According to 16th Century religious figure Martin Luther: “beer is made by men, but wine is made by God”. While we wouldn’t agree with this debasement of beer, we certainly see where Luther was coming from when it comes to wine!
Our wine list at The Swan is carefully curated and we’re expertly guided in our choices by award-winning Jon Campbell from local Northwich wine merchants DeFine Wines.
Below, our team explores our wine menu and pick out the perfect bottles to pair with our seasonal food dishes.
Red Wine
Camino Real Rioja Crianza, Spain
Rioja emanates from the eponymous northern Spanish wine region and is one of the most exquisite and pungent red wines in the world. Our Camino Real rioja has a stunning balance of fruit, vanilla and a little spice that harnesses the flavours of the Garnacha, Graciano, Tempranillo grapes.
This rioja is the ideal match for our delicious Tuna steak dish on our main menu, as the wine helps to pull together all the flavours and textures that have soaked within the fish, while also bringing the bittersweet chilli jam to the fore.
Los Olivos Malbec, Argentina
The Argentines have turned Malbec production into a fine art and the Uco Valley vineyards are a breeding ground for utterly magnificent incarnations of this red wine.
Los Olivos Malbec offers soft and fruity notes with a hint of black pepper and is a classic pairing for steak due to the wine’s fruitiness and natural tannin. The overall richness of this malbec complements the sumptuous cut of Shropshire beef that we use in all of our Josper oven steak dishes.
Balasalla Pinot Noir, Otago, New Zealand
Pinot Noir is one of the most deliciously versatile wines in the world and makes for a superb pairing with any of the dishes on our menu, thanks to its lightness and fruitiness.
However, it’s a particularly perfect match for our mixed game suet pudding as the pinot helps to accentuate the flavour of a whole host of meats.
The low tannin in the pinot helps to complement the pie and emboldens the taste of the meat. This wine is superb for pairing with game as it helps to bring out the richness of the meat and elevates its flavour amid the buttery pastry.
Rose Wine
Burlesque White Zinfandel, California
The beauty of the Burlesque White Zinfandel lies within the fact that it’s a lighter rose, making it even more versatile and more palatable for white wine drinkers who may not like the full-bodied sweetness of a red.
However, this zinfandel is not without a sweet zing, which makes it a great match for our linguine.
The bright red fruits within the rose are the perfect accompaniment to the linguine’s nutty Jerusalem artichoke flavour. Meanwhile, the hint of sweetness that the zinfandel provides is a superb complement to the chilli and lemon flavours, along with the herb crumb which adds an extra dimension to the dish
White Wine
La Battistina Gavi, Italy
This Italian white wine is famed for its zesty and minerality, the latter aspect owing much to the chalky soil in which the La Battistina vineyard sits.
This gavi is a tried and tested accompaniment to starters and appetisers and its particularly suited to fish dishes in a citrus marinade due to the wine’s citrus and mineral notes
So, it’s safe to say that this white is the perfect match for our Josper roasted sardine starter dish. Our La Battistina Gavi accentuates the saltiness of the sardines and provides a boost to the overall flavour, while the citrus notes are a wonderful accompaniment to the lemon within the dish.
Aloe Tree Chenin Blanc, South Africa
Our South African Chenin Blanc originates from the spectacular Western Cape wine region, with its vineyards perched upon the wild oceanic coast. The Aloe Tree is a classic symbol of the Cape and fan aloe forests are a common feature of its landscape.
This Chenin Blanc seems to dance on the tongue and offers a zesty tropical fruit flavour, with guava and orange blossom central to the fruitiness of this elegant number.
The white is another fantastic pairing for chicken, particularly breast meat, and it will also serve to enrich the garlic and herb-infused white sauce.
Dessert Wine
Domaine de Grange Neuve Monbazillac
Finally, if you’re thinking of rounding off your meal with one of our scrumptious sweets, it’s certainly worth considering accompanying it with our luscious Domaine de Grange Neuve.
This is one of the best dessert wines around and it makes for a magnificent addition to our luxury chocolate truffle.
Its sweet and luscious essences add to this heavenly chocolate adventure, while the bitter orange zest within the wine will also provide obvious citrus complements to this dish.
