Published: Thursday, September 15, 2016
Back in July, I showcased Gaspereau Vineyards Riesling from the Annapolis Valley. Pale lemon in colour, this wine exemplifies flavours of meyer lemon zest and golden delicious apples on both the nose and the palate. And although this wine proved itself to be a delightful pairing for a cheese and charcuterie platter, that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the versatility of this varietal.
Riesling, a varietal that is known to most for its German heritage, was a large hit when sweeter wines were in fashion, but has since lost some of its mass appeal. One reason is that German Riesling exports often tend to be ‘table wines’ or everyday wines that are simple and quite sweet without substantial depth or acidity to balance the wine. Another reason is Riesling’s ability to transform a variety of different cuisines is not fully understood by many wine lovers. However, this varietal has the potential to be so much more than one-dimensional.
When done well, Riesling is vibrant, energetic and crisp. Its high acidity makes the element of sweetness that is present non-cloying and light on its feet. Gaspereau Riesling personifies this to a “T” and makes it a fantastic pairing for a diversity of Nova Scotia recipes. A popular dish that has been perfected by the Waterfront Warehouse’s Chef Darcy Brown is the adored bacon wrapped scallops. His version matches salty bacon and juicy Digby scallops, and then finishes with a chipotle mango spice that gives a bit of heat to the combo. When you try this pairing, you will see for yourself how the off dry nature of the Riesling and its bright acidity is a match made in heaven for this crustacean sensation… Cheers!