Easter is a time of celebration with families and friends gathering for the first time for post Christmas Celebrations.
This of course means a feast or two over the four-day weekend. Traditional choices include some kind of Fish, and with the weather calming down a tad we should have plenty to choose from via our excellent Westcountry Fish Markets.
Large format fish such as Salmon or Hake are serious contenders for a whole fish presentation, easily roasted with herbs and citrus notes to enhance the quality taste of the fresh fish.
This will need a wine to match – one that has some character and developed taste as opposed to a lighter, more aromatic style that might be on more delicate side. Enter Rioja Blanco a multi-faceted white of quality. It can be elaborated with a few different grapes which of course will change the wine’s style and texture.
My choice would be Gomez Cruzado Rioja Blanco 2019 @ £18.50 - elaborated mainly with Viura offering a gentle nod to Burgundy this has had some minimal oak internment. The addition of Tempranillo Blanco adds a floral and citrus note creating a fine balance.
For the meat-eaters amongst you tradition points to a roasted joint with all the trimmings. Westcountry Lamb will be in season and is a perfect dish for this kind of celebration.
For extra flavour do consider the addition of sprigs of Rosemary, bruised Garlic and even Anchovy fillets (stuffed into freshly-cut slits) to boost the seasoning whilst cooking.
This also will need a serious wine to match and heading again to La Rioja we can find differing styles (and prices) to accompany the feast.
In short the four easily understood styles of Rioja Tinto are as follows – Joven (unoaked young wine) Crianza (24 months in oak and bottle) Riserva (36 Months in oak and bottle) and Gran Riserva (72 months in oak and bottle). These much-loved character wines are just the ticket with their spice and fruitiness in abundance.
For the meat-eaters amongst you tradition points to a roasted joint with all the trimmings. Westcountry Lamb will be in season and is a perfect dish for this kind of celebration.
My choices below are certainly different in style but depending on your personal taste both will be perfect additions staring with Ca’ di Ponti Shiraz 2019, IGT Terre Siciliane - £ 7.99 . Ample ripe, plummy fruit, a touch of bramble and spicy notes. The palate has juicy red cherry and blackberry fruit with a hint of dark chocolate.
For something a tad funkier plump for Queiron Mi Lugar Vino de Quel 2018 £26.10 - a style known as Vinedo Singular – Top hand harvested fruit from specific vineyards – after fermentation this sample being interned in new oak barrels for 18 months followed by more oak aging this time in large barrels (Foudres) for a further 6 months. This polishes the wine rendering it a rather special style that can only come from these highly selected vineyard sites.
Rioja is a very fine region that has something for everyone. I hope these wine (and food) suggestions are something that will raise the spirits on this first of the UK’s holidays.
To find these wines go to www.wickhamwine.co.uk for purchase and couriering direct to your door.