Usually, Eiswein is paired with desserts, and so I decided not to break from tradition and began searching for the perfect confectionary indugence. When choosing a dessert wine, the primary rule is that the wine should be sweeter than the sugary treat you’re about to enjoy. Several articles that I explored mentioned that fruit tarts compliment Eiswein rather well. Luckily for me, I had 4 very ripe white peaches on hand that would make an excellent summer tart.
Eiswein is basically made from grapes that are left on the vine to freeze. It is important to note that the grapes should be ‘clean’ and not overcome by Botrytis. When the grapes are pressed, only the sweetest, most concentrated sugars are extracted, because the water stays frozen. Therefore, this is a very special wine because there isn’t a whole lot of juice left to extract. Every drop is precious gold!
The other day I came across a bottle of Eiswein, a 2016 Blue Nun, that my husband brought back from a recent trip to Germany. As this is not the cheapest bottle on the market (30?), I really wanted to create the perfect food pairing to compliment the sweetness of this wine.
Eiswein is basically made from grapes that are left on the vine to freeze. It is important to note that the grapes should be ‘clean’ and not overcome by Botrytis. When the grapes are pressed, only the sweetest, most concentrated sugars are extracted, because the water stays frozen. Therefore, this is a very special wine because there isn’t a whole lot of juice left to extract. Every drop is precious gold!
When pairing this wine, I created a white peach tart which, I have to say, my initial reaction to this pairing was perfection. The Eiswein’s immediate aromas of apple, lemon and peach tantalised my senses and prepped my palate for sweet and sour peach flavours. The warm honey, caramelised flavours in the wine provided a long finish and meshed delightfully well with the crunchy, buttery crust. The creme fraiche tamed the overall sweetness, bringing it back to common ground. A well balanced accompaniment with my glass of Eiswein.