Hi out there to all you oenophiles. As a foodie and a wine drinker, I live to pair. It’s always safe to go with classic pairings, but I want to live on the wild side. So here’s a few fun pairings to try during the “dog days” of summer.
Do you like rosé? I’m a full fledged lover of a glass of rosé in the summer. I try to pair the wine based on the origin of the wine. Is it a rosé of Pinot noir or Grenache? Where in the world is it from? Because of all the blush wines sold in the U.S., the rosés from France are very affordable and the Provence rosés are a personal favorite and under $20 for a great one.
What pairs best with a French rosé? My favorites are a great salad with beets or berries. But another great option is to play to the sweet part of the wine. For that I would go with bacon wrapped water chestnuts or even a pork tenderloin satè.
My other favorites summer wines are Pinot blanc and sparkling wines. Oregon Pinot blanc is a fast growing varietal and it’s delicious as a general rule. It’s typically under $20 and pairs with raw and cooked seafood. I love it with cooked oysters, spicy shrimp and crab cakes. Very elegant dish is a crab cake, with garlic aioli and a chilled glass of Pinot blanc.
As for sparkling wines, who doesn’t love bubbles? It has been a long held belief that champagne and bubbles in general are “special occasion” beverages. It generally makes your guests feel special and is a great way to start a gathering. You can expect a great bottle of Proseco for $20 or less and very good champagne can be bought for $50 or less.
So what goes with “bubbles?” My first answer is everything, but all kidding aside, a few great options are salty foods for dry or “Brut” sparkling wines and spicy foods for sweeter or “Demi Sac” or “Sac” wines. If you want to WOW your guests, try some deviled eggs with fish roe (caviar) for less than $10 for 24 servings. As for spicy, try some homemade nut mix with cayenne pepper and rosemary.
It’s my goal to help you have the best “Dog Day Afternoon” or evening soirée. Want a recipe or a wine label suggestion? Leave me a comment. Cheers!