As committed foodies, we are delighted to be part of Nederburg’s ‘Mastering Wine’ gift pack, which includes four superb Winemaster’s Reserve wines that will complement your culinary experience. It is all part of Nederburg’s initiative to ‘take your palate on a journey of flavour’. Nederburg chose to treat customers to four classically styled varietals – Nederburg’s Winemaster’s Reserve Cabernet, Pinotage, Merlot and Shiraz – as well as a pair of red Le Creuset ramekins and four recipe cards. We asked cellarmaster, Razvan Macici, to tell us more, and to share his insights into how to choose the perfect wines to pair with your cooking.
Firstly, what made Nederburg choose to partner with Le Creuset for these special gift packs?
Call it a marriage of two top-ranked, highly trusted brands. They are so compatible with each other.
How did you select the Nederburg wines in your Nederburg Le Creuset Gift Pack?
For winter, we chose the four red varietal wines in our Winemaster’s Reserve range: the Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinotage and Merlot.
What is a ‘Winemasters Reserve’ wine?
The term ‘reserve’ is usually used to describe a select range that is distinguished from the more everyday options a producer might make. This particular ‘Winemasters Reserve’ range is a collection that combines fruit with finesse. The wines all have in common prominent fruit aromas and flavours but a classical structure to ensure elegance.
How did you choose the recipes to include in this gift pack?
We wanted recipes for honest-to-goodness deliciousness that would appeal to as many South African wine- and food-lovers as possible, so we commissioned popular foodie Thuli Gogela to create a selection of starters, mains and desserts that all could be presented in ramekins. Why ramekins? Because they look so good and they contain the perfect-sized portions.
It can be fairly intimidating for the uninitiated to choose wines to match the dishes they are cooking. What are your general guidelines?
The best guideline is to match weight with weight, so a heavy dish needs a big wine, while a light dish calls for a wine with more delicate flavours. We always advise people to consider how the dish is seasoned when deciding on the right wine flavour to match. It’s no good saying you must serve white wine with fish or white wine with poultry. What about the sauce? If you are going for a hearty sauce with bold flavours like red onions, olives and tomatoes, you might want to consider a red wine. Foods with a high acidity tend to go with tangy white wines. If your dish has a spicy bite, think of a fruity, aromatic white as the right partner. Roasts, grills and casseroles are often more robust and they match well with reds. In the end, though, the only rule is that you should enjoy the pairing. If you like the combination then it is a good pairing.
What is your favourite winter comfort food?
I love slow-cooked lamb seasoned very simply with garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper and rosemary, served with our Winemaster’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz… Actually, this is also delicious with our Pinotage. Any of our reds would work, so it is a matter of personal preference. You could even match the roast with a Merlot but for me personally, I think its smooth berry softness might work better with a beef dish prepared with a cream sauce.
White wine – is it the ultimate crime to cool it down with a block of ice or two?
I don’t like to think of there being any wine crimes if no-one is harmed in the process. If a wine is chilled before it is served then obviously it is not necessary to add ice, but that’s not always possible, so one block can’t do any harm. It does slightly dilute the taste but surely that is preferable to a warm white wine on a warm day!
You’re stuck on a deserted island with just a corkscrew and a case of mystery wine – what wine would you hope to find when you opened it and why?
If it was Nederburg’s Ingenuity White, I could get by. I’d keep it cool at the water’s edge, and I’d pair it with oysters and sashimi and also any fish I could cook. It is a blend of eight varieties so there would be enough depth in the flavour to contemplate during my lonely hours.
Le Creuset has a broad range of fabulous wine accessories. What is your favourite product and why?
It’s very hard to choose but going back to the question of putting ice in wine, if you have the wine cooler sleeve you won’t need to put ice in your wine, will you?
What Le Creuset wine accessory is an essential?
Your corkscrews are outstanding, but I have to say I am very taken with the wine fountain. What a neat device for decanting your wine. I particularly like that it lets you rapidly decant at the table, if need be. When you invert the bottle, it controls the flow of wine and allows a steady stream of air bubbles to flow up into the bottle to get the aeration process going, and it then circulates the wine smoothly around the decanter base for maximum aeration.
A great marriage between your food and the wine you enjoy with it really enhances the flavours and makes your whole dining experience even more enjoyable. Whether you are a novice or a wine aficionado, Nederburg’s delicious and carefully curated Winemaster’s Reserve wines are a delicious food complement and a fantastic reason to give our range of wine glasses and accessories a work-out.
To purchase the Nederburg ‘Mastering Wine’ gift pack – click here.
To view our full range of products, visit our online shop at www.lecreuset.co.za or pop into your nearest Le Creuset Boutique store.
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