BRITISH asparagus season is under way again. Sadly, it is a short-lived affair, so make the most of it while you can and remember it tastes even better when accompanied by the right wine. Pick the wrong wine and you will find there is something of a clash.
As a rule of thumb, pick a white wine that is dry, unoaked and one that has a lively acidity.
Most wine punters recommend sauvignon blanc as a pairing for asparagus. It is undoubtedly a good choice, the ‘green’ flavours of the wine matching with those of the gourmet veg in question.
The intense flavours of New World sauvignon make a good match, with those from New Zealand being obvious contenders, but there are great examples from South Africa and Chile too.
I like Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Sauvignon Blanc 2013, which is made with fruit from a vineyard on the Pacific coast, in Chile’s Aconcagua Valley. It suggests elderflower on the nose and is suitably fresh, with flavours of passion fruit, gooseberry and green pepper.
Of course sauvignon blanc is not the only wine that pairs with asparagus. Riesling can make an excellent partner.
Online wine merchant Slurp has Dandelion Vineyards “Wonderland of the Eden Valley” Riesling 2012, a really well made wine from Oz.
Dry, fresh and balanced, it is an elegant drop, with subtle flavours of lemon, lime, stonefruit, white flowers and some pronounced mineral notes.
Or from Portugal’s, famous for Port, Douro Valley there is Altano Douro White 2012, which would make an interesting alternative to the usual asparagus pairings.
The wine, from Symington Family Estates’, is a blend of malvasia fina, viosinho and moscatel galego grape varieties. Mineral, crisp and dry, it has flavours of citrus fruit and under-ripe pear, spiced with white pepper.
Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Sauvignon Blanc 2013, £8.99 down from £11.99 at Waitrose (until April 29) 17/20
Dandelion Vineyards Wonderland of the Eden Valley Riesling 2012, £10.95 from Slurp.co.uk 18/20
Altano Douro White 2012, £9.44 from vintagemarque.com 17/20
Twitter: @ TippingsTipples
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