Chardonnay is a wonderful grape because it so gracefully embraces and expresses the terrior of the places where it is grown. Chilean Chardonnays are delicious but certainly different than French or California or any other of the many regions where this grape flourishes. I find them especially good with food that has a South or Central American influence. They are also incredible values.
The Wine: Quintay Clava Coastal Reserve Chardonnay Casablanca Valley $
The Food: Mexican inspired Grilled Tilefish, Sautéed Grape Tomatoes and Roasted Carrots and Parsnips.
The Places: Home of Course, it was Saturday, and Casablanca, Valparaíso Region, Northwest of Santiago, Chile
Wine maker Paula Cardenas will put a smile on your face as you sip her luscious wine.
The evening started with cocktails of course. Recipes below.
A devoted wine maker Paula Cardenas is very successful. She brings 18 years of experience to Quintay, including time in France and South Africa. Looks like she must have started at age 10.
She embraces an art and philosophy of "micro-winemaking" where great efforts are made to achieve "exceptional balance between tropical, citric and mineral flavours" through making wine in small batches to produce outstanding wines that "faithfully reflect the terroir from which they come." Winemaker
At Quintay she produces fabulous Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Dinner was Mexican inspired, grilled tilefish from the Montclair Farmers Market, marinated with EVO, lime, valle del sol chili powder and then a cilantro, garlic, lime sauce, tomatoes sautéed in EVO and Oregano and roasted parsnips and carrots caramelized with honey and cumin.
The wine paired beautifully with every flavor, and itself showed fresh, crisp flavors of poached pears, lemon zest, white peaches and a touch of green apple on the finish all intertwined with vibrantly minerality.
Viña Quintay is located in the Casablanca Valley, a beautiful verdant coastal plain off the Santiago-Valparaiso highway in Chile’s 5th Region. It has a wonderful terrior for growing grapes with rich soil and fabulous wind off the Pacific. Wine makers discovered the region in the early 80's and it has come be internationally acclaimed as the best place in Chile for the production of white wines. The winery was founded to 2005 when five friends in Casablanca set out to make the very best Sauvignon Blanc. I think they have accomplished their goal.
www.quintay.com
Ruta 68 Km 62,5, La Vinilla Norte, Casablanca, Chile
Wine Found at Magnolias Upper Montclair You won't believe the price.
Cocktails
Diana Loved This
3 oz Good Vodka
1 oz Pama Liquor
1 oz Cocchi American
Muddle 2 orange slices and 2 sprigs of fresh mint
Shake well and serve with orange slice
Peter’s New Favorite
2 oz Rittenhouse Rye
1 oz Aperol Amori
1 oz Cocchi Vermouth Torini
2 drops Urban Moonshine Maple Bitters
Things to do, places to see, with food and booze
Comments