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The Wine Cellar: Vegetables & Vino – Farmer’s Market Wine Pairings
Farmer’s Market Wine Pairings
By
Gordon Gilbert
In the last few years, Las Vegas has witnessed the birth of some wonderful farmer’s markets, including the marvelous Downtown 3rd (www.downtown3rd.com) and the acclaimed Bet on The Farm(www.betonthefarm.com), where you can find some of the best sustainable local vegetables and artisanal foods in town. Once a rare sight in our desert community, farmer’s markets now dot the Las Vegas valley, providing endless culinary options and a staggering array of fresh produce.
With this kind of variety, the bigger concern becomes which wine to pair with such fantastic delights. One solution might be to mimic the denizens of Europe, where farmer’s markets are a part of daily life, particularly along the Mediterranean. We’ll take a closer look at three of these markets and the amazing white wines their European customers use to complement the contents of their shopping baskets. Best of all, you can find all of these wines right here in Las Vegas.
Viva Italia!
Our first stop will be Genoa, located in the northwest of Italy on the Ligurian coastline. A short distance from the central Piazza de Ferrari, you’ll find the Mercato Orientale. While this market is renowned for some of the most phenomenal seafood on the Italian coast, you’ll also find handmade pasta, meats and a huge array of fruits and vegetables. Two white wines that pair extremely well with this wide assortment of fresh vegetables are Arneis and Gavi.
A native of Piedmont, just north of Liguria, Arneis is delicate but refined and medium bodied with notes of lemon, fresh flowers and minerals, a beautiful accompaniment to green vegetables. Mauro Sebaste Roero Arneis 2010 ($17) brings touches of citrus, white flowers and wet stone in a fabulous wine. Gavi, also from Piedmont, is more full bodied with tropical fruit florals and a touch of honey, not unlike a soft Viognier. We see this in Mauro Sebaste Gavi 2011 ($16) with notes of melon, pineapple and flowers. Thick vegetables such as eggplant, zucchini and squash are a good choice with Gavi, while its tropical notes favor berries and melons as well.
French Toast
Second stop: the Cours Saleya in Nice, France. Known for its famous flower market, you’ll also find a broad variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs. Striped awnings and wonderful scents from both the flora and fresh produce permeate the senses. White wines from nearby Provence and southern Rhône pair well with these choices and can be produced from a variety of grapes. Familiar varietals such as Viognier exist, but more unusual names such as Grenache Blanc and Rolle also play a part. White Côtes du Rhône derived from Viognier pairs well with tomatoes and eggplants while its aromatics pick up on fantastic Provençal herbs. Sample the Fleury Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2010 ($14) for a rich, fragrant wine with hints of orange, peach and apricot.
Vino de España
Mercat de La Boqueria, located on the La Rambla in Barcelona, is perhaps the best known farmer’s market on the planet. Covering an entire city block, this market offers a staggering ensemble of fresh produce, cured meats and seafood. Just outside Barcelona, you’ll find one of Spain’s most renowned areas for producing the sparkling wine known as Cava. A combination of local grapes Xarello, Macabeo and Parellada, Cava is a dry sparkling wine that pairs best with fresh berries from all across the board. For a classic Cava, you can’t go wrong with Segura Viudas Brut Heredad Reserva MV ($17), a dry and floral wine with a long brioche finish.
Just outside of Barcelona lies another region of note called Penedes. White grapes used here include Parellada, Riesling, Muscat, and Gewürztraminer, along with a combination of varietals. White wines of this region can be medium to full bodied with a wonderful dose of minerality. These characteristics make the wine a perfect combination with veggies such as zucchini, white asparagus and squash blossoms, but it can also be enjoyed with crisp apples and an assortment of cheeses. Gramona Penedes Gessami 2010 ($15) offers a combination of two Muscat varietals and Gewürztraminer in an aromatic, medium bodied wine that pairs well with most produce.
Fortunately, you won’t have to travel across the Atlantic to visit fabulous farmer’s markets. We can access beautiful berries, fantastic greens and aromatic herbs, along with the wines that pair with them, right here in our own neighborhoods. There’s no need to span the globe when you can enjoy all the great tastes of farmer’s market food and wine from the comfort of your own home.
