I'm not here to make your life complicated.
So, pair the late-summer bounty of BC seafood with whatever wine you want -- white, red, rose or sparkling.
Easy peasy, freestyle, a simple and straightforward no-brainer.
However, if you happen to like your life a little more complicated, there are some loose rules you can follow when matching fresh fish and wine.
Let's concentrate on salmon, halibut and albacore tuna because they are in season right now in BC.
But, the same pairing suggestions can work with seafood that's in season year-round in BC, from dungeness crab and scallops to West Coast shrimp, oysters and sablefish, which is also known as black cod.
If you're grilling your fish in a somewhat spicy rub or marinade then Pinot Noir is a sensational pairing.
I know, mind blown by suggesting red wine accompany fish.
But, Pinot is a light red wine and delicate enough not to overpower the fish while complementing the barbecue flavours from the rub or marinade.
An ideal Pinot for this pairing is the Solvero 2020 Pinot Noir ($35) from Summerland.
If you're preparing and cooking your fish in any kind of buttery or creamy sauce then Chardonnay or sparkling can be the go-to.
Bubbles cut through the richness of butter and cream for a refreshing and complementary pairing.
So, pop the See Ya Later Ranch Sparkling Brut ($23) from Okanagan Falls and-or the Culmina Perle de Rose ($35), which is the Oliver winery's first foray into sparkling.
Chardonnay's lower acidity and buttery mouthfeel complements fish in buttery or creamy sauces in a different way, along the lines of like attracting like.
Two such Chardonnays are the more traditional Solvero 2022 Chardonnay ($30) from Summerland, which is elegantly oaked and smooth, and the Blasted Church Unorthodox Chardonnay ($22) from Okanagan Falls, which is unoaked and highly aromatic.
By the way, sparkling is also considered the perfect pairing with smoked salmon, oysters and caviar.
Salmon is so good barbecued, baked or pan-fried in a sweet glaze featuring honey, maple syrup or teriyaki.
Such preparation calls for a wine that also has a hint of sweetness and acidity.
So, call on the Free Form 2020 Riesling ($35) from Summerland and-or the Gold Hill 2022 Rose ($30) from Oliver.
The firm white flesh of halibut, especially if it's grilled, baked or pan-fried in some sort of herb rub, calls out for an aromatic white wine with pleasing acidity like Pinot Gris or Riesling.
So, the Free Form Riesling can again come to the table or serve up the Bordertown 2023 Pinot Gris ($20) from Osoyoos, which has aromas and flavours of crunchy pear and clean minerality.
Rose Rodeo
What is a Rose Rodeo?
It's what unfolds when you don a cowboy hat, drink pink wine, eat Texas chili and listen to some live folk music on a ranch.
Garnet Valley Ranch Winery in Summerland is throwing a Rose Rodeo party Saturday, Sept. 14, 3 pm to 6:30 pm, at its property at 26405 Garnet Valley Rd.
You're encouraged to wear western gear or come as you are to enjoy three types of chili, Rose wine from Garnet's sister winery Free Form or Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Garnet, enjoy the music by singer-songwriter Nevaeh Dyson and say hello to the horses that drop by from Wildhorse Mountain Ranch.
Tickets are $50 at:
Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at [email protected]. His wine column appears every Friday afternoon in this space.
