Pairing food with Grenache
Game and Grenache Anyone? Duck Pie! - Photo by Clare Miles
What to Eat with Grenache?
Most wines benefit from food. But which food and when?
Grenache is a Mediterranean variety, born and raised in the warm climates of northern Spain and probably later, southern France. It ripens late, so it needs hot, dry conditions such as those found in Spain, where the grape most likely originated. It is also grown in the Italian island of Sardinia, the south of France, Australia, and California.
Across the Mediterranean, locals have had more than 600 years to find the perfect match, or more likely, adapt their foods to what works best to the local and extensively planted Grenache. So where to start? Classic Mediterranean cuisine!
Many writers define the three core elements of the cuisine as the olive, wheat, and the grape, yielding olive oil, bread and pasta, and wine. The region spans a wide variety of cultures with distinct cuisines, including some very popular cuisines: Turkish, Greek, Italian, Provençal, and Spanish. A wide variety of familiar foods in most cultures.
These cuisines share dishes beyond the core trio of oil, bread, and wine, such as roast lamb, slow cooked meat with vegetables and tomato, vegetable stews. Lots of options so you just need an open mind, a bottle of Grenache and a willingness to search for the perfect match.
Eggplant Roast - Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash
So what does a Chef think?
For my recent book, Grenache – Barossa Grown, we asked local food luminary Mark McNamara for his thoughts. He is a lover of Grenache and suggested salt preserved foods, unami and simple cheeses. He also thought you should avoid sugar in any form. If you want to read more from Mark, grab a copy of Grenache - Barossa Grown.
Pork Cutlets - One of my Favourites - Photo by Alex Munsell Deluvio on Unsplash
Most Important
Food and Wine are natural partners that enhance each other when they match. A nice wine can make a casual dinner spectacular. Experiment! Find out what you like and share that with others. You and your friends will benefit from the experience.