5 Food and Wine Pairings from 5 Women in Winemaking
So you’ve cooked the perfect meal to satisfy your guests’ tummies but now, what about the wine? Pairing the ideal wine with your meal is an important part of any dinner party and one that is often overlooked. The ideal wine will help to enhance the flavours of your food and create a memorable experience for your guests. Of course, not everyone is a sommelier so we turned to 5 South African female winemakers to give us the low-down on their favourite food and wine pairings. The women were asked how they like to pair their favourite wines from their own winery so you’ll know exactly what combos to turn to for your next dinner party.
Andrea Mullineux – Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines
Andrea Mullineux is the winemaker at Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines and is also a member of the Cape Winemakers Guild.
Her favourite pairings: “I am loving our Mullineux White made from some of the oldest vines in the Swartland,” said Mullineux. “It is very complex and not too acidic so it goes with many different types of food, but my favourite pairing is a nice pork belly with crackling. The clovey spiciness and deep fruit concentration of this Chenin Blanc based blend works really well with the nutty richness of the pork belly.”
Click here for more information on Mullineux a& Leeu wines.
Rianie Strydom – Strydom Family Wines
Rianie Strydom is the winemaker at Strydom Family Wines and is a member of Cape Winemakers Guild.
Her favourite pairings: “My favourite wine is the Haskell IV which pairs beautifully with rib-eye steak or a lovely roasted leg of lamb,” said Strydom.
Click here for more information on Strydom Family Wines.
Elunda Basson – House of J.C. Le Roux
Elunda Basson is the Cellarmaster at the House of J.C. Le Roux.
Her favourite pairings: When relaxing at home with her husband and two children, Elunda’s favourite Méthode Cap Classique is the J.C. Le Roux prestige cuvée, Scintilla 2008, as it is such a fresh, vibrant and utterly invigorating bottle fermented sparkling wine that is easy to enjoy on any occasion.
“I am a big fan of sushi and Scintilla as this is an absolute knock-out pairing come winter or summer,” says Basson. “It is absolutely divine!”
Click here for more info on J.C Le Roux.
Elmarie Botes – Fleur du Cap
Elmarie Botes is the assistant winemaker at Fleur du Cap.
Her favourite pairings: “My favourite wine from the Fleur du Cap range would definitely be the Unfiltered Chardonnay 2014. This is a complex Chardonnay with layers of fruit, well-balanced acidity and hints of almonds,” says Botes. “The wine just keeps evolving in the glass, making it always interesting to take another sip. Fleur du Cap launched a wine and salt experience recipe book. In this book, the wine is paired with Pastrami Trout and Persian blue salt, and to date this was one of the best pairings I’ve had with the Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Chardonnay.”
Love the sound of the salt experience recipe book? Click here to download it FREE now and then click here for more info on Fleur du Cap.
Rose Kruger – Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé
Rose Kruger is a Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé.
Her favourite pairings: “One of my absolute favourite De Grendel wines has definitely got to be the Rubaiyat, a Bordeaux red,” says Kruger. “The name and story behind the wine is such a fascinating one and displays various quotes from the Omar Khayyam book, Rubaiyat. This I’d pair with a nice boeuf bourguignon or a stuffed lamb shoulder with rosemary and thyme. The Rubaiyat has nice firm tannins, which will assist with the refreshing of the palate after each bite.”