The Paring Red Wine & Pinot Noir: Access Without Compromise
A second label that delivers elite winemaking at an everyday price
Interpretations of The Paring are wide-ranging.
The wine hails from the same house that produces the precise, tension-filled wines of The Hilt out of California’s Sta. Rita Hills and the incredibly complex and profound wines from Jonata in Ballard Canyon of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA.
It’s crafted by longtime virtuoso winemaker Matt Dees. A self-proclaimed nerd when it comes to plants, he’s a maestro in the vineyard and cellar, never pushing a wine in a preordained direction, but rather coaxing it toward its utmost potential.
Simplicity comes in the labeling: THE PARING, written in block letters with a small knife beneath the headline.
As with any art form, there lies the first challenge. Is THE PARING a reference to the knife? A paring knife is a small blade used for precise tasks in the kitchen. That could fit the wine.
Or, could THE PARING be a reference to the price point? At only $25, these are wines that could be paired with your weeknight dinners. As everything seemingly grows pricier, The Paring gives wine lovers an appealing option.
The Pinot Noir 2024 ($25) still has an elusive, shy nature that subtly marries dark fruit, earthy notes and a mineral profile. The Red Blend 2024 is as playful and whimsical as Don Quixote or as fitting for our times as The Dude.
It pulls you in with raspberry, cherry, plum, anise, coffee grounds and just enough tannin to take on a serious tone that would make Ignatius J. Reilly blush.
And that’s what great art does — it’s what The Paring does — it opens up discussion. Because The Paring leans into accessibility through price, a greater audience can enjoy Dees’ deft touch while deciding just what the name means.
For producers like The Hilt and Jonata, it’s also a way to showcase the full potential of their vineyards. Not every barrel needs to be reserved for a top cuvée to be meaningful. In fact, some of the most compelling wines come from this middle ground, where intention meets flexibility.
For drinkers, it’s a rare alignment: elite winemaking, thoughtful sourcing and real value.
The Paring doesn’t just complement the portfolios of The Hilt and Jonata — it really ties the room together.
