Wine Cellar : : : : : : :
week of June 30th, 2008
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Two Wines to Serve With Almost Anything…
I don’t know about you, but sometimes dinner inspiration just doesn’t hit me before 5. After I forage through the frig, the results are often just a big salad with chicken, steak or chickpeas – or a piece of fish on the grill accompanied by a fresh vegetable, roasted potato or rice. It’s on these nights that I need an all purpose wine that I can serve with everything. So here they are – my go-to red and white. Easy to find at the local grocery store, and about $10, either of these wines would also be super to take along to a friend’s house for a casual dinner.
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Pinot Noir is one of the most versatile food pairing wines. It’s a light-style red that can be any range of colors – from cherry red to almost purple. Its typical flavors include strawberry, raspberry and plum. The pinot noir grape is the main grape used in much of Burgundy, France. When used to make wine in Burgundy, the wine is called “Burgundy” instead of Pinot Noir. Difficulties dog the production of Pinot Noir from vine to wine, so it is often not only expensive, but good Pinots are sometimes difficult to find.
Meet Hob Nob Pinot Noir. (Yes, that’s the Name.) This wine, from the South of France, is produced in a “new-world winemaking style” and aims to be “approachable, contemporary and fun”. And, it succeeds. You’ll catch an appealing fragrance of red cherry, earth and spice and taste cherry and strawberry jam with lovely raspberries and flavorful plums. This wine is a perfect pair* for anything from the grill, any light roasted meat like pork or chicken, or almost any dish made with mushrooms.
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Saint M Riesling is another food friendly wine. This wine is produced in Pfalz, Germany for the familiar Washington State Chateau Ste. Michelle winery. No longer relegated to the category of “sweet”, today interesting Riesling hails from places as far flung as Australia. Riesling is a white grape variety from the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling has a distinctive floral or apple-like aroma with a high level of acid that enables it to balance even high levels of sugar in the wine.
This appealing Riesling tastes zesty and fresh with an off-dry style complemented by crisp acidity. The flavor reminds me of peaches, apples, citrus and honey. Because it has only 11 percent alcohol, it’s a great choice for summer evenings. As an aperitif, creamy cheeses and nuts partner well with this delicious wine. Follow up with a light pasta, salad, white meat or veggie dish and you will discover a flavorful wine companion for dinner.
Wine Insider
When someone talks about a wine that is made in a “new-world winemaking style” they are typically referring to wines that possess a rich, fruity or jammy taste that are drinkable without ageing. This can also be called a “fruit forward” wine. That’s the good news. The bad news is that sometimes the style can also be interpreted to refer to a wine that is extremely high in alcohol and so jammy as to taste sweet. It also may refer to the use of American Oak Barrels, which can quickly impart a strong vanilla taste to wine.
*Look for the upcoming article, “Dance with the One that Brought You, or Why Wines Pair with Specific Foods”
Now it’s your turn to explore! Pinot Noirs and Rieslings are both extremely food friendly and accessible no matter where you live. Have fun experimenting, and choose your own “go-to” wines. |
