PEI Beef or Maritime Mushrooms with Reds
try the region’s trailblazers together: Raspberry Point oysters with L’Acadie Vineyards Prestige Brut au naturel, just like nature intended.
things are lovely, I want sugar at the end of a good meal, and I want it in my wine and my dessert. The blueberries grown in the Maritimes may be smaller in stature but boy do they pack a powerful punch. Pureed and poured over a brown sugar and oat crumble, you have a dessert only a church social could compete with. But this final course wouldn’t be complete without a fortified fruit wine like Rossignol’s Crème de Cassis. They use Island grown blackcurrants to produce an
Steak and red wine: not exactly a wine pairing newsflash here, but because of our cooler climate, the red wines here don’t always develop the big bold tannins that help cut through a well- marbled steak, like ribeye, so go for a leaner cut like sirloin or tenderloin (and your waistline will thank you). Grill it up and try it with Grand Pré’s 20, or Jost’s Great Big Friggin' Red. For those of us
Lobster and Oaked Whites
For many, lobster is a high-end, luxury menu item. But local legend tells us that here on PEI lobster could be commonly found in "less wealthy" children’s lunches, while the “rich” kids, on the other hand, had bologna
who have made the decision to switch to plant based alternatives, try grilling up some mushrooms. I love Maritime Mushrooms’ lion’s mane mushrooms as they are good for your memory, but local chanterelles in the fall are also delicious. Mushrooms have a rustic flavour profile and are best matched to earthy red wines like Lightfoot and Wolfville’s Pinot Noir, Matos’ Gamay- Noir and Mercator’s Marquette.
in theirs. I can’t imagine trying to sell a piece of bologna to a guest for $30/ pound, but here in the Maritimes we are so blessed to have an abundance of this luxurious crustacean. The two things you usually get with your lobster are lemon and butter; a locally made oaked white wine can provide the same two flavours. Try Luckett Vineyards Buried White or Planters Ridge Chardonnay if you lean more towards enjoying a rich buttery lobster. Or if you prefer the mouthwatering effect of lemon, try Mercator’s Sauvage Sur Lie or the Cuvée Ancienne Chardonnay from Lightfoot and Wolfville. A classic lobster side dish, in my opinion, will always be potato salad, and we certainly have got lots of those around here!
intense aromatic wine that is smooth without being syrupy, and has a slight astringency on the finish to help even out your palate after all that sweetness. This little local tour includes just my top picks; I sincerely encourage you to get out there, explore your neighbourhood, because - like I said earlier - what grows together goes together.
Blueberry Crumble with Cassis
Happy small town sipping!
Every great meal should end on something sweet, whether it is a kind word to your host and chef or a shared laugh among your dinner guests...nah, I’m just pulling your leg - while those
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