Konect Magazine

When selecting a wine, I consider the weight of the food and find a similarly weighted wine. The key is to find balance; the wine shouldn’t dominate the food or vice versa. The wines tannin, acidity and alcohol should play a supporting role to the food and the wine act as a canvas for the ingredients of the dish. There were so many flavours in this dish to consider! Should I select a juicy fruit bomb of a wine? No, this would have been heavy handed, the juicy berry fruit drowning out the herbs. Perhaps a rose? No, a rose would get lost with the rich tannin and texture of the lamb.

Salads, quiche, antipasti, a rug and sunshine – it’s picnic season! Time to dine alfresco, enjoy the warmer weather with a picnic and a glass of wine.  Here are a few wine related essentials that will make their way into my picnic basket in the coming weeks.

Mountain wine conjures up scenes from Heidi or The Sound of Music – a beautiful mountain, clean air, alpine and edelweiss. Life on the mountain slope is hard. The steep vineyards, high altitude and thin soils pose a physical challenge to growers. Vines cling to the rocky ground, pushing roots deep into the available soil to establish themselves, finding pockets of moisture and nutrients. The tough growing conditions produce racy, lean wines well deserving of the wine awards and medals they win.

A client asked me to create an English food and wine tasting for her birthday. I was a little skeptical; I worried a line up of ‘plain Jane’ wine from...

For tender, delicate Spring lamb served rare, I recommend pairing with a young, light to medium bodied Pinot Noir. Bright cherry and fresh berry fruit, a subtle touch of oak and hint of spice. The tannic structure will be gentle and not dominate the palate. I recommend Domaine de Valmoissine Pinot Noir 2017, Louis Latour from Majestic Wine at £11.99.

A wine very different to the usual red wines we pair with savoury foods. The sweetness of the Birbét wine makes it the perfect accompaniment to a rich, dark chocolate torte or truffle. Chocolate and wine are indulgent and this combination is the perfect treat for mum on Mother’s Day.