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It seems as though Spring is here, with the weather flowing from hot to cold, warm to cool, not quite able to make up its mind. At this point though, anything is better than snow! This week we are focusing on delicious Spring vegetables, like peas, cabbage and asparagus. Potstickers are very easy to make and are incredibly delicious. They do a great job of combining the vegetable’s sweet flavours in a crispy shell. To add even more complexity to the dish, you can pair the potstickers with some sweet chili soy dip that include flavours of soy, maple syrup and hot pepper. A plate full of these and a glass of Gewürztraminer are a fantastic pair that you should definitely try.
Inniskillin Discovery Series East-West Riesling-Gewürztraminer
Inniskillin, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
$16.95
The 2012 Niagara harvest was spectacular. The hot, dry summer conditions delivered one of the best quality harvests for Ontario in years across all varietals. The warm spring brought early flowering. The summer conditions allowed for what was our earliest start on record, with grapes being processed for the first time in August –starting with Pinot Grigio and sparkling base grapes of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This led to all varieties being in house before November. The ideal weather conditions delivered fully ripening fruit. The aromatic whites, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio are more varietal specific while the fruit definition for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are simply stunning. The depth of colour and intensity of flavor are strong on the late ripening Merlot, Cabernets and Shiraz, which flourished in the hot dry conditions.
Why we think it works – slightly sweet wines (like Rieslings and Gewürztraminers) are natural pairings for foods that are slightly spicy – the sweetness of the wine works to tone down the heat of the spice. Crisp, aromatic wines are also great for fresh Spring foods because of their natural, bright acidity and refreshing palate. Read the full wine report here!
Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve Gewürztraminer
Jackson-Triggs, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
$19.95
The 2012 Ontario Harvest was outstanding providing all varieties with great flavor, colour, depth and excellent structure. The warm, dry summer conditions provided some of the best quality fruit for Ontario. The warm spring brought early flowering which in turn brought early harvesting by the end of August for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for sparkling base wines. The aromatic whites followed with Bordeaux reds and Shiraz being the last picked before November. The great weather conditions provided ripeness and primary fruit structure which our flagship white varieties benefitted from – Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Chardonnay. The last of the reds- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz-gained significant hang-time in the dry Indian summer that concluded the 2012 harvest.
Why we think it works – The Grand Reserve Gewürztraminer is a wonderfully aromatic wine, expressing notes of rose petal, lychee and stone fruit. The palate is light and refreshing showcasing fresh and lively melon and citrus flavours that linger on the finish. The slightly sweet finish will soften the bite of the sweet chili sauce. Read the full wine report here!
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