Gift: Joy of Cooking

Rombauer was a household name for decades prior to Koerner and Joan founding Rombauer Vineyards in 1980. Irma Rombauer, Koerner’s great aunt, self-published the first edition of the iconic cookbook Joy of Cooking in 1931, and it is considered one of the most popular cookbooks in American history.After the winery was founded in 1980, Koerner often brought the cookbook to wine events to share the family connection and underscore the pleasure of pairing food and wine. Over time, Koerner began hosting wine dinners with his cousin Ethan Becker, Irma’s grandson and Joy coauthor. Ethan would select a menu from the cookbook, and Koerner would match the wines. It was a collaboration that resulted in many memorable culinary celebrations.

One of our guiding winemaking principles is to craft wines of great flavor and balance, both of which are important for pairing with food. Rombauer wines are highly versatile, intended to complement a wide variety of cuisines, including many of the 4,000 recipes contained in this most recent edition of the Joy of Cooking.

We believe that good food and great wine truly bring JOY to life.