This week on WG TV Erin shares a fun overview from the first episode in the Wine in the Kitchen series – the Basics of Wine
Posts Tagged ‘France’
Pierre Sparr Cremant d’ Alsace
Thursday, February 25th, 2010I am always looking for a great bottle of bubbles and when that bottle also happens to be a very well priced one, than that is even better, so you will be happy to know that this weeks wine review fits into both of these categories.
The first thing you will notice when you pour a glass of this wine is it’s golden colour and lively bubbles and once you pick it up and smell it, you will be greeted with a wonderful nose filled with warm vanilla, butterscotch, ripe apples, pears, and a hint of lemon. On the palate this wine delivers all that it promised on the nose with each sip bringing all the rich flavours together mixed in with delightfully soft bubbles.
This wine is a fuller bodied style of sparkling wine and so it will pair wonderfully with heavier dishes such as, roast poultry dishes, eggs benedict, popcorn with butter, grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroni and cheese.
Retails between $22.00 – 28.00 across the country
Third Day of Christmas
Monday, December 14th, 2009On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
Vouvray, France (Chenin Blanc) and chicken pot pie
For the third day of Christmas I thought it was time for something savoury and homemade chicken pot pie is a personal favorite of mine. I thought it would be fun to include it in our Twelve days of Christmas food and wine pairing count down.
With a hot dish filled with pastry, chicken, vegetables and a creamy sauce, a glass or two of Chenin Blanc is an outstanding pairing. I enjoy Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley in France where it will be labeled as Vouvray after the area that it is grown. You can try Chenin Blancs from other places in the world as well, like South Africa – which is developing a reputation for this varietal. Wines made from Chenin Blanc offer a lovely alternative to Chardonnay and are a delightful option anytime you are looking for a full bodied white wine.
Chicken Pot Pie
First Day of Christmas…
Saturday, December 12th, 2009
On the first day of Christmas,my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
Pear Tarte Tatin with vanilla ice cream and Alsatian Vendange Tardive, France
For the first day of Christmas it seemed only right to do a traditional winter dish and wine pairing. A pear Tarte Tartin is a twist on the classic French apple upside-down pie. The fruit is caramelized in a pan with pastry on top, then finished in the oven and flipped to serve.
The wine pairing is a speciality from the French region of Alsace. The name Vendange Tardive means late harvest which means that the grapes have been left on the vine longer then normal and picked when their sugar levels are higher. Grapes begin to dry out when they are left on the vine longer and this concentrates their sugars. If you haven’t tried one of these wines before it is a great time of year to open up a bottle and share with friends over a fabulous cake. These wines will be sweet but not gooey and are a perfect way to end a day. Serve slightly chilled and enjoy!
Domaine de la Chapelle, Pouilly-Fuisse
Friday, December 11th, 2009This time of year people are always asking about wines that would pair well with holiday dinners and this wine is definitely on top of my personal list. Wines from Pouilly-Fuisse, which is an area in Burgundy France, are made from 100% Chardonnay and will be medium to full bodied, creamy, and have a richness to them that helps them pair perfectly with the traditional turkey dinner that many of us serve.
The wine by Domain de la Chapelle, is a beautiful example of wines from this region. This wine is medium bodied and filled with the flavours of apples, pears, warm bread dough, hints of warm lemon, soft oak and almonds. I love it! I like to serve this wine just slightly chilled so that the richness of it can better express its self then if served colder.
This wine is made from a smaller producer so it might be a bit harder to find, but it is well worth the search. If this wine is not available in your area there will be other wines from this region, so just as at your local shop for them to help you to find a wine from the region of Pouilly-Fuisse in France and I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I do. Cheers.
Domaine de la Chapelle
Wolfberger, Cremant D’Alsace, France
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009The Wolfberger Cremant d’Alsace is a delicious sparkling wine that is made in the same method as Champagne. That means that it will have lots of tiny, lively and long lasting bubbles just waiting to tickle your nose as you enjoy every sip. This wine is made from a blend of 80% Pinot Blanc and the other 20% is made up of a mix of Riesling, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. It will fill your glass with the flavours of ripe apple, pear, hints of peach and apricot and just a touch of warm toast. In the glass it is a rich honey colour and aromatic to the nose.
Enjoy this wine with creamy cheeses, brunch dishes, patés and French onion soup, or just a great book and bubble bath.
Retailing between $18.00 – 25.00 this wine is an outstanding value!
