Last month when I saw this invitation from David, at CookingChat, for a food + wine pairing blogging event, I was in. Immediately. The inaugural event was fantastic; the theme for this month = "refreshing." Here's David's July #winePW invite. I knew, for this, I wanted to pour a local white wine that would pair well with a homemade ice cream. There's nothing more refreshing on a hot summer's day than ice cream and a chilled white wine...so, why not put them together?!?
In the Glass...
Cambiata is a small (local to me) winery owned by Eric Laumann who worked for Bonny Doon and Edna Valley before launching his own label in the early 2000s.
Cambiata - in Italian - means "changed." In music, Eric writes it's "the added tonal dimension
that occurs when two chords momentarily share properties, so that the
transition has greater depth and mellifluence. The cambiata is expressed on my label with the idea of
divine proportion."
Cambiata Albariño is fermented cold and produced anaerobically which
means the wine never sees oxygen until it
reaches your glass. Interesting.
Albariño, the primary grape used to make dry
white wine in Northwestern Spain, is known - in Portugal - as Alvarinho, where it is often used as a component of
Vinho Verde.
Albariño, the primary grape used to make dry
white wine in Northwestern Spain, is known - in Portugal - as Alvarinho, where it is often used as a component of
Vinho Verde.
Golden-hued with just the slightest hint of copper, the wine is crystal clear and reflects glints of sunlight
as you swirl it. When the wine settles, skinny legs sprint down the inside of the
glass. Bring the glass to your nose and you'll catch aromas of summer stone fruits, flowers, and fig! After some swirling, sniff again. You might get a whiff of aromas of almonds and vanilla. This wine is beautifully balanced, lush and tart with a subtle minerality on the finish.
Jake and I were captivated by its freshness, its
summery flavors, and its sheer drinkability. If you love Albariño, you will
love this wine. If you have never tasted Albariño, grab a bottle.
And for this refreshing pairing for #winePW, I served it with fresh green fig ice cream.
In the Middle of the Plate... [printable recipe for Green Fig Ice Cream]
Ingredients
- 2 C chopped fresh green figs, destemmed
- 1 C heavy whipping cream
- juice from 1 lemon
- 1/2 C organic granulated sugar
- fresh green figs, for serving, 1 per person
ProcedurePlace all of the ingredients in your ice cream maker and process according to your machine. Ours took about 40 minutes to come to a soft, gelato-like texture. Spoon ice cream into a container and freeze before serving.
To serve, slice the top off of the figs. Gently scoop out a bit of the fig meat to create a hollow. Use a truffle scoop and place a mini scoop of ice cream into your fig. Serve immediately.
Be sure to check out the great pairings my fellow bloggers have shared for the July Wine Pairing Weekend!
Vino Travels -- An Italian Wine Blog shared Orzo salad and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo.
Curious Cuisiniere posted Grilled Trout paired with a Tropical Fruit Viognier.
ENOFYLZ Wine Blog paired Ceviche and Tablas Creek Picpoul Blanc.
Take a Bite Out of Boca shared Grilled Mango-Sriracha Shrimp, Pineapple and Peppers paired with Burg Layer Schlosskapelle Spatlese Kerner.
foodwineclick shared Steamers and Cava on the Porch.
Confessions of a Culinary Diva blogged about Aperol Spritz.
Cooking Chat paired Grilled Salmon with Mango Salsa and a White Burgundy.
Join the #winePW conversation:
Follow the #winePW conversation on Twitter throughout the weekend and beyond. If you're getting this early enough, you can join us for a live Twitter chat on our theme "Refreshing Wine Pairings" on Saturday, July 12, from 11 a.m. to noon Eastern Time.
And that's a Wrap...
...on our July #winePW event.
My Green Fig Ice Cream + Albariño pairing was a wild, refreshing hit! I'll pin this recipe and other posts on my #winePW pinterest board. David, our host, also has a Wine Pairing Weekend pinterest board. Stay tuned for the August Wine Pairing Weekend, which will focus on "Wine for Summer's Bounty" on Saturday, August 9.
If you can't find Cambiata Albariño, swap out for a Portuguese Vinho Verde or even a Sauvignon Blanc that borders on the acidic side...or try an Austrian Grüner Veltliner. And if you try this pairing - or just the wine - I would love to hear what you think. Comment below or tweet to me at @Culinary_Cam.
Wow, this sounds like a fantastically refreshing pairing! I love Albarino, but haven't tried any from California. The ice cream sounds wonderful, what a summer treat you've put together!
ReplyDeleteFig ice cream?!?! What an interesting combination, but sounds intriguingly delicious. I wouldn't think to pair wine with ice cream, but the one you've chosen seems to work!
ReplyDeleteYummy! I had some fig gelato when I went to Spain last year, so I know it's a flavor that works well as a frozen treat! I'll have to look for the Albariño, as I'm a fan of the grape!
ReplyDeleteOh so lovely! Albariño & fig gelato - that's a match made in heaven!
ReplyDeleteThis is too unique for words! I so wish I knew where to get fresh figs here so we could try making this ice cream! Well done!
ReplyDeleteLooks good! We seem to only get figs for a very short time in Minnesota, usually late August. Then they're gone. I'll watch closely and let you know how we do!
ReplyDeleteIce cream and wine. How can you go wrong? Homemade ice cream is fun and this sounds like a neat pairing.
ReplyDelete