Unusual Wine Pairing Request

[thecooktoo]

I have been asked to do a Wine Pairing with a couple of unusual menu items and would appreciate any contributions any of you would like to make.

The first one is an Asian Salmon and Rice Soup, major ingredient is salmon in an asian chicken broth with a little soy, cilantro, ginger and sesame oil. My first thought was Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris, but after looking at it, not sure that would work. I feel sure that a good Lager Beer would work and know full well that a good sake would make it...but I need wine.

Second is a Nicoise Salad made with grilled chicken rather than Tuna...otherwise basically the same. Plan on using a nice buttery California Chard...any other suggestons?

Finally...a Paprika Roasted Leg of Lamb...I know that I can always use an Australian Shiraz, but looking for something different, was consiering maybe a South African, like the Indaba Syrah...any other suggestions.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Jim

[cheztom]

Well for the paprika lamb, my first thought was go with a Spanish wine. Something thin and red.

The Nicoise? California Chardonnay. (hey you've already pi$$ed off the French with your nicoise chicken varient, why not finish the job by using a california wine?)

With the salmon - a tiny, yet elegant glass of high quality plum wine. Or if that's too fruity cloying, go with something bone dry from Oz.

[lebelage]

If you're thinking South African for the lamb a nice Pinotage would be stunning... and unusual. Most Americans have never had a Pinotage.

Willikenzie from Oregon makes a really nice Gamay Noir thta would be excellent too.

For the salmon/rice... well, I've never been a huge fan of wine with soup... but a chenin blanc/semillon blend would be nice and I do think that a sancerre of the less austere school could go well too.

[cheztom]

Pinotage, what is that, J?

[Flattop]

Gewürztraminer is nice match with sushi, I would thing that it would go well with the salmon rice soup seeing what the ingredients are..

[lebelage]

Tom...
http://www.pinotage.co.za/

[mark1]

I'd go a little different from your other suggestions. For the soup, either prosecco or a nice dry cote de rhone rose.
For the salad I'd try a viognier like Grey Wolf from Central Coast, Calif.
For the lamb, think I'd go either for a pinot, meritage or a barolo.

[cjs]

a couple more suggestions -
the soup - spatlese Riesling

salad - I'm with Mark on the Viognier or Spanish Rosado, even a zin.

lamb - shiraz, barolo

Have fun and let us know what pairings you go with -

[ChefJune]

I have been asked to do a Wine Pairing with a couple of unusual menu items and would appreciate any contributions any of you would like to make.

The first one is an Asian Salmon and Rice Soup, major ingredient is salmon in an asian chicken broth with a little soy, cilantro, ginger and sesame oil. My first thought was Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris, but after looking at it, not sure that would work. I feel sure that a good Lager Beer would work and know full well that a good sake would make it...but I need wine.

I'd choose a Sparkling wine here, Cava would work, or Prosecco. If you don't want sparkling, I think a German Riesling (Spatlese) would pair well with the Asian flavors.

Second is a Nicoise Salad made with grilled chicken rather than Tuna...otherwise basically the same. Plan on using a nice buttery California Chard...any other suggestons?

Here's where I'd choose a Rose from Provence. Don't know what your budget is, but they can run anywhere from $8 to $32. I definitely wouldn't use a buttery Chardonnay.

Finally...a Paprika Roasted Leg of Lamb...I know that I can always use an Australian Shiraz, but looking for something different, was consiering maybe a South African, like the Indaba Syrah...any other suggestions.

I like Janis' suggestion of Pinotage better than Syrah with the paprika... Aussie Shiraz would work, but to me you'd have to go with one that costs at least $20 to do the lamb justice. Don't know what your budget is, but...

And for dessert? no dessert wine?



Jim [/quote]

[thecooktoo]

I teach a wine pairing class once a month for the local Parks and Rec department. I've had 75% repeat students in all the classes for the last three years, sometimes 100$ repeats.

In these classes we do a participation cooking class with the 12 students divided into three groups, and each group prepares a different item. They have to be done in and h our and a half. Then we clean up, get out the wine glasses and taste at least three wines with each food item. In a class earlier this year, I passed out a questionaire asking for input on a class, telling them I would do a class with whatever they came up with for the food items.

This menu is the result of that questionaire. I know that they were trying to find items that would be difficult to match, just to try to push me to the limit. They also wanted no country to dominate.

I will post the final menu and pairings when I finish it later today, the class is tonite.

Thanks for your help.

Jim

[henkvanderlinden]

Just when I'm trying to lose a few kgs. you come with this.

1. Depending on the purse : Pinot Blanc or the more expensive Pinot Gris (Grigio).

2. Withoubt doubt : a rose wine.

3. Lamb is an ideal partner for a good Bordeaux. If the money is short a Chilean Reserva Carmenere or an Argentinian Malbec will be good partners.

[thecooktoo]

Henk - interesting you should mention the Malbec, had it in my hand and put it down and picked up a Rioho instead.

More later.
Jim

[thecooktoo]

Well, class on Friday night went fine. The class did a great job with the food; then we cleaned up and began tasting 8 wines and a beer.

Here is the Title page from the recipe handouts:

MENU
Wine Pairing
“Wines From Around the World”

July 6, 2007
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Ross Boddy Community Center
Montgomery County Recreation Department

Jim Davis, Instructor
Member, Society of Wine Educators

Twisted Nicoise Salad
Saint-Veran, Domaine des Maillettes, 2004, Burgundy, France
Alamos, Pinot Noir,2006, Catena, Argentina
Baron Herzog, Old Vine Zinfandel, 2003, Lodi, California

Asian salmon and rice soup
Grolsch Dutch Lager Beer
Pascal Jolivet, Pouilly Fume, 2005, Loire Valley, France
Don Olegario, Albarino, 2005, Rias Baixas, Spain

Paprika roasted leg of lamb with polenta
Jabulani, Shiraz, 2004, Western Cape, South Africa
Nozzole, Chianti Classico, Reserva, 2003, Tuscany, Italy
Marquis de Riscal, Reserva, Rioja,2002, Spain

The Really Good Food Company
9813 Freestate Place
Montgomery Village, MD 20886
301-343-3452
thecooktoo@comcast.net


©Copyright 2006 The Really Good Food Company


The one decidedly poor match was the Pinot Noir with the Salad (the salad was a typical nicoise with grilled chicken rather than grilled tuna). I had expected it to work but it did not. However, the Zin was excellent with it. The dressing on the Nicoise was a dressing made from Kalamata olives...and they worked well with the Zinfandel.

The surprise of the evening was the beer with the Asian Soup. It was a very well placed match.

All of the reds worked well with the lamb, however, the outstanding one was the Rioja.

The average price per bottle was about $18.50.

Thanks for your help.

Jim

[cjs]

Bet you had a great time!!

[Markbb]

Personally I would love to attend a wine pairing class, but I can't seem to find anything like that around here in the OKC area