Chris Hill Gets Beefy With Wines!
Friday, 19 October 2007
Chris Hill gives a master class on the best wines with beef dishes.
. Tell us a few things about tasting wine with food:
1. Food and wine pairing is extremely subjective
2. It is more important that you like both rather then taking advice from others
. How do you go about choosing wine to go with beef:
1. Beef would generally go with red wines however that is not entirely true
2. A spicy delicate dish will go well with a good strong white wine
3. Red wines range greatly in style so it depends on the way that you prepare the beef
. What wine should you use for a sauce:
. Generally you would use a lower quality wine or one you have had open for a while
. It's not good to use wines that have been open in the cupboard for months
Fact:
Explain about vintages
. Vintage wines are dated to the year the grapes were harvested
. Non-vintage wines are wines that are blended from the juice of grapes from a number of years.
1 - Dry Riesling - Food Match - Beef Tacos
Name: Tesco Finest Alsace Riesling
Producer: Francis Klee
Vintage: 2005
Country & Region: Alsace, France
Grape Varieties: Riesling
Tasting Notes
A slightly more full-bodied Riesling, this floral wine has crisp peach and lime flavours, balanced by a ripe lingering aftertaste.
Food Matches
Particularly good with Thai food, especially the more fragrant dishes like Pad Thai rather than the fiery ones.
Interesting Stories: for the long established family firm of Kuehn, who have been based in the historic village of Ammerschwihr since 1675
Price: €9.99 Tesco
2 - Cotes-du-Rhone Food Match - Beef Bourginon
Name: Cotes-du-Rhones
Producer: Domaine Vins de Vienne
Vintage: 2004
Country & Region: Rhone Valley, France
Grape Varieties: Grenache/Syrah
Tasting Notes
A rounded juicy wine with flavours of black cherry and liquorice
Food Matches
Pair with hearty dishes such as roast beef
Interesting Stories on wine
Les Vins de Vienne was the name given to the wines of the Seyssuel region in Roman times, which were reportedly of some repute. Three talented wine makers, Yves Cuilleron, Pierre Gaillard and Francois Villard, from the Rhone have teamed up to resurrect this long-neglected vineyard.
Price: €11.95 Independent off licences nationwide / ww.bbr.com
3 Chianti Classico - Food Match - Steak
Name: Chianti Classico
Producer: Rocca delle Macie
Vintage: 2005
Country & Region: Tuscany in Italy
Grape Varieties: Sangiovese and a small amount of Canaiolo and Merlot
Tasting Notes
Medium to deep ruby colour with aromas of sour cherry, cranberry, cedar, camphor and violets. Dry, crisp, balanced with a warm cranberry fruit tone coming on in the mid palate. Medium-bodied with a lingering, warm fruit with a crisp finish.
Food Matches
On a hot summer day, serve slightly chilled with barbecued spicy Italian sausage or with an array of Italian cold cuts (particularly proscuitto).
Price: €14.00 Availability Independent off licences and wine shops nationwide.
4 Luigi Bosca Barbecue
Name: Luigi Bosca Malbec
Producer: Vistalba, Luigi Bosca
Vintage: 2003
Country & Region: Argentina, Mendoza
Grape Varieties: Malbec
Tasting Notes
Hugely mouth filling and rich, this is a seriously characterful red that has considerable complexity and elegance too. Dark cherries and earth aromas are matched on the palate with ripe tannins and plenty of body and richness.
Food Matches
A perfect wine with a steak, game and red meats.
Price: €15.50 Available at Independent off licences nationwide