An Unusual (and Perfect) Combination

Not being a heavy white wine drinker I was coaxed by a friend to try a Spanish wine that she had just gotten her hands on. I’ll try anything Spanish at least once! To my immediate surprise I became immediately enamored by this find. The 2005 Creu de Lavit from the D. O. Penedès blew me away. It was fresh, light, crisp, and a bit on the dry side (my preference) with medium acidity. With aromas of melon and flavors of summer fruit it was certainly a refreshing treat. The unusual thing about this wine is the varietal. It is made from 100% Xarel-lo – a native Penedès grape that is used primarily in the production of cava.

So what would you pair this unusual wine with? How about an equally unusual food – padrón peppers. These small, chili-sized peppers hail from the north of Spain and are truly the perfect food to enjoy with a glass of Creu de Lavit. Often called the “Russian roulette pepper” usually about one in every ten peppers are spicy, with the others offering a slightly spicy and even sweet taste. They are only in season from June through early October; and a few companies actually ship them in the U.S. They are a bit pricey (you can find them from as low as $16/pd), but ask anyone who has tried them and they will tell you they are well worth the effort to find them and the price that you pay (isn’t that right, Marc and Courtney?).

Two unusual finds that provide a perfect combination. Absolutely! Buen Provecho.

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