November 10, 2011
Jessup and Bacon?
It sounds funny, I know. But bacon actually offers quite a diverse set of pairings. Bacon can definitely vary in taste, depending on how much fat it has, how thinly it is sliced, how long it is cooked, what region it comes from, etc. But when you think of bacon, what comes to mind first? That wonderful smell wafting through the house, just drawing you out of bed? The lovely sizzling sound of those fatty strips cooking in a pan? Most people I would say, first think of the salty breakfast variety of bacon, and I’ll admit that is definitely my first thought as well. But today I am going to attempt to pair some of my favorite Jessup wines with a bacon-based dish!
So how does one pair wine with bacon, even though bacon is not usually a featured item on the plate? Although bacon may not be the main item, it definitely changes the flavor to the dish. That salty, oily addition can alter not only how the meal tastes, but also how it looks and feels. So to offer up some pairings that I find personally enjoyable, I am going to show 3 dishes which include bacon in their recipe and offer some pairings for those.
The first dish is one of my personal favorites, bacon wrapped chicken. This dish is delectable! The salty, savory flavors that come out of this dish are simply amazing! For this dish, my Jessup recommendation is the 2009 Pinot Noir. This Pinot Noir has a nice spicy nose that mixes very well with the spices in the dish and the lightly sweet taste mixes great with the saltiness of the bacon to make for a beautiful pairing. You’re definitely gonna love this one!
My next favorite is actually a recipe I got from Bob Clark, Jessup’s very own sommelier! Bacon wrapped scallops! I know, I’m sticking to the wrapped theme but I simply couldn’t pass this one up. This is also more of an appetizer but nonetheless it’s simply to die for! For this one, it mixes superbly with the 2009 Chardonnay. This nice and crisp Chardonnay has a creamy citrus flavor that goes perfectly with the bacon and scallops. Check out the full recipe (and lots of Jessup reviews) directly from Bob on YouTube. You simply must try this one!
And my last pairing is a bacon and sausage quiche! I simply love quiche dishes. It’s a way of having breakfast without actually having breakfast, know what I mean? For this dish I am going to suggest the 2010 Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has a nice blend of fruity aromas which complement that breakfasty feeling of the quiche. But also, this sauvignon blanc has a slight acidity to it, so mixing it with the saltiness of the bacon and sausage makes for a wonderfully rich pairing.
In the end, there are hundreds of options when pairing wine with bacon. Especially since I’ve only touched on the most classic type of bacon. Has anyone had good wine pairing experiences with Canadian or Australian Bacon? I would love to hear about other pairings that people have tried!
