Dinner - Palisades (Australia vs New Zealand)

 New Zealand vs. Australia 

Wine Around The World 

Palisades Dinner 

Spicy Shrimp Dip 

So excited to begin tasting!

I finally got a chance to attend the very talked about "Wines Around The World" dinner at The Palisades restaurant in Eggleston, Virginia. My friend Sophia talked me into going because she raves about the food. This weeks regions were Australia and New Zealand. We had three dishes paired with three wines, but we were so hungry we started with a house salad and a delicious appetizer (spicy shrimp dip)--10/10 - I highly recommend!

Dishes with their respective wines

Menu Item Dishes:

1. Green Vegetable Curry

2. Lamb Chops with Rosemary Mint Vinaigrette

3. Spiced Beef Pie

4. Kumara Wedges 

 These dishes were paired with four wines, two of which were Australian and the remaining were from New Zealand. 

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Menu Item Wines:

Pikes Riesling 2014 (Australia)

"This wine has fresh and bright layers of lemon/lime zest, tropical fruit, and subtle nuances of mineral and wet slate. The palate is fresh, crisp, and dry with a bright acidic length and drives to a soft, dry finish."

This was paired with the delicious green vegetable curry. Our server also suggested we pair it with our appetizer and what a great idea-- it really helped balance the spicy flavors in both dishes! At first sight and sniff this wine had a sweet but had a more so citrus scent to it. It also had a high viscosity. Lastly, I personally most enjoyed the zesty flavors of this wine. 

St. Kilda Shiraz 2014 (Australia)

"With a deep color and purple hues, this Shiraz has aromas of mixed berries and spice that are accented with hints of licorice and mocha. The palate is rich with berries, plums, and a hint of a spice and chocolate"

I personally thought this wine was overwhelming. At first sniff, I was overwhelmed with spice smell--almost like rubbing alcohol. As I was swirling, I noticed this wine has a high viscosity with lots of legs. When sipping, I picked up hints of licorice, but again that spice killed any berries to taste. I didn't particularly enjoy the pairing of this wine with the spiced beef pie-- it was too heavy of a food to pair with this in my opinion. I will say that the neutral flavors of the crust were perfect for absorbing that overwhelming spice from the wine. 

Sea Pearl Sauvignon Blanc 2016 (New Zealand)

"This medium-bodied wine is simple yet satisfying with notes of fresh citrus, passion fruit, and grassy herbs. It has a crisp acidic taste and is accompanied by a long finish."

I absolutely loved this one! Its scent went hand-in-hand with it taste. It had a strong scent of sweet berries and the taste was of a passion fruit with a light lingering citrus. While it is described to have an acidic taste-- I personally didn't experience any acidity when I tasted it. Lastly, this was paired with the Kumara Wedges-- which was a perfect pairing! I absolutely loved these wedges- I could have eaten them alone and been completely content!

Ponga Pinot Noir 2013 (New Zealand)

"A balanced and earthy wine that offers aromas and flavors of black cherry, plum, and cola nut. The palate is accompanied by acidic flavors, light dry tannins and a lasting finish."

I only found light hints of spice in the smell as I smelled more of a plum scent. At first taste, I picked up a lot of earthy flavors followed by a distinct taste of black cherries. I loved this wine! It was paired with the absolutely delicious lamb chops! I can't even begin to describe how well the flavors of the mint drizzly of the succulent lamb chops went perfectly with this pinot noir. 

The menu for the night.

 

Dinner company- my friend Sophia (also in this class)

What a experience! I was so thankful I went and cannot wait to go back! 

 

Until Next Time-- CHEERS!

Aainy