Team #3: Janice G. & Craig R.
Menu item: Broiled Salmon with Béarnaise Sauce, Pommes Natures and Sauteed Zucchini
Description: Nice seared exterior Salmon, with a juicy and tender interior, to be served with a creamy, buttery Béarnaise sauce. Lightly boiled potatoes and tender cooked zucchini covered lightly with sprinkled garlic, to be served on the side.
Wine Pairings:
2018 Groth Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley
2018 Rombauer Chardonnay Napa Valley
2016 La Crema Pinot Noir Sonoma Valley
I chose the 2018 Groth Sauvignon Blanc wine from Napa Valley to pair great with this dish. It is medium yellow in color, with clear clarity. No evidence of sediment was present and rim variation was slight, due to it being a young wine. It has a fruity smell of apples, with a smooth refreshing aroma of herbs. This wine gives off a clean scent that is soothing and calming. On the palate it feels smooth, with low intensity. The acidity level was medium and the finish was dry. Sweetness level was low and the body dry.
Groth winery is located in the Napa Valley, which is made up a very diverse wine region, which has several different climate zones. The southern part of Napa is cooler than the northern part due to the cool ocean air, coming in from the San Francisco Bay. Groth’s vineyard is situated in the Oakville AVA, which lies in the southern part of the region. They are known for its full bodied, rich and complex wines that age gracefully. Since Oakville is located on the floor of the valley, the weather there is cooler which produces a more acidic grape. This weather pattern, creates excellent soil for the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety. The soils on the floor of Napa Valley, are deep, fertile and rich in minerals. The valley floor absorbs summer heat, but also attracts the breezes of the Pacific Ocean, creating a cooling fog during early to mid morning. It is during the early morning hours, that this cooling effect allows the slow process of the ripening of the grapes. Wines produced from the fertile valley floors of Napa are generally richer and riper, with higher alcohol levels.
References:
Exploring Wine by Steven Koplan, Brian H. Smith and Michael A. Weiss
