Tomato Terroir: A Global Tasting Through a Southern Lens

Drawn from the 70+ tomato varieties grown by local farmers, we’ll reimagine peak-season selections through global cheese & wine pairings.

Tomato Terroir: A Global Tasting Through a Southern Lens
4:00–5:00pm · only 14 seats

At the height of tomato season, we’re taking a different approach.

In this guided tasting, we’ll explore the idea of constructed terroir—how a single ingredient, grown here in North Carolina, can be reframed through the lens of global food traditions. Using peak-season tomatoes as our constant, we’ll build pairings that evoke regions far beyond our borders—from the Loire Valley to coastal Spain to the American South.

All tomatoes are sourced from the Carrboro Farmers’ Market, where, at the height of the season, local growers bring in an astonishing range—more than 70 varieties in peak weeks alone. From Sun Gold and Cherokee Purple to Brandywine and Black Krim, each offers a different structure to work with. A rich, low-acid Cherokee Purple, for example, might be paired with fresh chèvre and a mineral-driven Sancerre to evoke the Loire Valley, where acidity and freshness sharpen and frame the fruit. Or a bright, high-acid Sun Gold tomato could be layered with aged Parmigiano Reggiano and olive oil alongside a saline white from coastal Italy, building something that feels unmistakably Mediterranean—despite the tomato being grown just miles from the bar.

Each combination is built around structure—acidity, sweetness, texture, and ripeness—and how those elements shape the way tomatoes interact with cheese and wine. As the context shifts, so does the sense of place.

This is a fast-paced, intimate tasting designed to sharpen your instincts and expand how you think about pairing—part study, part experiment, and entirely unique to Wedgewood.

Includes:

• 4 tomato, cheese & wine pairings inspired by far-flung global regions
• Guided tasting at the cheese bar
• Guaranteed bar seating for dinner immediately following the class, with reservations secured via OpenTable for our high-demand Tomato Menu Takeover (*Thursday is half price wine night)
• Wedgewood ‘Mater Week swag