Springtime Specialties: Seasonal Wine Pairings
Lush Leafy Greens – Pair with Sauvignon Blanc
For the vegetarian (or just those who like the symphony of crunch, tang, and crispness of a bundle of fresh, leafy veggies) spring is when the food scene explodes with options.
For any dish starring a vegetable with flowing leaves and stringy stalks, there’s no better companion than a Sauvignon Blanc. The herbaceous notes, coupled with bracing acidity and sapidity, strike up a perfect balance with the bitter, fresh flavors of these veggies.
Spring Flavors from the Sea – Pair with Chardonnay
As we transition from winter to spring, the freshly-caught seafood offerings at your local market inevitably change as well. It’s time for halibut, shrimp, and salmon galore!
The fresh acidity preserved in our low-malolactic Chardonnays (especially our Miljenko’s Selection Chardonnay) makes them ideal to serve with simple seafood dishes where the natural flavors of the fish are the star. For heavier dishes with sauces, the rounder, oakier, and creamier qualities of our Paris Tasting Commemorative Chardonnay work the best.
Rigorous Root Vegetables – Pair with Merlot
The humble carrot, probably one of the most iconic vegetables to grace the table each and every spring, is not the only subterranean delicacy on the menu as spring arrives. Beets and turnips deserve a chance to shine too!
No matter what root vegetable you’ve got on the plate, especially if it’s roasted and/or caramelized, makes for a nice companion to Merlot. Red berry flavors along with underlying notes of earthy, forest floor enhance the natural, robust flavors of the veg.
Lamb on the Grill – Pair with Zinfandel
Switching back to the protein track, we have a Croatian classic. Zinfandel (which, as you may know, originates from Croatia) is the standard pairing for lamb in our country of origin, especially in the spring.
Heat-loving Zinfandel develops a spiciness that excels at drawing out the natural succulence of lamb, and with some reserved, black-fruit jam flavors to add a tasty punch, you have a duo that cannot be beat.
