For your holiday entertaining we suggest livening things up with some food and wine pairings outside the obvious.
Fazi Battaglia, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico
Its iconic bottle–which dates to the late 1940s –is now a symbol for quality Verdicchio. The wine within has a distinct straw-yellow colour with a flickering hint of green. The nose is fresh, with fruity notes of apple and pear, as well as aniseed. On the palate, it is spritzy and fresh, with almond notes in the finish. Its bright acidity makes it a great match for raw seafood like chilled shrimp and lobster, and in particular, those raw oysters that come to the holiday table in their seasonal prime. The wine’s good structure stands up to lemon, cocktail sauce and mignonette.
Fresco di Masi Rosso Organic IGT 2021
This unfiltered, organic wine is assertively fresh on the nose, with fruity notes ranging from blackcurrant to pomegranate–along with that distinctly Veronese tinge of cherry. Its light colour and texture and low alcohol content make it an ideal, easy drinking choice for a cocktail party. Where its fruitiness and acidity matches especially well with that most satisfying and easily prepared cold-weather party platter: a selection of olives, salume and mild cheeses.
Mission Hill Perpetua Okanagan Valley Chardonnay 2020
This Legacy Collection wine is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes harvested from four Osoyoos blocks–each planted with historic Burgundian Dijon clones. Its flavour is bright and intense, with complex aromas of flint, lemon grass, and pear, subtle oak–and a fresh finish. Its structure and integrity are a perfect match for the rich flavour and mild, sweet smokiness, of a top-quality side of smoked salmon.
