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A Seafood Feast to Ring in the New Year

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Seafood-and-Wine

A New Years Eve tradition for many is a seafood feast to share with family and frends! From shrimp, to scallops, to oysters, to mussels, to lobster, and more, a wine pairing for each can become unmanageable. This kind of meal can go a number of ways, so we have selected a few extra vinos to help you make sure that your menu is ideally accompanied with the perfect bottle!

If your menu is focused on the fish, we suggest a Chardonnay. The oily nature of a salmon or bass is the perfect partner for a buttery Chardonnay to make palate pleasing magic at your table. We suggest Sketches of Niagara Chardonnay by Tawse Winery.

2010 Sketches of Niagara Chardonnay
Tawse Winery, Vineland, ON

This Chardonnay is a mouthwatering product of Canada’s Winery of the Year. Layers of flavour begin with bright fruitful green apple, hints of pear, warm vanilla, and baking spice. The mouth-feel of the wine is substantial but not too creamy, an ideal companion for a seafood feast!

If oysters are your menu item of choice as the ultimate indulgence for an evening of celebration, break open some bubbly! Pop, Fizz, Clink! Your night will be nothing short of divine with a bottle of 13th Street Sparkling made in the traditional method.

2008 Premiere Cuvee
13th Street Winery, St. Catharines, ON

In the glass, this wine is beautiful; a very light golden hue with tiny bubbles and a delicate mousse. On the palate this wine has citrus flavour aplenty, with bright green apple and the bready notes of a well-made traditional method sparkling wine. The palate tingles with vibrant acidity and the effervescence of the carbonation, resulting in a palate cleansing sensation with each sip. With oysters, this wine will be a knock-out hit, with guests looking for the next sip then slurp to keep their satisfied smiles wide!

Considering scallops, shrimp, crab and other crustaceans to satisfy the masses? A Riesling will serve you well and please the crowd! For a seafood feast, look for high acidity to be the palate cleanser in between each decadent nibble. Our pick is the 2011 Cave Springs Dolomite Riesling.

2011 Dolomite Riesling
Cave Springs Cellars, Jordan, ON

Citrus flavours aplenty, this Riesling is a superstar that will wow your guests! The dominant citrus note is pink grapefruit, and while this wine is slightly off dry the pucker of pink grapefruit gives this wine the punch it needs to complement your seafood menu. Other flavour components include peach, green apple, limestone minerality, and a hint of lime. With bright acidity and a true sense of place, this wine is a beautiful example of Niagara in the bottle that is appreciable by the wine novice or discerning palate!

The Author

Allie Hughes is the wine and culinary contributor to Naturally in Niagara, feasting on the decadent experience that is life in this region. With a fine wine sensibility honed at the International Sommelier Guild, Allie is taking the journey of Niagara by the glass with you with each new taste. Allie is also the creative mind behind the marketing of the Canadian Food and Wine Institute, and owner of Hughes & Co., a boutique social strategy firm.

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