F&B Pairing: Which wine to pair with roast turkey?
Turkey and red wine is a classic combination, but what is the intensity and flavour to choose for a perfect pairing? The French Cellar’s sommelier, Nicolas Rebut, shares some tips.
Who says roasted turkey has to wait till Christmas. Turkey with wine proves to be a homely meal – even in Asia.
Turkey meat is delicious and flavourful. Its skin is fragrant when finished to perfection in the oven. Given the serving size, its generous portions can feed an entire family comfortably. Why not take your turkey meal to another level by pairing it with the perfect wine to complement its flavour?
Recipe: Roast turkey with croquettes and chestnuts.
Which kind of wine to pair with turkey?
There’s something about the homely feeling one gets when eating roasted turkey. Maybe it’s the warm meat and stories shared when it’s eaten with the family. It is no wonder that Westerners enjoy this dish with their families during their most important gathering of the year: Christmas dinner.
Because turkey meat has a medium to high flavour intensity, a good red wine with similar intensity would be suitable. This red wine should also have some acidity to bring life to the lean parts of the meat. The acidity will also help cut through the fat of the turkey.
Also, a wine with a medium level of fruitiness would complement the earthiness of the turkey well.
The Clos Venturi, Corsica, 2010 is a suitable wine for the job. This wine is from Corsica, an island off the south of France. Its warmer climate allows for ripe, fruity grapes at harvest.
Wine service temperature: 17°C
Recommendations from Nicolas Rebut, Sommelier at The French Cellar, Singapore.
