3 Ideas for Pairing Light Wines

Usually when we think of wine pairing, delicious, but somewhat “heavy” ideas come to mind. Sometimes we want to enjoy a light wine with a light, low-calorie meal.

Although the Cabernet Sauvignon red wine pairing is very popular in the region, in Chile we also produce an expressive, elegant, fresh, and lighter grape variety such as Pinot Noir.

Remembering the keys to a perfect pairing, these are three ideas for pairing wines with a light texture.

 

Red Wine Pairing

  1. Three-color Quinoa Tabbouleh and Fresh Cheese

This dish is ideal in a pairing for red wine with fine and smooth tannins like those of organic Pinot Noir. The preparation is simple and the finish is exquisite:

  1. Take a bowl and add: one chive chopped into pieces, one cucumber chopped into cubes, two spoonful of basil one cup of cherry tomatoes and cut all of them in half.
  2. Sauté a cup of quinoa in olive oil for a minute and add salt. Then, add two cups of boiling water and cook for 15 minutes.
  3. Once the quinoa is cool, mix it with the rest of the ingredients in the bowl. Add salt, olive oil and pepper to your liking. You can also add some lemon, 200 grams of fresh cheese dices, ½ cup of olives and some mint leaves.

When pairing with red wines, there is nothing like a good cheese to enhance the flavor.

 

  1. Phylo Dough Cups and PortoBello Mushrooms

This is an excellent recipe to try with our Bicicleta Pinot Noir. This is a wine with delicate tannins, fine texture, and a subtle smokey feel.

This light dish does not require a lot of work.

 

  1. Mix 2 spoonful of parsley, 2 spoonful of basil, ½ cup of almonds, and grind the ingredients in a food processor. Then, cut 100 grams of Portobello mushroom into slices.
  2. Mix the herbs with 150 grams of cream cheese and 2 spoonful of parmesan cheese. Add salt and pepper to your liking.
  3. Take 6 sheets of Phylo dough and brush them with melted butter. Cut and accommodate them in small baking molds so they acquire the shape of cups. Then fill them with the cheese and herb mixture and mushrooms.
  4. Bake for 15 minutes at 180°C.

When ready to eat, serve our Bicicleta Pinot Noir at a 14°C temperature, along with a slice of raw ham.

 

  1. Salmon Tartar

This plate, served with salmon and shrimps, this is not as recommended for red wine pairing as it is for our Bicicleta Chardonnay, which is a young and fresh wine with a balanced acidity. Let us not forget that it is important to let it oxygenate and serve it at a 14°C temperature.

  1. Chop a 200 gr salmon fillet and a chive into pieces. Mix with a cup of cooked shrimps, a cup of caper, lemon oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper to your liking.
  2. Chop an avocado into cubes and add them to the mix.
  3. Sprinkle some extra chive on top to your liking for a final touch.

At Cono Sur Vineyards, we want you to enjoy a good wine to the fullest. A Cabernet Sauvignon is a good red to pair, but we want you to be able to pair any kind of wine, red or white to elevate the flavor, texture and pleasure for an unforgettable meal.

 

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