Food & Wine Pairing: Valentine’s Day picks

What else to do on the day of love, but celebrate the love of eating and drinking! Here are my Valentine’s pairing picks, and make sure to pick up a copy of our February print edition, where we dive deep into rosé wines. We also feature South Africa’s first ever winery devoted exclusively to the production of rosé wines, Pink Valley Wines, interesting stuff! But for now, here are some other wines to try, perfectly paired with some of the latest wines to hit the shelves.

Krone Night Nectar Demi-Sec Rosé 2018, R150

This luscious MCC is made in classic bottle-fermented style with maturation on the lees before the final dosage is added, providing a touch of sweetness which renders “Demi-Sec” or semi-sweet in category. The sweetness adds a plushness and fullness to this otherwise refreshing and bright rosé bubbly. All the red fruits are here, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries and red cherries deepen into maraschino cherries and toffee apples, a creamy mousse and lively acidity wraps it all up.

Pair with: Vegan meringues with berry sorbet and plums

WIN! A CASE (6-bottles) of Krone Night Nectar Demi-Sec Rosé 2018 to make all your dessert dreams come true! The MCC also pairs well with a variety of savoury dishes such as sticky pork belly and dishes containing some heat and spice.

 This prize is valued at approximately R900. To enter, simply complete the entry form below. Terms and conditions apply. Competition ends 29 February 2020.

Namysto Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2019, R120

Jewellery and wine in one delicious package. Hailing from winery Quoin Rock, the labels of the Namysto range celebrate the beaded necklaces ‘namysto’, one of the oldest forms of women’s ornaments in the Ukraine (from were the family who owns the winery hail from). It’s also a symbolic link to beading culture in Africa. Floral notes of rose petals and red berries lead to a juicy and lip-smacking palate, with some lovely cranberry and lemony freshness.

Pair with: Chargrilled sweet potato salad with hummus and smoked snoek

Cape Coral Mourvèdre Rosé 2019, R118

Sheer pink perfection. Winemaker Nadia Barnard-Langenegger says the new release of this wine is especially poignant for her, it marks her 10th anniversary harvest at Waterkloof Wine Estate. “The Cape Coral Rosé was one of the first wines I tasted from Waterkloof. When I did, I just knew I’d ended up at the right farm,” she shared. The wine is made in a gentle, natural style: after delicate pressing, the juice is left to ferment slowly, in oak fermenters with wild yeast that occurs naturally in the vineyards. Citrus notes abound, jasmine tea with pomegranate and raspberry fruit. It’s elegant and poised, and very drinkable indeed.

Pair with: Chargrilled seafood platter with chips and aioli

Grande Provence Merlot 2018, R170

Grande Provence has just launched its first single-varietal merlot. Winemaker Thys Smit explains the decision to produce a stand-alone merlot: “It started out as part of The Grande Provence Red, and is still a definitive variety of this signature wine. With its fruit purity, its elegance and complexity, it has evolved into an elegant, standalone wine in our portfolio. The youthful, yet classic Grande Provence Merlot 2018 was crafted from high-lying vineyards in the famous ‘golden triangle’ in the Helderberg region, home to some of the finest Stellenbosch reds.” Red and black cherries are joined by an herbaceousness of sage and thyme, hints of choc and sweet spices join the party, it’s fine and supple on the palate with a core of red and black fruit.

Pair with: Roast leg of lamb with mint and pomegranate rubies

Robertson Winery DRY Non-Alcoholic Sparkling White, R55

One for the teetotalers and the mindful drinkers—you can still pop some bubbly on Valentine’s Day! It’s said that the alcohol-free drinks category is currently the fastest growing beverage sector in South Africa. Try this latest offering from Robertson Winery made from grapes grown in Robertson’s lime-rich soils. The alcohol in this wine has been carefully removed to preserve the fruity aromas, enjoy flavours of pear, honeysuckle and mandarin, and a light, bubbly mousse.

Pair with: Pear and haloumi salad with spicy caramelised walnuts and poached pear vinaigrette

Written by Malu Lambert, food and wine writer. Malu Lambert is an award-winning wine writer. She won the title of Emerging Wine Writer of the Year at Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Awards 2019. She also won the Veritas Young Wine Writer in 2015.

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