Sunday in Sydney was warm and sunny, the perfect white wine weather, not that I only drink white wine when it’s warm or red when it’s cold, it just helped set the mood for a white. The thing though was that we were cooking up a good old fashioned and basic Sunday roast, I’ve got a load of beans coming out of my veggie patch that need eating.
So the dilemma I was in was that the mood was white but the roast beef was flashing a solid red! My first thought was that maybe a Viognier would hold up against the beef, being a little oily and all, but the problem was that I actually don’t have any Viognier laying around, strangely enough (note to self: I must get me some). And according to the infographic I’ve dropped into this post I was possibly right on that assumption too.
So in the end I decided to pop open a 2006 Penfolds Bin 311 Tumbarumba Chardonnay hoping that a bit of age may add to the roast experience. 2006 was also an excellent vintage in Tumbarumba so the wine itself was looking good.
Pairing this Chardy with a roast was always going to be risky but it’s the best white style I could think of that was available with ease, and I was getting thirsty!
Opening this wine was a pleasure, it just smelled so good! Nice and toasty with hints of melon and a general array of fruit. Definitely showing some age, but too much so? Clearly it had turned a golden colour but on sipping it had morphed into a nutty complex wine that had retained most of its fruit flavours, now laid over the top of toast. It was still quite delicate and fine too, possibly too much so for the roast.
Quite enjoyable to drink, but how did it go with the beef? Sadly, not as good as I had hoped. The beef overpowered the delicate elements in the wine leaving behind only the earthy aspects. It was still ok but they did not enhance each other at all sadly. The best bit about getting a food and wine pairing right is when they join to create a unique and enjoyable experience but it just felt like these two were having an argument.
A lot of this wine was saved to sip and savour after the meal was complete. It was a good old Chardy indeed.
Sometimes though you can get an odd food and wine pairing spot on. Neal recently tweeted about a strange combo he got right, the pairing of sushi with a Spanish Rioja. Apparently this ended up being the perfect wine for the sushi he was eating. It just goes to show that although there are some general guidelines, and for fairly good reason, you may get lucky breaking those pairing rules from time to time.
And, when it comes down to it, it’s about drinking whatever the hell you feel like (even if it ends up clashing)!
Author: Conrad
Rules are generally useful, but not all encompassing. Nice bit of branching out, 🍀
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They are to be broken! 🙂 Thanks MM!
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Do you know something? I don’t even know the rules! But I guess they must be a bit instinctive because I am negotiating 40 ‘plus’ temperatures in Victoria at the moment and even though I’m a sucker for Shiraz, I have definitely gravitated towards whites in the heat (or beer of course)
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Definitely have wine genes then. Yes you are passed fit to drink good wine. Can also add cider to the summer drinks list and a good few others……Enjoy the summer pillow parlance. MM 🍀
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go for it, break away!
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LOL! For sure… Cheers!! 😛
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I like the idea of being a bit of a rebel.
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Yeah, but once you cross the line…
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Stick to the rules, he he he.
Oh, I’ve missed the genetic link for constructive crit. Father-in-law – he is a wine maniac, a player, and likewise my youngster, he can talk the grape.
Wife used to work the wine shop – down the Kings Road, Chelsea – owned by the Status Quo keyboardist, yes yes. Status Quo? Exactly 😉 – you are a (cliche alert) a world away at the beach, dammit. Still, like Connery I can always spot a Russian spy on a train…
all the best
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Ahhh, that’s cool. I like it. Thanks for stopping by. Salud! 😛
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Bit like a marriage. Best to get a suitable pairing, otherwise the experience can be less than pleasant.
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See, you want to dabble in what you know just won’t work just to see if you can make it work! Part of the human condition yeah? 😉
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How true. When I pair with feminists, it’s like Chateauneuf and dirt. Respectively, that is. But I keep trying anyway.
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Hahaha… lolz
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I look forward to my next outing for Sushi 😉 !
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Yeah go on… be wild! 😛
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lol!!!!! “Wild it is”
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I tried a newer Tumbarumba recently and loved it. Nice to know they can withstand some aging! And nice to know someone on the planet is not freezing his/her arse off…
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It’s a decent Chardy indeed! I wouldn’t have let this one go any longer though. I feel half-bad for mentioning our nice weather, but half sadstically joyful too. 😛
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I break the rules big time…shhhh i don’t mind chilling a light red in the summer
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Shhhh, me too! 😉
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You cant win them all but it all looks super tasty to me. 🙂
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Separately they definitely were! Cheers!!
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I reckon that the best way is to toss wine rules out the window and enjoy any you have handy 😀 Learned that lesson a long time ago and that’s probably the reason why I usually have more whites than reds lying about
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Yep, that’s what I did too. Thanks for dropping in! 🙂
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Gladly dropping in 😀
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Great writing and a pleasure to read. – thanks for the cheat sheet!
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And thank you for your regular visits… Much appreciated! 🙂
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I haven’t had a Penfolds wine in too long. Now that’s what I’m in the mood for!
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They make some stunner wines! 🙂
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Finally a wine page that states “drink whatever you feel like”. Hurra!
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lol… 😛
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As always, your blog reminds me to enjoy the subtleties of life. Thanks for the wine cheat sheet, too! That’s going to be helpful.
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And thank you for stopping by! Salud!!
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I tend to be one of those people who drink what they feel like…. I’m not a good paired of food or wine. I drink the same thing with a steak, that I would a bologna sandwich. I’m mesmerized often by what you guys do;)
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And if it all works for you then that is perfect! Wine is about whatever makes you happy. Cheers…
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Let your taste buds decide what pairs. I like it!
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Yep, but sometimes you just have to deal with a clash. So be it. 🙂
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Sod the rules! But the bit I’m jealous about is that you have the perfect white wine weather. Not so here in deepest darkest Essex. Flooding, grey grimness all about. Better stick to the warming reds for a while here!
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I do feel for you, just a bit! 🙂
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As the old adage says: “Rules are made to be broken.”
Great post!
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Indeed! Thanks…
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Question. I need to get some Colombian wine to Alabama. HOW ON EARTH DO I DO THIS???
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Good question! https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/190
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Aw, that’s for flying! Unfortunately, I will be sitting on my tushy, and the wine needs to fly itself from Colombia to Alabama. Lol.
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Do you really want to be sending a big package from Colombia sight unseen? 😉
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Hahaha!!!
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After living in Japan for 6 years, it’s got to be saki for me. Just a little though. That stuff is strong! :))
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And there’s some really good sake out there nowadays too!
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Rioja and sushi I have never heard before! Interesting – what was in the sushi out of interest? If duck/chicken then I get it a bit more than salmon!
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Hi there, we had it with goyza, tuna, salmon. Goes well with all sushi, as does a pinot.
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Hm. I tend to want bigger bodied wines, zins and syrahs for the most part. And seriously oakey chards or Marlborough Sauvignon blancs. I find pinots thin. But, those wines that don’t have enough body to suit me seem to work well with sushi where my preferred varieties overwhelm the food. I had given up on drinking anything but water or tea with sushi because I haven’t found a sake I care for and wine wasn’t working, until it occurred to me to try Pinot Gris a couple of months ago. I had completely discounted anything red. I’ll keep Pinot noir in mind.
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I love a rule breaker!
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LOL, yes, I imagine you would! 😉
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The rules are…there are no rules! Drink what you like! Sure it may not work out, but you’ll just have to open up another bottle to wash that taste out of your mouth. 🙂
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Yep, but I hate wasting wine! You just have to know when to fold ’em though. 😉
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Shame it didn’t work out. I find whites are harder to cross the line than going the other way with reds. Part of the fun is in the experimentation. Salut….
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That’s true, the risk of the experiment was fun for sure! 😛
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Yes, I never hesitate to break the rules–won’t know till you try!
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Exactly. The rewards of success make the failures worth it. Cheers! 🙂
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That serving of roast looks so…small. Generous serving of wine I see there, as per usual 🙂 Love the cheat sheet too.
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I was wondering if anyone would pick up on that! Yes, it was not the biggest dish but we hate over-eating or wasting food on the plate and would rather go back for more. It was a simple meal and a simple photo to go with it. Cheers Mabel. 😛
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Sounds like there’s a good reason for the rules! Are these actually written rules? I ask because I’ve never really read a rule as such and always looked upon it as an unspoken rule…red with beef/steaks white with chicken/fish. ??
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Hi Kev! People have written about it, and there are “guidelines”, but I don’t think there really are any rules as such, just people’s many years of experience. Enjoy!
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Cheers for that!
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I quite often break the rules, too. Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised and other times…
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That’s the thing, unless you try something different you’ll never know. Sometimes you do get pleasantly surprised!
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Hi, thanks for the Like on my latest post, and a belated happy new year to you… Raise a glass to that (any colour, with anything, or solo…)
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And thank you for visiting us! Salud… 🙂
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Had a local wine maker actually tell me that it was ok to chill a red a little in the Aussie summer as that would make it closer to a “cellar temp” which is the recommended temp for his wine so I no longer feel guilty about popping it in the fridge for a bit before opening.
Not much of a still white drinker so I have been drinking rose’ and light reds while the weather is stinking hot.
Did recently match Moet with sashimi and teppanyaki which was most delightful before moving onto saki…
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Yeah, in summer your reds may get a little too warm and do need a bit of a chill so that they aren’t giving off too much alcohol in the heat.
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Love your blog! Love it so much, I nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award. Check out my blog post for the rules on what to do next.
http://virtuallyriki.wordpress.com/2013/12/30/virtually-riki-nominated-for-the-sunshine-award/
Happy blogging & thanks for following my blog.
Riki 🙂
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Thank you so much for the award nom! Very much appreciated!! 😛
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Thanks for the like on my new post. Cheers 🙂
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No worries, I try and check in for a read when I can. Unfortunately, being from Aus, we can’t help with the comp much. Cheers!
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Hi Conrad,
Any help I get I would love. If you spread the word, and I win, I will be doing a contest on Kouzounas Kitchen. 🙂 Give my love to Australia. 🙂
http://smallbusinessgrant.fedex.com/Gallery/Detail/d7f1c195-613c-40c7-863f-7014d2af777e
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I really love the sweetness and lightness of a Moscato, it is my favorite
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There’s some good ones out there nowadays but due to it’s popularity, especially in The States, there’s a lot of rubbish too. Cheers! 🙂
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I’ve never thought a certain wine should go with a certain food. I say drink what you want with whatever you’re eating!
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Yep, exactly, but it may not always go the best. So be it!
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Nice post. Wine varietal cheat sheet.is very informative.
– Alcohol Delivery Singapore
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