Simple Tips to Upgrade Your Next Casual Gathering
Special to The Truth
From special occasions to
everyday get togethers, you can upgrade any gathering
without a lot of extra work by serving delicious pairings of
small bites and sparkling wines.
Be advised that when it
comes to great bubbly, you don’t need to spend a lot of
money to get a great bottle. For a delicious,
wallet-friendly option, try serving Cava, a Spanish
sparkling wine made using the same traditional method as
Champagne.
One Cava producer offering
top-quality sparkling wines is Poema, a family-owned
producer that farms its grapes sustainably. To help you plan
your next gathering, check out the winery’s suggested food
pairings for some of its top wines. These will have you
covered for each course of the meal:
Getting Things Started
Remember that guests often
arrive hungry, so have your appetizer spread ready to go.
Look for a sparkling wine that’s versatile enough to pair
nicely with most tapas and light appetizers, such as Poema
Cava Brut ($12.99), a sparkler boasting fresh citrus,
mineral and Granny Smith apple aromas with toasted bread
notes.
Before your guests sit
down, start them off with this Brut-style Cava alongside
favorite light bites such as roasted potatoes, olive
tapenade, jamón and Manchego cheese served with fresh crusty
bread, stuffed mushrooms, shrimp fritters or even oysters
and other seafood.
The Main Course
Consider a wine that pairs
well with different main course options, such as Poema Cava
Rosé ($12.99), which features fresh notes of strawberry,
raspberry and rose petals and a balanced acidity that keeps
the wine light and fresh.
Whether you’re serving a
casual meal of build-your-own sandwiches with cold cuts and
lightly smoked fish, or you’re barbecuing lean meats, this
versatile wine will work for many casual style meals. For an
added bonus, consider a picnic style theme with a checkered
table cloth.
A Fizzy Sweet Finish
Don’t disappoint those
with a sweet tooth by neglecting the dessert course! Whether
you’re serving creamy custard, sponge cake, chocolate
truffles or brownies, consider pairing with the
sweeter-tasting Poema Cava Dulce ($12.99), which can be
enjoyed alongside dessert, or served alone as a refreshing
aperitif.
Upgrading your next
gathering doesn’t have to require a lot of time or stress.
The addition of some high-quality sparkling wine will make
an everyday gathering more festive and more memorable.
Courtesy StatePoint
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