Thanksgiving has arrived and with it the Ontario fall harvest, filling our farmer’s markets, plates and stomachs with roast meats, squash, fall veggies, fruit pies and preserves. Whether your Thanksgiving feast will be a big production full of tradition or a small gathering with a new twist, you’ll need a wine that can pair with the meal and please the family. The Famille Cattin Pinot Gris (same grape as Pinot Grigio but a richer style) is a ripe and fruity wine from Alsace, France, perfect for pairing with your favourite fall foods and your most skeptical guests. Bon appétit!
Tasting Note: Combining rich fruit notes of apricot, melon, pear and apple with touches of honey and a smoky mineral note, Famille Cattin Pinot Gris shows hints of sweetness and a balancing acidity that makes it very food-friendly and a delicious sip on its own.
Enjoy With: Roasted meats with a fruit glaze or sauce; roast ham with pineapple, roast turkey with cranberry sauce, or roast duck with orange. The fruit and touch of sweetness also pairs very well with spicy Asian dishes. Hungry yet?
Style: An off-dry, full-bodied and rich white wine.
Terroir / Region: Alsace, France is known for long, warm autumns which allow the grapes growing there to take their time when ripening, creating balanced and delicious wines. Off-dry and sweet wines are local specialties in Alsace and are readily matched to rich local foods, just as the dry wines of Alsace pair with lighter fare. This is no secret to the wine community which is why Alsatian wines are poured in restaurants worldwide!
Producer: The Cattin family have been established in Alsace for 300 years and are masters of their craft. The family’s property touches all levels of the region giving them the ability to blend elements from throughout Alsace (like in this week’s wine), creating dense flavours and great value, or to take from their most prized Grand Cru vineyards for complex, terroir driven wines showing off the attributes of a single plot through their winemaking talents.
Availability: The Famille Cattin Pinot Gris is available year-round in the France section of your local LCBO. Grab a bottle or two and experience the famed food-friendliness of the wines of Alsace!
