On the weekend, I sometimes want to have a leisurely lunch and a glass of wine. Nothing fancy, just food and wine that go well together. Usually, lunch is leftovers, a salad, or a sandwich. So, I want a wine that is very versatile and can go with a lot of different flavors. Sauvignon Blanc is a great grape variety to accomplish this task.
It is a flavorful grape with a citrus profile that makes it very food friendly. It produces a wine that is crisp and refreshing, with a lower alcohol content, perfect for a midday drink. It is also THE grape that I go to when I am trying to pair awkward vegetables, like broccoli and Brussel sprouts. Sauvignon Blanc is a great pairing for any food that is enhanced by a splash of citrus.
The Dark Horse Sauvignon Blanc has a nice citrus forward presentation of grapefruit and lemon. There is also hints of kiwi and white flowers. The fruit is balanced with medium acid (13% abv) and a finish of minerality that provides structure to the wine. This is a nice contrast to New Zealand sauvignon blancs that have an added tropical fruit element to its flavor profile.
For my lunch, I paired the Dark Horse with a chickpea salad sandwich and a mandarine orange. The sandwich brought out more of the grapefruit character of the wine, while the wine enhanced the flavors of the green onion, bell pepper and carrot in the salad. The walnuts in the salad combined very nicely with the minerality of the wine, rounding it slightly. The orange added another citrus layer to the wine, making this combo really fabulous.
So, the next time you’re wanting to spruce up your lunch and make it special, think about adding wine. And think about making it a Dark Horse Sauvignon Blanc.