LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2018

WINE  WINTER WHITES

SWEET VS. HEAT Off-dry wines won’t

taste noticeably sweet when enjoyed with spicy

foods—they’ll seem palate-soothing and taste dry.

Southbrook Connect Organic White VQA ( LCBO 249078, $15.95) is a blend of fruity Riesling and Vidal plus brighter, more her- bacious Sauvignon Blanc. The trio combine to produce an off-dry wine with heady melon and apricot aromas, balanced with a ton of zingy lemon flavour.    For fans of whites from Italy’s Soavé re- gion, its signature white grape, Garganega, is a main component of the Anselmi San Vincenzo blend ( VINTAGES ESSENTIALS 948158, $17.95). It has exotically fruity and refreshingly herbacious aromas, with a silky mouth feel.    Rieslings are classic pairings with spicy food, especially those that balance off-dry fruitiness with the bright citrus this grape is known for, like Loosen Up Riesling ( LCBO 541110, $13.95) from the Rheinhessen region of Germany. …CHOOSE mouth‑quenching, fruity WHITES IF YOU’RE SERVING spicy foods … White proteins like seafood, pork and chicken make easy toss-ins to winter one- dish meals such as ramen, stir-fries or grain bowls. These dishes frequently get a shot of spice to enliven their flavours, perhaps from hot chilies or savoury sauces (from peanut to hoisin to sriracha). White wines with fruity or off-dry characteristics that still have tons of fresh acidity help calm the heat.

chow mein HONG KONG-STYLE recipe at foodanddrink.ca

200  FOOD & DRI NK HOLIDAY 2018