Pairing: Haddock with Pesto Sauce and Mediterranean Vegetables … Paired with 2012 Domaine Gerovasiliou Malagousia

Food:  First things first … It’s probably true that most times we first have a dinner in mind and then select a wine that we think will best complement the flavors in that dish. This time, however, we first had a wine in mind (actually, we had opened a bottle of it the night before). It was a delicious Greek white wine, Malagousia, that we had enjoyed last night with a Greek chicken salad (feta cheese and oil-cured olives being the key flavor elements). We based our new meal creation on familiar Mediterranean flavors … white fish (in this case haddock) with a pesto sauce, sautéed zucchini and tomatoes with oregano, and pasta (whole wheat orzo) tossed with feta cheese and a tomato relish (garlic, onion, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, and assorted herbs).  It proved to be a great dinner and a wonderful pairing for the wine.

Wine:  A centuries-old Greek white wine grape, Malagousia was rescued from near extinction in the late 20th century by the the winemaker, Evangelos Gerovassilou. Although Malagousia was previously grown almost exclusively as a blending grape, it has emerged today as a highly favored single varietal, grown mostly in Central Greece and Greek Macedonia. The Domaine Gerovassilou winery is located in Epanomi near the town of Thessaloniki in the coastal part of Greek Macedonia.

Tasting Notes:  A deep golden color. The scent of mock orange along with tropical fruits. A delicious medley of fresh, ripe tropical fruits carries over to the palate. There is some minerality, as well, to sharpen the flavors. This is a great sipping wine, the flavors calling out for one more taste. But it is also an excellent pairing for the lovely Mediterranean components of this dish, particularly the pesto sauce on the fish and the tomato relish mixed into the orzo. A great match!

Other Wines That Pair Well with Haddock and Pesto Sauce:  Chardonnay (Italy), Chablis (France), Sauvignon Blanc (California), Vermentino (Italy)

Other Food That Pairs Well with Malagousia: Chicken Satay, Asian Cuisine, Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad, Pasta with Light Cream Sauce

Read About:  http://www.newwinesofgreece.com/lista_anerxomenon_ellinikon_poikilion/en_malagousia.html

A Source:  www.wine.com