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I’m always intrigued by what people consider to be ‘food friendly’ wines. Often their choice is guided by little more than personal preference or regular buying habits. All well and good. But, as a rule, there’s no better guide than to turn to the wines of a given country or region from which the dish hails in the first place, such as France—or the Rhône Valley.
In our house, as winter morphs into the festive season, I find myself craving classic French dishes like Coq au Vin or Boeuf Bourguignon—cooked in my trusty Le Creuset Doufeu oven.
These days, more than ever, people are looking for wines which are generally more food friendly. I like to think that we’ve finally gotten past the days of those ‘over the top’ drops—from over-oaked whites to super-extracted reds—that ruled for way too long. They really are a thing of the past. After all—especially when it comes to pairing food and wine—‘bigger’ is not necessarily ‘better’. In fact it rarely ever is.
Rhône Valley wines not only deliver good value but they’re often very well suited to those kinds of classic tastes—any time of year.
Here’s a quintet to serenade the season—and to make your holiday fare even more festive!
Brotte La Fiole Côtes du Rhone 2015
This is a fun wine to try with luxuriant patés such as Oyama Sausage’s (Granville Island) ‘Creamy Porcini’ or Duck and Fig paté, as a streak of acidity cuts through the richness while the fruit plays along. The medium bodied blend of Grenache and Syrah yields a bright fruit-acid balance with hints of raspberry, wild blackberry and anise, with the acidity underpinning spice and peppery notes through the close. Good value at BCLS $17.49
Boutinot la Côte Sauvage Cairanne 2015
Grown on bush vines on the aptly named, pebble and limestone ‘wild slope’ above Cairanne, in southern Rhône, this blend of mainly Grenache Noir with Syrah, Carignan and Mouvedre is all about balance. A silky entry, raspberry and bright red berries with a hint of cassis, evolves into stony, mineral notes, well structured and complex. It’s not surprising that in 2018 Cairanne was granted its own AOC designation. Think Cassoulet or roast meats—like maybe turkey with cranberry sauce? BCLS $30.99.
Domaine Maby La Fermade Lirac 2015
From a long established family owned domaine, this blend of Grenache Noir (54%), Mouvedre (24%) and Syrah (22%) delivers up front red and black fruit aromas, before a plush and plummy palate, very approachable with structure and good balance, chalky tannins and herbal hints with a little spice towards the finish, before lingering pepper notes to close. I’ll be picking some up for our tourtiére (from Vancouver’s Les Amis du Fromage). BCLS $30.99
Domaine Lafond Roc Épine Tavel 2018
Think of Tavel as your wine and food pairing wild card. It’s one of the most flexible drops you can serve. More structured than your typical rosé, it leans more towards a lighter red in style. This hand-picked blend of mainly Grenache (60%) with Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan plus Clairette, Picpoul, Bourboulenc, and Mourvèdre gets up to 48 hours skin contact, that develops a delightful, deep pink hue. In fact it looks downright festive in the glass, But it’s also floral up front and complex on the palate with myriad layers of red and white fruit and spice notes. Savour it with everything from cocktail sausages or mini quiches, to baked ham, cioppino or paella. Your choice! BCLS $26.99
Gabriel Meffre Saint Vincent Côtes du Rhone Blanc 2018
The Rhône Valley is rightly regarded as primarily a red wine producing region. However, not to be overlooked are its whites. This tasty, workhorse blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette and Viognier sports floral and stone fruit with a touch of oak. Enjoy it, slightly chilled, with smoked salmon, prawns or scallops—or on its own, as a delightful welcome to your party. BCLS $17.99
And in case you’re still not convinced “There’s no place like ‘Rhone’ for the Holidays”, just to get you in the mood, there’s this:
This post is sponsored by
Oh Yummy….thanks Tim.