Day 449 : A perfectly simple local pairing

This weather does not scream early May, maybe at best it is early April, but Spring surely doesn't feel as though it has sprung. So for a day like today, you need to kick that rainy, grey feeling with an uplifting and delish pairing!

My new favorite local New York State wine is the basis for this pairing -- Frost Cuvee produced by Hermann J. Wiemer vineyard in the Finger Lakes is a blend of Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. It is the perfect melange of sweetness, minerality, floral and fruity notes with a hint of spice. Light on its feet yet complex, this is a wine that delights across the board.  At $12 a bottle, it is a steal.

Keeping with the local theme, why not pair this with the creamy yet spicy Coach Farm Green Peppercorn Cone crafted in the Hudson Valley region? A bloomy rind goat's milk cheese that has been infused with green peppercorns for an excellent kick. At $5.99 for a cone, it too is an affordable splurge.

Just as our wine melds such distinct styles, so does our cheese -- light yet fullbodied, grassy and citrusy yet aromatic and spicy. The perfect pairing for a rainy May day or a sunny June afternoon.