@savoirpair Gotta be Gavi to pair with Kale. A fantastic Italian wine that you should get to know better!
♬ Autumn - Ganta Mordita
We love Kale salads – they’re flavorful and nutritious and can be made in so many different ways. They do present a wine pairing challenge. The bitterness of kale can make a lot of wines also taste bitter, and that’s a really unpleasant combination. So for starters, I want a wine that’s showing plenty of fruit. It will be tempered by the kale. Second, I find that having bigger body creates a nice counterpoint to kale’s astringency. The kale doesn’t get a chance to take over your palate when you have both a nice round mouthfeel AND a good dose of fruit.
My pick is a wine that we’ve fallen in love with in the last few years. Gavi di Gavi. This Italian wine from Piemonte in the northern part of the country loves food. It pairs perfectly with Poultry, Fish and even lighter Pork dishes. Gavie is made from the Cortese grape. This particular wine is a DOCG wine from a producer called Villa Sparina. Their vineyard is located in the quintessential location for Gavi wines – known as Gavi di Gavi. It’s got great acidity, but the tropical notes on the nose and the hints of apple and citrus on the palate really shine through. Plus, for a white wine that’s not been aged in Oak, it’s got some nice body. It feels just a tad more viscous in the mouth than many light, unoaked wines.
Put it together with the kale and the other vegetables, and the apple cider vinaigrette dressing, and it’s a little symphony on your palate. If you like unoaked white wines, you’ve gotta know Gavi. It’s become a must-have for our fridge, since it pairs so well with so many foods.
You can get Villa Sparina here, and it’s very affordable!
Ciao!