| This time of year, we start gearing up for some fun by | | | | pair well with cabbage. Pinot Gris also has some |
| planning our St. Patrick's Day celebrations. The color | | | | sweetness and acidity, so this is also an attractive |
| green will be everywhere; our clothing, our rivers and | | | | choice. |
| our beer. Ireland is famous for its beer and its cuisine | | | | It was agreed by all that red wine was the more |
| pairs well with this beverage. Many a cook will add | | | | challenging to pair with this dish. A wine with high |
| stout beer to their cooking pot, when boiling their | | | | levels of tannins (found in wines like cabernet |
| corned beef dinner. When this is done, a stout or | | | | sauvignon) was not considered to be a good match. |
| porter beer is a wonderful pairing. | | | | While Pinot Noir has good fruit and acidity levels, we |
| But what about wine with traditional Irish corned beef | | | | agreed that many Pinot Noirs may be too delicate for |
| & cabbage dinner? I asked an Irish lass if she was | | | | this hearty dish. We were divided on Zinfandels |
| interested and she gave me the green light to come | | | | (great fruit and sweetness levels but little to no acidity). |
| up with a wine pairing for this meal. The combination | | | | At the end, we concluded that both French Cote du |
| of boiled meat, pickling spices and cabbage presents a | | | | Rhône and Beaujolais wines would pair well, as the |
| challenge indeed. I kicked this topic around with fellow | | | | both offer good fruit, sweetness and some acidity. |
| wine lovers, wine merchants and wine distributor | | | | They are also reasonably priced, which is appropriate |
| salesmen to try and reach a consensus. Here's what | | | | to pair with this peasant dish. |
| we concluded. | | | | For something truly whimsical, why not offer your |
| The Meal | | | | friends and family some "green" wine to enjoy with |
| For centuries, hanging a cooking pot in the fireplace | | | | their Irish dinner this year. Portugal offers Vinho |
| was a common way for Europeans to cook their | | | | Verde, which literally translates to green wine. As |
| dinners. Examples of these boiled meals include the | | | | these grapes are harvested early, they are not mature |
| Italian bollito misto and the French pot-au-feu. So, | | | | but a little "green". These white wines are slightly |
| corned beef and cabbage has deep roots in European | | | | effervescent, easy to drink and inexpensive, making |
| culture. | | | | them a fun choice. |
| Corned beef and cabbage presents a wine pairing | | | | Bill's Picks (with suggested retails) |
| quandary, as vinegar and a wide variety of spices | | | | 2008 Aveleda Vinho Verde Fonte – 84 pts. Wine |
| may be used in the corned beef boil. These spices | | | | Spectator (a fruity white with peach and green apple |
| could include salt, garlic cloves, peppercorns, bay | | | | flavors) - $8.00 |
| leaves, mustard seeds, ground ginger, juniper berries, | | | | 2008 Gunther Schlink Gewurztraminer – Not Yet |
| allspice, cloves and cinnamon sticks. Close to serving | | | | Rated (a pleasing white with pear, granny smith apple, |
| the meal, cabbage is added to this boiling dish, which | | | | baking spice notes with medium-high acidity) - $14.00 |
| introduces more challenging flavors to this wine pairing. | | | | 2007 Gustave Lorentz Alsatian Pinot Gris – 85 pts. |
| The Wine Pairing Solution | | | | Wine Spectator (a clean white with tangy acidity and |
| In evaluating this dish, it was agreed by my wine | | | | hints of lemon curd) - $18.00 |
| buddies that there are three main issues to contend | | | | 2007 Perrin Cote du Rhone Reserve 87-88 pts. |
| with; the saltiness of the corned beef, the fatty nature | | | | Robert Parker (beautiful blackberry and cherry fruit, is |
| of the cut of meat and the earthiness of the | | | | med. bodied and silky textured red wine) - $10.00 |
| cabbage. It was generally agreed that some | | | | 2007 Marcel Lapierre Morgon Beaujolais– 89 pts. |
| sweetness is needed to counter the salt level and that | | | | Robert Parker (this red finishes with clear fruit and |
| some acidity would help cut through the fattiness of | | | | subtle red meat and pungently herbal notes) - $19.00 |
| this meat. | | | | Wine of the Month |
| For white wine lovers, this sounds like Riesling, as it | | | | A To Z 2008 Pinot Gris |
| typically offers sweetness and high levels of acidity. | | | | Retail Price $12 |
| However, there is some concern that many Rieslings | | | | For your St. Patrick's Day corned beef and cabbage |
| may be too sweet and acidic. When we discussed | | | | dinner, I chose a wine that pairs well and is reasonably |
| the various spices used in this boil, Gewürztraminer | | | | priced. Robert Parker gives this wine 87 pts. and |
| came to mind as it has hints of cloves on the palate. | | | | says..."A To Z's 2008 Pinot Gris offers plenty of |
| Gewürztraminer also offers some sweetness and | | | | fragrant pit fruit and melon aromas followed by a |
| acidity, so it is a better choice. I then discussed this | | | | vibrant, flavorful, just off-dry wine." This wine has |
| challenging pairing with a wine salesman who grew up | | | | appealing fruit notes, good acidity and has some |
| in Alsace, France. He mentioned that the French drink | | | | sweetness, which should pair well with this Irish dish. |
| Pinot Gris with sauerkraut and thought this would also | | | | |