Make your sparkling wine pairings ever more effervescent with these four Gloria Ferrer wines paired with four easy to make finger foods.
This is one 1 of 3 posts written in exchange for a discounted ticket to the Wine Media Conference held in Walla Walla, WA in October 2018.
Who is Gloria Ferrer?
In case you haven’t seen her, she does show up on in the wine section at major grocery stores quite frequently. She is from the La Friexeneda family that makes Friexenet, the well-known bubbly bargain.
Founded by the Ferrer family of Spain, Gloria Ferrer is a Sonoma County winery named after Jose Ferrer's wife, Gloria. The Ferrers have been making wine since the 1500s and own La Freixeneda, the well established cava producer from Catalonia.
The patriarch of the family, Pedro Ferrer, dreamed of making sparkling wine in the New World
A Father's Dream Fulfilled
Pedro Ferrer died in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, but his son Jose kept his father's dream alive. In 1982, he and his wife Gloria bought a 160 acre cattle ranch in the Carneros region of Sonoma County and planted pinot noir and chardonnay grapes. The winery opened for business in 1986.
The Carneros American Viticultural Area (AVA) has cool summer temperatures and moderate winters, allowing the grapes to fully ripen with lower sugar and more acidity. It is the first AVA designated by climate and soil and runs through both Napa and Sonoma counties.
The sparkling wine is made in the methode traditionelle.
What is methode traditionelle?
Also known as methode Champenoise, it is the classic and labor intensive method where the bubbles are created inside the bottle via secondary fermentation. Sugar is converted into alcohol, which produces carbon dioxide inside the bottle. The trapped carbon dioxide, in turn, makes the tiny little bubbles we know and love.
All Champagne and high-end sparkling wine are made this way. Champagne, of course, can only be named as such if it comes from the Champagne region in France. All others are sparkling wines.
Sparkling Wine Pairing 101
The adage is that sparkling wine goes with everything, but does it? When in doubt, yes do reach for the sparkling (except of course with heavy meats where a red wine may be more appropriate).
At a tasting session hosted by Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, Sommelier Sarah Tracey of The Lush Life constructed these four pairings to put the palate cleansing power of those bubbles to work on four small bites.
Pairing #1: Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut + Tomato Bruschetta
Wine: Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut ($22)
86.5% Pinot Noir, 13.5% Chardonnay
Appellation: Sonoma County
This wine has notes of meyer lemon, tangerine peel, golden raspberries, yellow plum, apple and warm toast.
Food: Bruschetta with tomatoes, capers, kalamata olives, pepperoncini, parmesan cheese, and balsamic glaze
Pairing Strategy: Acid Needs Acid
The Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut screams with acidity and has your saliva glands churning. Pair with something equally acidic such as the tomatoes and balsamic vinegar on this bruschetta. It will bring out the sweetness in the wine, instead of making the wine flat.
Other suggested food pairings from Gloria Ferrer are:
- Shellfish
- Crab
- Roast Chicken
- Sushi
- Lemongrass
- Fennel
- White Pepper
- Hard aged cheese
- Triple creme cheese
- Meyer lemon compote
Pairing #2: Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs + Turkey Pinwheel
Wine: Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs ($22)
91.6% Pinot Noir, 8.4% Chardonnay
Appellation: Carneros
This wine has notes of red fruit, red raspberry, strawberry, candied grapefruit, and plum.
Food: Turkey Pinwheel with Cougar Gold cheese, strawberry preserves, Boursin cheese, and arugula
Pairing Strategy: Highlight an Accent Flavor
The idea here is to pick a flavor in the wine and echo that flavor in the dish. Strawberry preserves in the turkey pinwheel accent the strawberry aroma in the wine.
The Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs is a touch vinegary and had time with the skin as noted by its faint blush pink color. It has a much richer texture than the Sonoma Brut, but the bright acidity keeps it from feeling heavy.
Other suggested food pairings from Gloria Ferrer are:
- Crab
- Thai food
- Roast pork
- Quail
- Foie Gras
- Semi-sweet desserts
- Star Anise
- Plum sauce
- Triple aged Gouda cheese
- Hard aged cheeses
- Persimmons
- Hazelnuts
Pairing #3: Gloria Ferrer Brut Rose + Tuna Poke
Wine: Gloria Ferrer Brut Rose ($29)
60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Appellation: Carneros
This wine has tasting notes of strawberry, red cherry, fruit compote, vanilla, and fruit pastries.
Food: Ahi poke with sunomono cucumbers, sriracha, seaweed salad, pickled ginger, and sesame seeds
Pairing Strategy: Opposites Attract
The Gloria Ferrer Brut Rose has a rich mouthfeel and extended finish. The fruity notes in the wine are enhanced by the spice in the sriracha sauce, heat from the pickled ginger, and umami for the seaweed.
The pairing makes the wine sweeter and the acidity keeps the palate clean and clear.
Other suggested food pairings from Gloria Ferrer are:
- Spicy, Asian inspired dishes
- Fresh spring rolls with sweet chili sauce
- BBQ pork ribs
- Grilled seafood
- Goat cheese
- Olives
- Herbed nuts
Pairing #4: Gloria Ferrer Anniversary Cuvee + Bacon Scallop
Wine: Gloria Ferrer 2010 Anniversary Cuvee ($45)
67% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay
Appellation: Carneros
This wine has notes of pear, honey, marzipan, and blanched almonds.
Food: Bacon wrapped scallop with Meyer lemon aioli
Pairing Strategy: Texture matching
The Gloria Ferrer 2010 Anniversary Cuvee has complexity and richness, more so than the previous wines. True to its 2010 vintage, it is a decadent wine and a limited edition.
Its voluptuous curves can handle something rich like bacon fat. The rich texture is matched with the sweet, creamy scallop.
Other suggested food pairings from Gloria Ferrer are:
- Oysters on the half shell with chipotle lime mignonette
- Classic Maine lobster with drawn butter
- Lemon meringue pie
- Stonefruit galette with creme fraiche
Make your own Match
Sparkling wines are not just for oysters and caviar. They play in the sandbox well with everything generally, yes, but each has their own subtleties and quirks that deserve respect.
Whether you try any of the above pairings or your own, isn't it always fun to play the matchmaker?
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