WINE & FOOD: 4 WINTER PAIRINGS

“En diciembre, a la lumbre” – this popular Spanish saying translates as “December is the time to gather around the fire”. The Spanish lexicon and its wealth of popular refrains are as rich as its gastronomy, so today we’re shifting our attention away from globalization (and the possibility of eating whatever food we want anywhere on Earth) to focus on our local seasonal products, which promise to pair beautifully with our wines.

A meal of roasted peppers, potatoes, and sweet potatoes paired with Malpastor (DOCa Rioja)  

Let’s take a closer look at four Familia Torres wines and some possible pairings, although they will make a worthy companion for just about any traditional winter dish.

Clos Ancestral Red (DO Penedès):

Clos Ancestral Red, with its expressive varietal profile, oak-aged for additional structure and complexity, is the perfect companion for traditional winter dishes like the classic Fabada Asturiana bean stew. The dish, with its mix of white beans, chorizo, morcilla black sausage, and panceta, offers deep, rich flavours that forge an alliance with the wine’s tannins and fruit, resulting in a pairing that is both comforting and well balanced. 

Aubergine lasagna presents a flavour profile in which sweet roasted veggies and strong cheese aromas find a perfect complement in the round tannins and ripe fruit of Clos Ancestral Red. The acidity of the tomato sauce brings out the freshness of the wine, while the complexity of the lasagna’s herbs and spices are enhanced by the spicy, earthy notes of the wine.

Salmos Vi de Vila (DOQ Priorat):

With its hearty character and ripe fruit and spicy notes, Salmos pairs beautifully with herb-seasoned roast lamb. The spicy notes and oak ageing of the wine bring out the succulent tenderness of the lamb and its slightly sweet flavour. The aromatic herbs add another level of complexity, which intermingles with Salmos’s structure, bringing the food and wine into dialogue.

The intense flavour and rich, concentrated sauce of a caldereta de ciervo (deer stew) finds the perfect counterpart in Salmos. The wine and game play off each other, with the tannins of the former softening the texture of the meat while the latter’s complexity emphasizes the depth and spicy notes of the wine.

Salmos (DOQ Priorat) pairs perfectly with a hearty mountain-style rice dish

Celeste Crianza (DO Ribera del Duero): 

Known for its velvety texture and notes of ripe fruit and oak, Celeste Crianza is the perfect match for a beef and potato stew. The rich, concentrated broth of the stew, along with the tender, succulent meat, complement the structure and oak-imparted notes of the wine, resulting in a classic pairing that envelops the palate with every bite.

The gelatinous texture of slowly cooked oxtail, so tender it dissolves in the mouth, enhances the oak-imparted notes and tannic structure of Celeste Crianza. This pairing offers a contrast of textures and flavours that is both fascinating and delicious – the perfect match for a winter meal that warms the soul.

Celeste Crianza (DO Ribera del Duero) pairs perfectly with red meat   

Malpastor (DOCa Rioja): 

Rounding out our selection, Malpastor offers the kind of intensity and spicy notes that are simply exquisite with wild boar stew. The intense flavour of wild boar seasoned with spices reflects the intensity and spicy notes of the wine, and Malpastor’s tannins balance the richness of the dish, which makes for a hearty yet refined match. 

Another wonderful pairing is roasted duck with red berry sauce, offering an interplay of flavours where the richness of the duck and the wild berry sweetness complement the intensity and fruit notes of Malpastor. The wine’s acidity balances the fattiness of the duck, resulting in an elegant and gratifying match, perfect for a special winter occasion.

Malpastor (DOCa Rioja)  is the perfect companion for a dinner with friends   

These pairings are about more than finding complementary flavours and textures between wine and food – it is about creating a memorable and comforting dining experience during the cold season where every sip and every bite bring out the best in each other, leaving a lasting impression on the palate.