THE yuletide season is just around the corner. As the occasion appears nearer, every Filipino family prepares recipes of perfect delicacies to cook for the Noche Buena.
But there will always be these staples that everyone will find on the Christmas dining table. Filipino Noche Buena will not be complete without Quezo de bola, Christmas ham, pasta (sweet Filipino meaty spaghetti), and fruit salad.
With different delicacies that vary from fishes, to red meats to poultry, Noche Buena will be perfectly enjoyed with its perfect liquor accompaniment–wine. It is better celebrated with a glass of fine wine while devouring all those yummy delicacies the occasion has to offer.
With a sea of wine choices available in stores, one can get intimidated on how many wine variants to choose from. Nevertheless, do not fuss because wine pairing is not intimidating as it sounds.
The King of Reds
Cabernet Sauvignon is known for its dark-fruited wine taste. It is famous for being known as “even better when it gets aged”. This wine is perfect since it embodies the elegance of big-structured red wine—strong tannins underneath. This kind of wine is perfect for a heavy hearty-sauced duck meal, well-marbled beef, braised stews and everything that falls under rich sauce category. Just always remember Bitter wine + fatty food is perfection.
Fruity and Sweet
One always keeps in mind the wine rule of thumb—white wine for fish and poultry. Chardonnay, is the queen of all white wines. With its complex fruit flavors that are often creamy in texture, it is perfect for Seafoods like white-fleshed fish and sweet shellfish. It also marries well with the taste of chicken and turkey. This wine is so versatile you can also enjoy it with anything with lush cream and butter sauces.
Wild yet refreshing
If white wine and red wine have a baby, it will be Dry Rosé. With the same low-tannin nature of white wine and rich fruitiness of red wine, Dry Rosé is a crisp, pink wine that can offer a refreshing taste with a bursting sensation of wild strawberries and red currants. This wine perfectly compliments the saltiness of cheese which means Quezo de Bola will taste better with its perfect accompaniment.
Dark but softer
If you find Cabernet Sauvignon a bit too much for your palette, you might like its sister—Merlot. Despite having a dark fruit taste, it has soft tannins into it, making it rounder and softer. Unlike the Sauvignon that consists of dark plums, Merlot is mixed with some dried cherries and chocolate to balance out the tannins’ aftertaste. It is best paired with Lamb, meaty fishes like salmon and tuna, tender cut beefs like tenderloin and meats with warm spices and fruit sauces. It also tastes good with some fresh herbs and mushrooms.
Charismatic and Sensual
Pinot Noir is considered to be the most charismatic among all the grape varieties and responsible for some of the world’s best red wine, boasting of its considerable meal-pairing versatility. It is a light-bodied wine with low-tannin content that makes it a sensual red. It fits perfectly with ham, spicy pork, and poultry as well. And it can also be best paired with any dish that has an earthy flavor, like mushrooms and truffles.
Delicate and Aromatic
Riesling is considered to be the noblest white wine in the world since it can just go with everything. This crisp, aromatic wine has a delicate fruity taste that comes from green apples, white peaches, lime and mandarin orange. This white wine is a perfect wine accompaniment for appetizers like salads and vegetables. It can also be perfectly paired with egg dishes, barbecue and Asian dishes like sushi.