Over the past six years the pioneering use of canapé pairings to present our food-friendly wines to guests in the Tasting Room has seen the development of a wide selection of pairing choices. The award-winning canapé pairing, however, remains the most popular option.
A quick survey among the Tasting Room team (who taste the pairings regularly) reveals a number of different opinions on their favourite pairing. For some the classic combination of shellfish and Creation Chardonnay in the prawn, avocado Ritz and vanilla citrus aioli canapé wins every time, while others prefer the delicate nuances of the goat’s-milk cheese panna cotta and beetroot with lentil salsa paired with the Creation Pinot Noir. When discussion turns to feedback from our guests, however, one match always seems to win hearts the first time around: the Creation Merlot paired with the cauliflower and gorgonzola soup with herbed sourdough croutons.

The magic in this pairing is the combination of a creamy white soup with a robust red wine – the Creation Merlot – which has spicy aromas and a palate rich in mocha and dark chocolate notes as well as a firm tannin structure. The earthy creaminess of the cauliflower and the warmth of the soup help to ground these tannins and round the mouthfeel perfectly, while the salty gorgonzola contrasts with and as a result lifts the bounty of dark berry fruits in the wine.
The effect on the perception of tannins in the wine before and after eating the soup is quite astonishing. The reaction that causes dryness in red wine (phenols (tannin) binding to proteins) is far less noticeable at higher temperatures and while it is not desirable to serve your wine too warm, raising the temperature on your palate with a piping hot soup will have a similar effect. This softening effect combined with the delicious flavours of the wine and the soup makes for a very memorable pairing.
The good news is that by ordering the Merlot online now [click here to order], and following the simple recipe from Chef Warwick Taylor [click here for the recipe], you can try this popular pairing in your own home. To book a wine pairing canapé experience in the Creation Tasting Room [click here],call (028) 212 1107 or email [email protected].
The post From the Tasting Room at Creation: Guests’ Favourite appeared first on Creation Wines.