Cinco de Mayo Entertaining: Tamales & Wine Pairings

Meet the Heart Behind the Recipe – Griselda Candelario

Griselda Candelario joined the ONEHOPE team in May 2019, just months after we opened the doors to our Napa Valley home, Estate 8. As the fearless leader of our housekeeping team, Griselda brings hard work, dedication, and undeniable joy into every space she touches. And as we prepare for Cinco de Mayo entertaining, we’re sharing her most beloved recipe—a tamale tradition that brings people together in the most delicious way.

Griselda’s Tamale Recipe

Makes 36 tamales

Filling

Ingredients:

• 5 serrano chilis
• 7 tomatillo chilis
• 1 cup water
• 1 clove garlic
• 5 whole peppercorns
• 5 whole cloves

Instructions:

1. Set a medium sized pot on the stove and add in serrano and tomatillo chilis with the water and bring to a boil for 10 minutes. Add the garlic, cloves and peppercorns and transfer over to a blender. Blend until smooth. 
2. Set mixture in a bowl and toss in the shredded chicken (recipe below)

Chicken Prep

Ingredients:

• 1 chicken breast
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tablespoon salt

Instructions:

1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add chicken breast, garlic and salt to the water, and reduce the heat to let simmer for 30 minutes until the meat is soft & tender. Remove from the water, set aside and let cool. Save 4 cups of the cooking water. Use your hands to shred the chicken and combine with the filling (recipe above). 

Masa

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of corn husks (about 36 husks)
• 1 (5 pound bag) masa
• 2 cups crisco

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the masa, crisco and 4 cups of the cooking water from the chicken. Use a large spoon or rubber spatula to combine all ingredients together. Then use your hands to knead for 3 minutes.
2. Rinse husks in water until clean. Pat dry with paper towels. Spread ¼ cup of masa on the entire surface of the husk. Add 2 tablespoons of the chicken mixture on top of the masa. Fold the masa on the sides of the husk over the chicken mixture to seal it. Repeat with the remainder of the husks. 
3. Set 2 cups of water in a large double boiler pot, and set on the stove over medium heat. Pile all tamales inside the pot, and cook for 2 ½ hours. Remove the tamales from the pot and serve while hot.

Spicy Salsa & Toppings for Cinco de Mayo Entertaining

Ingredients:

• 4 roma tomatoes
• 5 jalapeno peppers (Remove seeds from 4 of the 5 – too much spice will clash with the rosé. That said, Griselda likes her tamales spicy and leaves ALL of the seeds in 🙂 
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 teaspoon salt 

Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Put tomatoes and jalapenos in the water, and boil for 10 minutes. Remove from water and put in a blender with garlic and salt. Puree in the blender for 1 minute until smooth. 
2. Pour over each tamale and garnish with toppings of your choice, listed below.

Toppings:

• Iceberg lettuce
• Cotija cheese
• Oaxaca cheese
• Griselda’s Special Spicy Sauce
• 4 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 white onion, chopped
• 1 cup sour cream

Cinco de Mayo Wine Pairings That Bring the Fiesta to Life

There’s no better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than with food made from the heart, paired with wines that bring every flavor to life.

Rosé & Tamales — A Love Language

Pair with: Love Language Rosé

Why It Works: This pairing is a crowd-pleaser for good reason. The rosé’s fresh red berry notes echo the warmth of Griselda’s tomato-based salsa, while its acidity complements the juicy, shredded chicken. It’s light, refreshing, and won’t overpower the dish.

Red Blend – A Little Bolder, Yet Balanced

Pair with: Field to Table Red Blend

Why It Works: Most red wines would be too bold and overpowering for a dish like tamales, but since this blend is largely Pinot Noir, this medium body grape is a good match for poultry. Tomato + spice + chicken = Pinot’s sweet spot. Its bright acidity and soft tannins won’t fight the sauce, and the red berry notes complement the mild heat.

Sweet Meets Spicy with Moscato

Pair with: California Moscato

Every party has that one friend who only drinks white wine—enter Moscato. Slightly sweet and unique, it balances heat from the salsa and complements the tamale’s rich masa texture.

There’s no better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than with food made from the heart, paired with wines that bring every flavor to life. From Griselda’s cherished tamales to the perfect glass of wine that gives back, we hope you enjoy the holiday with your loved ones. 

Shop our featured wines now and build your perfect Cinco de Mayo tasting experience.