Picture yourself in your kitchen, a glass of fine wine in hand, following the chef’s expert guidance to create dishes that pair perfectly with each sip. This is the delightful experience offered by Pick n Pay’s Virtual Winemakers Table.
Virtual events gained immense popularity during the Covid-19 lockdowns, offering a way for social South Africans to stay connected. Even now, with lockdowns behind us, the Pick n Pay Virtual Winemakers Table has remained a beloved monthly event, bringing wine and food enthusiasts together from the comfort of their homes.
Hosted by the Pick n Pay Wine Club, this online wine-tasting event partners with top wine estates and chefs to present a curated food and wine-tasting menu. The best part? You don’t need to worry about shopping or driving after indulging in delicious wines.
Pick n Pay ensures a seamless and enjoyable experience by delivering a box of ingredients and wines straight to your door. Everything is perfectly measured and packaged, making it easy to follow along and prepare each canapé.
Food&Home recently had the opportunity to enjoy this delightful experience with the Virtual Pick n Pay Winemakers Table with Backsberg Family Wines.
The event kicked off at 6 pm and guests joined from their screens to enjoy an hour of conversation and demonstration from Alicia Rechner, Backsberg’s head winemaker, and the chef, Jonathan Moldan, for the evening showed us how to prepare the canapés that accompanied each wine.
Here’s a glimpse of the exquisite menu that was curated for this experience:
The first course was a Parmesan Tuile Biscuit, deliciously topped with apple and vanilla gel, aged Gruberg cheese, dehydrated grapefruit supreme, and a spiced cashew nut crumble. Paired perfectly with Backsberg Smuggled Vines Chardonnay.
Onto the second course, we enjoyed making an Asian-Inspired Duck Rillette. This canapé was served on a crispy wonton wrapper with carrot and radish pickle, hoisin plum sauce, and a sprinkle of Shiraz salt. Paired with Backsberg Pumphouse Shiraz.
Naturally, you can’t end off an evening of good food and wine without something sweet. For dessert, we prepared a Cherry Leather Cigar. Deliciously filled with sweetened goat’s cheese, adorned with red cherry coulis, mint sugar, and dark chocolate shavings. Paired with Backsberg Plum Valley Merlot.
This interactive event offers more than just a tasting; it provides an educational experience where participants can learn directly from winemakers, gaining insights that can elevate their home wine knowledge. Coupled with the gourmet food preparations, it inspires culinary creativity and enhances the enjoyment of wine pairings.
The Pick n Pay Virtual Winemakers Table is a fantastic way to connect with friends, enjoy exceptional wines, and support the local South African wine industry—all from the cosy setting of your own home. Join the Pick n Pay Wine Club for an unforgettable evening of culinary delight and vinous discovery.
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Journey through South Africa’s longest and most diverse wine region
Food and Wine Images: Supplied
Feature image: Unsplash
