How-To: Pair Wine and Brussel Sprouts

When thinking about a nice meal with a glass of wine, brussel sprouts aren't the first food to spring to mind. They're not everyone's favorite vegetable, but when prepared correctly, you can avoid that stereotypical whiff of sulfur. Still, no matter how the dish is prepared, you can always taste the brussels sprouts. Earthy, but sweeter than cabbage or broccoli, with just a hint of that funk: they are a great vessel for other flavors. Many people just simply roast them with a bit of olive oil or butter, maybe adding some balsamic vinegar, or...that favorite ingredient to fix a dish--bacon!

If you're looking for a wine to pair with brussels sprouts, look for a big wine, with some of those similar flavors: Earthy, funky, maybe a bit of sweetness.

• Classic Cotes du Rhone, with big flavors of herbs and spices
• Australian Shiraz (the same grape as the Cotes du Rhone) will give you just as big, but rounder, fruitier flavors.
• Italian Barolo will have some interesting earthy flavors, but might be even bigger flavors than the brussel sprouts
• Stone-y white wines like Chenin Blanc or some dry Rieslings can match the mineral flavors.

Did You Know?...About Cotes du Rhone Villages

Cotes du Rhone-Villages is a sub-region of the Cotes du Rhone AOC in France, near Avignon. Comprised of a handful of villages, the vineyards here are considered to produce higher quality wine than the general region.The wines must contain mostly Grenache grape.

Quick Review: Domaine Grosset

France, Cotes du Rhone, Domaine Grosset Villages Cairanne
++ // Fruity// Raspberry, Cedar // Chocolate, Raspberry, Cedar // Full

Paired with a rabbit dish at Mesa Grill, this wine was well balanced with the spicy southern sauce. 

Did You Know?... About Cotes du Rhone

Cotes du Rhone (pronounced coat doo rone) is a AOC region in the south of France, along the Rhone river. It includes such famous wine regions as Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Hermitage, and the region usually produces more wine than any other French appellation other than Bordeaux. 

Syrah is the only grape grown in Northern Rhone, and results in earthy and spicy wines, while Southern Rhone reds can include Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre, and Carignan (and blends of such) which add rounder, fruitier flavors to their wines. White wines are a blend of Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, among other varietals. Southern Rhone is also one of the only regions to make a sweet Muscat, in a style similar to Port.

So, when you see a wine labeled "Cotes du Rhone," you will now know which grapes to expect. For red, either Syrah or Grenache blend, and whites, likely Viognier or blend of some such.

Courtesy of Terroir-France.com

Quick Review: Wine at Abigail Wine Bar

Italy, Veneto, La Vendemmia, Sangiovese, 2009 

/ // Fruity// Cherry, floral // Cherry, cranberry, seeds // Light

France, Cotes du Rhone, Domaine des Auzieres

+ // Fruity // Stewed raspberry // Cranberry // Medium

Good snack wine, very tart. Gets the mouth watering. This is probably a blend with mostly Grenache grape.

Almost the same flavors as some NY reds enjoyed recently. The temperate climates produce tart red wines in many cases.