California Wines at CHECA

This June, CHECA is joining the California Wines By The Glass campaign, a European initiative celebrating the diversity, quality and personality of California wines.

For four weeks, we will be pouring a dedicated selection of California wines by the glass, featuring coastal Chardonnay, fresh Chenin Blanc, expressive Trousseau Gris, generous Cabernet Sauvignon and elegant Pinot Noir. The selection reflects a broader side of California: not only richness and sunshine, but also freshness, texture, elegance and food-friendly character.

At CHECA, wine is part of the experience. Our menu is designed as a journey through Peruvian flavours — from ceviche, tiraditos and seafood starters to warm dishes, anticuchos, pulpo and sharing plates. For this campaign, we have selected wines that bring a new perspective to that journey: bright, expressive, generous and deeply suited to food.

California Wines by the Glass

White Wines

• Cannonball Chardonnay 2022 — California
  A generous and approachable California Chardonnay, with ripe fruit, round texture and a smooth, easy-drinking finish. A great introduction to the by-the-glass selection.
• Lieu Dit Chenin Blanc 2024 — Santa Ynez Valley, California
  Fresh, citrus-driven and mineral, this Chenin Blanc brings energy and precision to the glass. A beautiful match for ceviche, tiraditos and dishes built around lime, fish and freshness.
• Tyler Chardonnay 2023 — Santa Barbara County, California
  Elegant, balanced and refined, with freshness, texture and a coastal character. A more precise expression of California Chardonnay, ideal for seafood and delicate dishes.
• Jolie Laide Trousseau Gris 2024 — Russian River Valley, California
  Aromatic, textured and vibrant — one of the most distinctive wines in the selection. Floral notes, freshness and structure make it especially interesting with seafood, spice and citrus.

Red Wines

• Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 — California
  A classic, generous California Cabernet Sauvignon with dark fruit, structure and warmth. Best with richer warm dishes and deeper flavours.
• Cruse Wine Co. Monkey Jacket 2021 — California
  Juicy, fresh and energetic, Monkey Jacket shows a lighter and more playful side of California red wine. A great choice for grilled, smoky and spicy dishes.
• Calera Pinot Noir 2023 — Central Coast, California
  Silky, elegant and expressive, with red fruit, gentle spice and a beautiful balance between freshness and depth. A natural match for braised pulpo.
• Tyler Pinot Noir 2023 — Santa Barbara County, California
  A refined and graceful Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County, showing purity, elegance and a long finish. A great red for guests looking for freshness, finesse and a more delicate pairing.

Our Favourite Pairings

White wines with ceviche, tiraditos and seafood

The white wines in this selection are especially suited to the fresh side of the CHECA menu. Lime, seafood, chili, herbs and acidity need wines with freshness, but also enough texture to stand beside Peruvian flavours.

• Cannonball Chardonnay with scallop ceviche
  The roundness of the Chardonnay balances the lime and highlights the delicate sweetness of the scallops.
• Lieu Dit Chenin Blanc with fresh fish ceviche or tiradito
  Its citrus, freshness and mineral tension make it one of the most precise pairings for white fish, lime and bright Peruvian flavours.
• Tyler Chardonnay with scallop ceviche or parmesan scallops
  Elegant and textured, it works beautifully with both fresh seafood and slightly richer preparations.
• Jolie Laide Trousseau Gris with tuna Nikkei ceviche
  Aromatic and textured, it pairs especially well with tuna, soy, chili and citrus.

Red wines with warm medium dishes

For the warm side of the menu, we have selected reds that bring fruit, freshness and balance rather than heaviness. These wines are ideal with grilled, braised and savoury Peruvian dishes.

• Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon with adobo pork belly
  Dark fruit and structure make it a strong match for rich, savoury and slow-cooked flavours.
• Cruse Wine Co. Monkey Jacket with anticuchos de corazón
  Juicy and fresh, with enough lift for spice, smoke and grilled meat.
• Calera Pinot Noir with braised pulpo
  One of our favourite pairings of the campaign. The wine's silky texture, red fruit and gentle spice pair beautifully with the richness of the octopus and the depth of the sauce.
• Tyler Pinot Noir with fish escabeche or braised pulpo
  Refined and fresh, with enough elegance for seafood and enough depth for warm dishes.

California Through a Peruvian Lens

California wine is often associated with generosity and sunshine, but this selection also shows another side of the region: freshness, elegance, coastal influence and diversity.

From Santa Ynez Valley Chenin Blanc to Santa Barbara Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Central Coast Pinot Noir and Russian River Valley Trousseau Gris, these wines offer a beautiful contrast to the acidity, spice, brightness and depth of Peruvian cooking.

The California Wines By The Glass selection will be available at CHECA throughout June. Come by, try a glass, discover a new favourite, and enjoy California wines through a Peruvian lens.

Available throughout June at CHECA.

Explore our full food and drinks menu, or read more stories from the kitchen in the CHECA Journal.