We keep a few recipes on rotation that are perfect for busy nights that shouldn’t leave too many dishes at the end. In this case, we turned to a one-pan dish featuring marinated chicken and roasted carrots that’s easy to enjoy and easy to clean up. My favorite part is the marinade that combines Latin flavors like cilantro and lime with Asian flavors from soy sauce and vinegar.
I was excited to pair a wine that would really celebrate all the bold flavors. This site is just as much about learning what we don’t like as discovering what we do like. In this case, I found a new wine that I enjoyed and that I will come back to. However, I also learned that I need to focus on drier and more acidic wines when working with citrus and spice flavors.
When You Got Sweet, but You Needed Sass
This pairing reminded me of relationships. Sometimes, opposites attract and the wild, outgoing, energetic person finds their match in a shy, quiet, reserved sweet person. And that totally works for so many relationships! However, we also appreciate healthy moments when the wild one can meet up with their party animal friends and they sweet ones can enjoy a quiet night with softer friends.
Analogies aside, the sweetness of the Vermentino did not cut through against the bright citrus flavors and the strong cilantro zest. It felt like they didn’t quite mix in my mouth, even though I liked both on their own. I almost found some complements with the sweetness of the carrots, but it wasn’t enough to carry the dish.
Evaluating the Vermentino itself, it was a lovely wine that I would come back to. It’s sweet in a soft way and would be a great patio wine with cheese.
Backups to the Rescue
We happened to bring home a Dry Riesling as well and gave that a try. If you haven’t explored Riesling much, you’ve likely tried the sweet kinds. It’s important to know there are dry versions, and it’s usually called out on the bottle.
This fared much better. Instead of soft sweetness, the structured flavors in the wine offered stronger support for the food and left me with a more enjoyable experience overall.