The Perfect Summer Wine
The Sun is out, the barbecue is on, good friends are coming over and it’s time to open a bottle of wine. We’ve teamed up with Dina Hazane, the Head Sommelier at the new Hotel du Vin on Rother Street in Stratford-Upon-Avon to help you explore new wine pairings this summer. As Dina explains, “a well paired wine should create harmony with main ingredients and enhance the flavour of the food. Don’t be afraid to experiment - you might be pleasantly surprised how a familiar recipe can be transformed by unusual wine pairing.”
Here are Dina’s top tips and suggestions to excite you and your guests this summer;
Tasty Fresh Prawns – perfect with fresh and mineral flavours of Albariño from Spain, often underappreciated, yet a beautiful choice for long summer evenings. If opting for spicy marinade, Dina recommends pairing it with an off-dry Gewürzstraminer, the wine that derives its name from German "Gewürz" meaning "herb" or "spice".
BBQ Salmon – You can’t beat a juicy Provence Rosé or lighter reds like Beaujolais. When adding sweet and sour sauce or spicy marinade try it with New World Riesling, as sweetness in Riesling offsets the spice flavours.
Juicy Chargrilled Chicken – Choose an Oaked Style Chardonnay with tropical fruit flavours or richer style Viognier with hints of stone fruits. For the red wine drinkers serve a lighter red from the Loire Valley, slightly chilled.
Zingy Halloumi Skewers – Enhanced by a Zesty and aromatic Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand or a bit more tropical Chenin Blanc from South Africa.
Hearty home Beefy Burgers – To heighten the Peppery flavour of burgers pair them wonderfully with spicier grape varieties, like Shiraz and Zinfandel, or Rhône Valley reds.
Sizzling Sausages – Fantastically paired with ripe reds with earthy undertones from Southern France, like Minervois or smoky Spanish Rioja.
A succulent Steak on the Barbie – for a classic food and wine pairing serve rich Argentinean Malbec with dark fruit flavours and smooth tannins or if it is a special occasion, a nice bottle of red Bordeaux.
The main thing Dina suggests is to “Be brave, and enjoy trying something new with friends. Delight in giving your familiar BBQ crowd pleasers a new lease of life this summer.”
Discover more at Hotel du Vins Albariño wine dinner on August 16th where Dina and team will take you on a journey to discover other great food pairings for this famous grape variety.
