As the weather cools, we enjoy heartier dishes, including comfort food. But which wines should you pair with them? Here with her tips is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com.
First off, are there such things as comfort wines?
After much research on this topic, I concluded there were no “uncomfortable wines” since I found them all of great comfort. However, I found that certain wines tend to pair better with comfort food than others.
Great! Tell us about your first pairing.
Comfort food tends to have rich, robust flavours. For these dishes, I’d pair full-bodied red wines, such as these two:
Benziger Sonoma County Merlot
Sonoma County, California, United States
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
Louis M. Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Napa Valley, California, United States
They’d be perfect with hearty, meat dishes such as beef prime rib with Yorkshire pudding, or barbecued pork ribs that are so tender and juicy they fall off the bone.
Looks delicious. What do you suggest next?
The holidays are right around the corner, so I’d suggest having a couple of celebratory sparkling wines, like these two:
Mionetto Extra Dry Rosé Millesimato Prosecco
Veneto, Prosecco Rosé D.O.C., Italy
Peller Estates Signature Series Ice Cuvée Sparkling Rosé
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada
They’d be perfect with roast turkey or creamy chicken tarragon dish.
What are your final pairings?
I don’t want to leave out white wine lovers. For grilled salmon go with this luscious Light Hearted Chardonnay from Cupcake in California. It has just 100 calories but still tastes luscious with buttery citrus notes.
Or you could try this zesty Fontanafredda Roero Arneis from Italy that has the racy acidity to cut through a cheesy Margherita pizza.
Cupcake Vineyards Light Hearted Chardonnay
California, United States
Fontanafredda Pradalupo Roero Arneis
Piedmont D.O.C.G., Italy
Thank you, Natalie. You can find all the wines Natalie mentioned today, plus her courses at nataliemaclean.com.
Posted with permission of CTV.
