Summertime is my favorite for pairing deliciously refreshing wines with grilled veggies and meats, sitting on my back patio and enjoying the warm days coming to a close. I’m excited to be partnering with Clink Different to highlight the wines of Germany and Bordeaux and pair them with an al fresco evening at home. Keep reading to learn more about these amazing wine regions.
Clink Different is a collective effort between the Deutsches Weininstitut (DWI, German Wine Institute) and the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB, Bordeaux Wine Council) to increase awareness and consumption of European wines, and more specifically of wines with designations of origin (DOO) produced in the region of Bordeaux, France, and in Germany.
While Germany and Bordeaux may seem like very different wine regions, they actually have a lot in common! Let’s dive into each region, what types of wines they are known for and some things for you to look out for when searching for these wines. Plus, I’ll give a peek into what I paired with all of these for an al fresco evening at home.
German Wines
As a quick refresh, or if you aren’t familiar, Germany has been making wine for over 2,000 years (so they know a thing or two!) and has 13 different wine regions. While Germany is mostly known for their Riesling (Germany holds around 40% of Riesling plantings worldwide!), they actually grow and produce up to 135 different grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir).
Speaking of Spätburgunder, I served this fun wine, 2020 Jan Matthias Klein Little Red Riding Wolf from Mosel, Germany, along with grilled salmon skewers and fresh veggies from my garden. It’s light, and served best with a chill – very similar to Beaujolais style. Also, if you’re into natural wines, you’ll love this! It’s unfined, unfiltered, zero sulfur added, vegan and organic. Plus, the label is a talking piece in itself!
Next time you’re looking for a sparkling wine, try Sekt – Germany’s version of sparkling wine. It’s often made in the same method as Champagne – classic grape varieties can be used (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier) however many use grapes native to the region like Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc or Silvaner. As you’ll see later, this is something the two wine regions have in common! I really enjoyed trying this 2017 Weingut Borell-Diehl Chardonnay Sekt Brut from Pfalz, Germany – fresh with delicate bubbles, making it perfect for summer.
Bordeaux Wines
If you’re a wine lover, I am sure you’ve heard of Bordeaux, but it can sometimes be a bit intimidating given all of the famous chateaus that hail from this region and its reputation for expensive wines. No need to fear, with it being France’s largest wine region (over 26,000 acres of vines and 65 AOC’s (aka appellations)!) there’s something for everyone with many regions and grape varietals to explore. It may be no surprise that red varietals dominate here (Merlot, Cabernet, Cab Franc), however they also produce delicious white, rosé and sparkling wines.
While many people automatically associate red wine with Bordeaux (About 89% of Bordeaux vineyard area is planted with red grapes and 11% with white), don’t forget about their white wines. I love snagging a Bordeaux blanc to pop and open at the start of a meal – this 2020 Château de Fontenille Blanc from Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux, was another great pairing with the grilled salmon I made. This wine was a blend of 40% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sauvignon gris, 20% Sémillon, and 20 Muscadelle – which is a common composition you’ll see with white Bordeaux wines. It was crisp and refreshing, yet had a hint of sweet stone fruit and citrus on the palate.
Fun wine shopping tip: the sparkling wines of Bordeaux are called Crémant de Bordeaux. They’re made in the same method as Champagne, yet are often a better value. This 2019 Calvet Crémant de Bordeaux Rosé is a prime example – such a lovely aperitif, boasting with lively red fruits.
German and Bordeaux Wines
What I love most is that both of these wine regions tend to produce wines that pair so wonderfully with food because they’re often dry and high acid. I also love the diversity of varietals that are offered within each region. The next time you’re looking to explore wines from a new region, consider the wines of Germany and Bordeaux.
I’d love to hear some of your favorite German or Bordeaux wines in the comment section below.
Cheers,
Raquel
*Campaign financed with aid from the European Union*
The content of this promotion campaign represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission and the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (CHAFEA) do not accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
