Christmas! Have it! I am super-excited about Christmas this year. My two young daughters are already turbo-charged with joy at the very thought of crackers and family larks. My brother and his wife are expecting their first baby any day and so every Smith household in the land is bursting with the festive buzz! Apart from anything else, I get particularly revved up at the prospect of cracking open some really special bottles. Now that doesn’t have to mean expensive, but it certainly means choosing the right wine for the right occasion –and where Rioja’s concerned, that’s a terrific chance to delve into the different styles on offer. Lamb is a belter with Rioja. Lamb chops are great with the mildly spicy twinge of a Crianza, but with a full on Sunday roast with all the trimmings to get you in training for Christmas Day’s taste-a-thon, a Reserva can be glorious! And if you’re really after a savoury treat, a Gran Reserva with all its aged complexity can be a thing of beauty. Unleash it into a decanter and serve it to special guests who deserve a treat.
Christmas however, isn’t only about rich reds and a festival of meats. There are nibbles to think of and I’m quite a fan of a festive rosé to be served chilled with light bites to get a party started. Rosé from Rioja can be a tip-top match with a wide range of tapas-style bites from prawns to hunks of cheese to cocktail sausages, or even served with a convivial main to share such as paella. And let’s not forget the whites – smashing as an aperitif in the modern style or more oaky whites can work with creamier dishes with a richer texture and more savoury character. It’s time to rummage in Rioja!
Whatever you’re sipping this Christmas, here’s to a belter and I hope to see you at Tapas Fantasticas in 2010! Cheers!
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