Okay, big game hunters. Your day has arrived. Never again will
you have to struggle with which wine to serve with your latest
conquest. Is it Vouvray with Venison? Bordeaux with bear? Pinot
Grigio with grouse? Sauvignon with salmon?
Okay, big game hunters. Your day has arrived. Never again will you have to struggle with which wine to serve with your latest conquest. Is it Vouvray with Venison? Bordeaux with bear? Pinot Grigio with grouse? Sauvignon with salmon?
American businesses have genius for recognizing an untapped market. Rancho Arroyo Grande in southern San Luis Obispo County is no exception.
The company is a relatively new producer – their first release was the 2001 vintage – of well-respected Chardonnay, Syrah and Zinfandel and is located in an idyllic valley east of Arroyo Grande, near Pismo Beach. Their wines are targeted to high-end wine shops and gourmet restaurants.
But one fine day, operations manager Bob Steddum had a brainstorm. A way to introduce a whole new species of customer to the pleasures of wine.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there were 14 million hunters in 1996, and they spent an average of $1,475 on their sport. That translates to some real big “bucks.” Twenty-point-six-five billion of them. And don’t even get me started on fishermen.
“I thought, ‘why not focus on the American sportsman?'” Bob said. He sold winery owner Gary Verboon on the idea and River Wild WildGame Blends were born.
There are four blends (slogan: “Your passion is our motivation”): Trout Blend is designed to accompany freshwater fish such as trout, bass, salmon, catfish and also many ocean game fish.
Wild Turkey Blend is intended to go with its namesake – the game bird, not the bourbon.
Bob says that Venison Blend enhances not only deer, but also elk, antelope and even buffalo. This would probably be your best bet to serve with that moose.
The fourth in the WildGame lineup is a Waterfowl Blend that goes well with not only duck and goose, but also wild boar and even pork (in case your hunting skills are limited to stalking the meat section of Safeway).
Rancho Arroyo Grande enlisted the help of Eric Hickey, a legendary SLO winemaker, to assist in specifically blending the wines to pair well with the intended meats. Wouldn’t it have been fun to be a fly on the wall at those sessions? I can just imagine a bunch of guys dressed in plaid shirts and camo pants sitting around a groaning table heaped with all manner of roasted beast, tasting this and that with their hands and having a good-old-boy good time in the name of “research.” Makes me think I’m definitely in the wrong line of work.
Even if the idea of field dressing a caribou leaves you a bit squeamish, you can still get some exotic game meat to go with WildGame blends.
A quick Google search brings up dozens of companies that sell such exotic products as Elk Tamales, Texas Exotic Venison Patties, Blackwing Ground Ostrich Meat, Free Range Quails, Chicken Gizzards (why on earth anyone would order chicken gizzards on the Internet – at $1.89 a pound – is way beyond me) and Bison Filet Mignon.
These days Bob is the marketing manager for the brand, and he spends a good deal of time traveling to outdoor sports trade shows throughout the United States and Canada.
“Our booth is always swamped,” Bob said. Sales are going well, and plans are afoot for WildGame Blends to attain statewide California distribution soon.
Bob, it turns out, is a master at cross-marketing. Early on he forged a partnership with Mossy Oak, an industry leader in the camouflage apparel game. I interviewed Bob in his office, and while doing so, was seated on a Mossy Oak camo-pattern sofa. Made me wonder if he could see me. Each label of WildGame Blend wines is bordered with the camouflage pattern appropriate to hunting the game that the wine is intended for.
The Wild Turkey Blend also happens to pair nicely with the domestic variety of bird, and with Thanksgiving approaching, maybe it would be fun to pick up a bottle. Then you could regale your family and friends with tales of stalking the wily Butterball through the frozen food section, and tell them about the 18-pounder that got away at the last second by ducking behind the Fudgesicles.
