April showers bring May flowers! (And what do may flowers bring: pilgrims! Hahaha)
Speaking of flowers, many wines, from whites and rosés to reds, give aromas and flavors of flowers.
If you’re planning a get together this Spring, how about surprising your guests with Spring-themed floral wines and food pairings?
For this floral-focused fête (that’s French for party) featuring all things floral, your guests will enjoy an assortment of wines of all styles with one thing in common: a beautiful “florality” on the nose, and even in your mouth when you swirl and sip.
Tip #1: A Variety of Floral Wines
Some grape varieties destined to become wine have natural chemical compounds that deliver delightfully floral notes. These grapes are Albariño, Riesling, Torrontes, Moscato, Lambrusco, Grenache, and Nebbiolo. When shopping in your favorite grocery or wine store, look for these wines in your price range.
Need a wine cheat sheet: we recommend the following perfect companions to your floral-themed meal.
Innocent Bystander Moscato $15 (Victoria, Australia)
An ever so slightly sweet sparkling rosé Moscato from Australia with beautiful white flower flavors.
Bodegas La Val Finca Arantei Albariño $23 (Rías Baixas, Spain)
Albariño is our favorite Sauvignon Blanc dup, serving both freshness and a simple floral waft in the glass.
Harrell P.J. Rosé $24 (California)
A delicate rosé with light rose notes is the perfect quaffable pairing. Rosé all day!
Cantina di Soliera Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce $12.99 (Emilia-Romagna, Italy)
A sparkling red served chilled that gives aromas and flavors of violets. Perfect with the cured meats!
Madrevite Opra 2022 $30 (Umbria, Italy)
A light, fruity, and floral wine made from the Grenache grape from a small, family-owned winery in central Italy.
Tip #2: Pair with Floral Foods
For floral themed foods, a beautiful mixed green salad with goat cheese, dried cranberries, edible flowers, and a balsamic vinaigrette is a perfect starter. Putting together your cheese and meat grazing board, a salami rosette is the pretty focal centerpiece of the table. (See how to make a salami rosette in our article Bubbles and Boards for New Year’s Eve.)
Tip #3. Bring a Region or Favorite Destination to the Table
Love Italy in the Spring? Add a little Italian flair – delicate fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with ricotta and fresh herbs.
And who can resist a piping hot tray of fresh-baked focaccia? Bake them with fresh herbs on top and sprinkle them with delicate edible flowers and good-quality olive oil before serving.
Tip #4. Top It Off with Tipsy Mixes Perfect Wine Pairings
Remember to add your favorite Tipsy Mix flavors to the grazing board to add substance, crunch, and a bit of both sweet and salty flavors. Our three flavors below would be a welcome addition and pair well with the wines in this article. (Even though one pouch is four ounces, we recommend one Tipsy Mix bag is just the right amount for two people.)
The honey-covered cashews and yogurt-covered pretzels are a great sweet treat to pair with the sparkling Moscato.
The various salty nuts in this pack work well with the Albariño.
Raspberry-covered raisins, orange-zested almonds, and rosé are a match made in heaven. The dried red cherries and the Madrevite Opra pairing cannot be missed.
Tip #5. Easy Grazing Table Grocery List
For a foolproof execution, here is your grazing table shopping list for your next visit to the grocery store:
- Soft cheese such as chèvre, Brie, or burrata
- Hard cheese such as Irish cheddar, Comté, or Asiago
- Smoked cheese such as smoked gouda or chunks of provolone
- Cured meats such as bresaola, Coppa, or soppressata
- Your favorite cracker (table water crackers are simple and versatile)
- Cubed focaccia (see our trick above to really make it stay on the floral theme)
- Sliced apples or strawberries
- Jam/preserves (any flavor will do!)
- Truffle honey
- Stone ground mustard
And to complete the table, a loose, organic arrangement of florals and greenery goes a long way for vibe and aesthetic. These days, grocery stores (especially Trader Joe’s) have incredible fresh floral selections at pretty good prices. Or consider a walk in your neighborhood where you can pluck some fresh stems you might find along the way. Cheers!
