News and Wine Blog
April 2023 Wine Club: Zulal Wines
04/05/2023
I am giddy about inroducing this months wines. They are from Armenia, my background is Armenian from my Mother's side of my family.
Armenia is one of the oldest wine producing regions of the world. In particular, the oldest known winery was found in Armenia's Areni region, which to this day is still known of its wine production and endemic grapes. Our main wine for this month is made from the Areni grape.
The wines this month like last month are Old World and are great food wines. Both of the reds have lots of cherry, dried fruits and spice on the palate. Karen did the food paring for the Areni this month and she made a Pastilla, which is a Moraccan Chicken Pie. This pairing was beyond amazing. The sweetness of the chicken spice pie with the dried notes and spice of the wine was..... FABULOUS!
I did not pair the Van Ardi Red Blend specifically this month, both reds will pair well with the recipe that is below. Any type of Moroccan or South African dishes will be perfect with these wines. Those types of dishes tend to use different types of backing spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric, etc.... which help to enhance the wines flavors. If you are making a Ham with a clove, nutmeg and brown sugar rub for Easter, be sure to put these wines on the table to have with it.....the wines will shine with the Ham.
The White for this month is a Voskehat, which is an ancient white variety indigenous to Armenia and is often considered the "Queen of Armenian grapes". In English, Voskehat translates literally to "golden seed". This wine shows lots of citrus, floral and yellow kiwi notes. It has a savory herbal back note. I paired this wine with a Crab and Cauliflower gratin. OMG....just so good. This dish will now be one of my go to's for dishes to replace Potato gratin. The brininess of the crab, saltiness of the cheese and the small bit of spice from the cayenne balanced the flavors in the wine. This is what I am bringing for my food contribution for our Easter meal. Delish!
Tasting notes and Recipe links below. ENJOY!
Zulal Areni
NOTES: The Areni is an aromatic wine with notes of red cherries, plums and notes of pepper. On the palate it’s medium-bodied, with refreshing acidity and concentrated flavors of berries and spices.
Zulal Voskehat
NOTES: This is a dry, medium-to-full bodied wine with aromas of ripe apple, pear and honeysuckle balanced by a crisp, savory herb backbone. Pale golden yellow in color, it has a long finish and a pleasing minerality
Van Ardi Red Blend
NOTES: A fruit-forward, attractive wine showing notes of berries and hints of chocolate, that’s well-structured and persistent in its expressive flavors. A blend of Areni, Haghtanak and Milagh.
Armenia is one of the oldest wine producing regions of the world. In particular, the oldest known winery was found in Armenia's Areni region, which to this day is still known of its wine production and endemic grapes. Our main wine for this month is made from the Areni grape.
The wines this month like last month are Old World and are great food wines. Both of the reds have lots of cherry, dried fruits and spice on the palate. Karen did the food paring for the Areni this month and she made a Pastilla, which is a Moraccan Chicken Pie. This pairing was beyond amazing. The sweetness of the chicken spice pie with the dried notes and spice of the wine was..... FABULOUS!
I did not pair the Van Ardi Red Blend specifically this month, both reds will pair well with the recipe that is below. Any type of Moroccan or South African dishes will be perfect with these wines. Those types of dishes tend to use different types of backing spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric, etc.... which help to enhance the wines flavors. If you are making a Ham with a clove, nutmeg and brown sugar rub for Easter, be sure to put these wines on the table to have with it.....the wines will shine with the Ham.
The White for this month is a Voskehat, which is an ancient white variety indigenous to Armenia and is often considered the "Queen of Armenian grapes". In English, Voskehat translates literally to "golden seed". This wine shows lots of citrus, floral and yellow kiwi notes. It has a savory herbal back note. I paired this wine with a Crab and Cauliflower gratin. OMG....just so good. This dish will now be one of my go to's for dishes to replace Potato gratin. The brininess of the crab, saltiness of the cheese and the small bit of spice from the cayenne balanced the flavors in the wine. This is what I am bringing for my food contribution for our Easter meal. Delish!
Tasting notes and Recipe links below. ENJOY!
Zulal Areni
NOTES: The Areni is an aromatic wine with notes of red cherries, plums and notes of pepper. On the palate it’s medium-bodied, with refreshing acidity and concentrated flavors of berries and spices.
Recipe to pair with Areni:
Zulal Voskehat
NOTES: This is a dry, medium-to-full bodied wine with aromas of ripe apple, pear and honeysuckle balanced by a crisp, savory herb backbone. Pale golden yellow in color, it has a long finish and a pleasing minerality
Recipe to pair with Voskehat:
Van Ardi Red Blend
NOTES: A fruit-forward, attractive wine showing notes of berries and hints of chocolate, that’s well-structured and persistent in its expressive flavors. A blend of Areni, Haghtanak and Milagh.
Post By:
Deanna Albertson