Rare Birds
If you love tradition yet crave variety at the holiday feast, these alternative birds will take the place of turkey with aplomb. Each serves four to six and their delicious stovetop sides do away with juggling oven use. Plus, find perfect pairings to go with each of them.
Roast Duck with Indian Flavours,
Crushed Vegetables with
Chili Butter and Gingery Greens
The palette of intoxicating spices and tender, dark duck meat requires an aromatic white wine or an elegant red that dances with the heady spices without stepping on any toes, providing a foil for the rich fat.
Cave Spring Pinot Gris VQA
Pinot Gris possesses the fruit profile, creamy texture and crisp acidity to do justice to these dishes. Think of an Ontario offering such as Cave Spring Pinot Gris VQA.
A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir
Prefer red? Pinot Noir brings tart red fruit, silky tannins and smoky, earthy characteristics that will perform wonderfully. Try Oregon’s A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir.
Balsamic-Glazed Heritage
Chickens, Carrots Marsala and
Chestnut Polenta
The aromatic pleasure of this succulent balsamic-glazed chicken will be accentuated with a deft wine choice.
Inniskillin Sauvignon Blanc VQA
Sauvignon Blanc with a fruity core, herbal notes and a crisp dry finish is the ticket to complement the fragrant chicken while balancing the sweet components of the sides. Pair with Inniskillin Sauvignon Blanc VQA.
Terradavino Barbera d’Asti DOCG
Red wine performs brilliantly here when it has juicy fruit, good acidity and a light spiciness. Look for an Italian Barbera such as Terradavino Barbera d’Asti DOCG for an exemplary match.
Roast Goose with Perry Sauce,
Creamy Braised Cabbage and
Pommes Sarladaises
Goose offers dark meat that is flavourful, densely textured and moist. The fowl’s heightened savouriness and the deeply flavourful sides call for assertive wine pairings with crisp acidity.
Henry of Pelham Estate Chardonnay
For white wine, look for the apple and pear, peppy acidity and a light kiss of oak found in refined Chardonnays. Henry of Pelham Estate Chardonnay VQA makes a superb match.
Famille Perrin Réserve Côtes du Rhône
Choose a red wine with berry and spice notes, supple texture and light tannins like those of Famille Perrin Réserve from the southern Rhône.
