, nuts and dips. For the chocolate selection we recommend choosing a variety: 70% dark chocolate, a lighter milk chocolate and a white chocolate. Pair with California Cabernet Sauvignon or a California red blend.

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About Wine Institute

Established in 1934, Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy group of 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses that initiates and advocates state, federal and international public policy to enhance the environment for the responsible production, consumption and enjoyment of wine. The organization works to enhance the economic and environmental health of the state through its leadership in sustainable winegrowing and by showcasing California’s wine regions as ideal destinations for food and wine travelers to the state. To learn more about California wines, visit DiscoverCaliforniaWines.