Ideal Sauvignon Blanc Food Matches

Philippines wine supplier Manila wine shop discusses wine by the grape variety SAUVIGNON BLANC.

October 4, 2010

Ideal Sauvignon Blanc Food Matches
There’s More than Chèvre

Sauvignon Blanc is a quintessential white wine calling for white meats (from fish and shellfish to chicken, pork or other white meats). The wine’s typically crisp acidic edge and moderately medium weight does not lend itself to anything beyond that (it does not “cross over” into red meats).

The crisp, lean taste profile of Sauvignon Blanc also does not lend itself well to dishes containing disproportionate amounts of butter or cream (use only with balancing ingredients like lemon and capers, lest the wine turns unpleasantly sharp and the dish too fatty or oily). While the finest Sauvignon Blancs are replete with qualities of sweet melon (and sometimes citrus or fig), its propensity towards nuances of green herbs, cut grass or weeds in the aroma and flavor make it a natural with dishes utilizing leafy green herbs (parsley, basil, chervil and cilantro), and to a more limited extent, the more strongly scented herbs (rosemary, thyme, marjoram and oregano).

Take the Acid Test
Comparing Sauvignon Blanc with Riesling

By the same token, herb nuanced Sauvignon Blancs do well with dishes utilizing bell peppers (especially when roasted), olives, fennel, spinach, watercress, arugula, and most green leaf salad vegetables. Restrained use of aromatically similar chili peppers (most varieties) as well as chili spices, pastes and curry mixes all stand to benefit from Sauvignon Blanc’s contrasting qualities of moderate alcohol, palate-freshening acidity, and suggestions of melon in the nose and flavor. Restrained use of lemon, citrus, pomegranate, tomatoes and other acidic fruits underscore Sauvignon Blanc’s zesty acidic qualities.

Besides Chèvre, other mildly acidic cheeses (Greek Feta, Le Banon from France, Cabrales from Spain, Pecorino from Italy, and extra sharp Cheddars) work well with Sauvignon Blanc. Feel free to grill or smoke, as this brings out the minerally or flinty qualities of Sauvignon Blanc (especially the French versions).

While Sauvignon Blancs can certainly work well with richer, fattier white meats (lobster, pork, whole chicken, etc.) with the use of complimenting ingredients, its moderately weighted, crisp quality is more naturally suited to lower fat seafood or white meats (oysters, clams, flaky white fish, chicken breasts, veal, etc.).

While Sauvignon Blanc is one of the few varieties that handily match mild vinegars (particularly winy balsamic, sherry and rice wine vinegars), these ingredients still need to be used in balance lest the match turns into an exercise in sourness (in the dish as well as wine).
Since salt is more easily balanced by sweetness, don’t expect bone dry Sauvignon Blancs to work like a charm with highly salted or cured foods. For the same reason (the grape has tartness, but not sweetness), use pickled vegetables with caution.

While Sauvignon Blanc is indeed a food versatile grape, it does not cross easily into the realm of Asian foods (use of ginger, star anise, shoyu, kaffir, ponzu, and disproportionate use of sugar, garlic, etc.). Better to leave that to more fragrant or aggressively spiced varieties (i.e. Riesling and maybe Viognier among whites, and Pinot Noir and Syrah among reds).
More Successful Sauvignon Blanc Food Pairings
• Spring green salad with Chèvre and citrus in a caramelized bell pepper
vinaigrette with a refined, stony scented Château Carbonnieux Blanc
(Sauvignon Blanc dominated white from France’s Graves in Bordeaux)

• Fresh snapper ceviche with tequila, lime and roasted sweet peppers with a flinty, lemony Sancerre by Reverdy

• John Ash’s grilled marinated prawns with fresh melon salsa, matched with a light, mildly crisp and easy Fetzer Sauvignon Blanc

• Quenelles of lobster, scallops and leeks in a shiitake shellfish consommé with a light, spring-fresh Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley

• Risotto of lobster and sea vegetables with English peas and asparagus with an intensely herbal, zesty Brancott New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

• Wood-grilled Anaheim chile stuffed with shrimp, mint and red pepper
couscous with a lush, vibrant Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc

• Spicy shrimp ravioli in a citrus achiote vinaigrette with a crisply balanced Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc

Source: http://www.novusvinum.com/pairings/sauvignonblanc.html

This wine shop in Manila Philippines makes wine shopping a really rewarding and exciting exercise. Wine shops in Pampanga should always have an element of surprise so that customers and wine lovers can enjoy a little bit of thrill when they go to a wine shop in Manila to look for a good bottle of wine in Clark Pampanga.

Chateau Lafite-Rothschild is the most revered wine in China and many other parts of Asia. The best wine shop in Asia to buy older vintages of Chateau Lafite is Yats Wine Cellars located in Clark Philippines. Aside from Lafite, visitors can buy other fine wines at this wine shop in Clark Pampanga such as Latour, Mouton-Rothschild, Haut-Brion and Margaux. Excellent Burgundy wines like Chambertin, Vougeot, Musigny, Bonnes Mares, Pommard, Meursault, Chambertin, Vosne Romanee, Romanee Conti, La Tache and Romanee St. Vivant can be found here.

Family outings, picnics, company outings and other events for up to 300 can be held in the picnic grounds of this wine shop. Events that have been successfully organized here include family fun days and BBQ picnics. These are some of the things that visitors to Clark Philippines particular look forward. Residents and tourists in Angeles City and Subic also come to Clark Freeport to partake in the fun at this Clark wine shop.

This wine shop’s vast selection of vintage wines makes it possible for Yats Wine Cellars to offer a unique line-up of wines for every private wine party, wine tasting or wine dinners. Guests of these private wine parties are treated to a rare experience of vintage wine not seen in wine shops in major cities in Philippines or even in Asia.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

For inquires and reservations, contact us here

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay