I love wine. Maybe I shouldn’t say that so freely but I do. Wine is one of my weaknesses. What I do struggle with is what kind of wine to drink when and with what foods. I drink the wine because I like it, but there is so much more to this delicious beverage. This is a guest post I am sharing today to hopefully shed some light on the wine questions I have not been able to answer. Are you a wine drinker? You may want to check this out as well!
Sitting around the table for Christmas dinner is a decadent affair, ripe with opportunities to deploy an appropriate and comforting bottle of wine. While it’s easy to forget and pick up any old table tipple in the maelstrom of preparations for the big day, a little preparation can transport your turkey-gobbling to transcendent new levels of bacchanalian delight.
Opting for a service that offers wine delivery uk can ensure you get your grape based goodies in quick fashion. You could be revered among friends and family, for your memorable choices for years to come. So press pause on your parsnip preparation and surrender your potato peeler. Let’s talk about wine, and how best to enjoy it this Christmas…
The aperitif
Traditionally, an aperitif of chilled-to-a-crisp champagne is considered an appropriate choice for pre-dinner drinks. A smoked salmon or oyster amuse-bouche will perk up on the palate considerably when served with spangling Champagne – the acidity in the champagne sears through oiliness like lemon, and will cleanse the palate for ensuing dishes.
The main event
With its preponderance of inevitable trimmings and accessories, it would be ill-advised to consider the turkey as a solo participant in your matchmaking endeavours. Meaty sausages, herby sauces and gravy all add to the palate of flavours painting the masterpiece that is the traditional Christmas meal. Seek out something full-bodied in the way of a Chardonnay, or explore the options presented by a herby Sauvignon Blanc. If you prefer to offer both red and white options at your table, leave a Pinot Noir on standby – its light characteristics will complement the trimmings without overwhelming them.
The dessert
The luxuriance of Christmas pudding demands a wine with authority. Forget frail, sweet desert wines like Muscat, and instead crack open a bottle of port to brawl it out on the palate in a boozy, decadent flavour fracas. If you are offering a less than traditional chocolate desert, pugnacious port will tackle this too. Just remember to leave some space for the cheese course.
The cheese
You may be losing stamina at this stage, and feeling a little pickled, but after-dinner conversation over cheese is always the most stimulating. Your port will transition easily here, with enough brawn to subdue even the most obnoxiously pungent stilton.
Don’t forget the process of pairing food and wine is all about experimentation! Enjoy trying lots of new things, you’ll be surprised at how reactive your palate can be when you test it out!
There are a number of places you can look to get more information about wine and wine pairings. Be sure to check them out!
http://www.myrecipes.com/menus/fall-winter-food-wine-pairings
http://www.bbr.com/wine-knowledge/xmas-main
http://wine.about.com/od/holidayswithwine/a/Christmasdinner.htm
http://www.matchingfoodandwine.com/news/wine_pros/tag/food:soups%20(and)%20starters/
http://www.bbr.com/wine-knowledge/xmas-main
http://wine.about.com/od/holidayswithwine/a/thanksgivingwin.htm
What is your favorite food to eat with wine? Will wine be on your holiday table?
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