Missed out on a European vacation this summer? Longing to go back already? It may be time to bring a part of the European summer to you. Many of the continent’s famous food traditions can be easily recreated at home. Pair the right dish with the perfect wine, and bring the simple flavours and easy elegance of Europe to your own backyard this summer.
Start with the right wine ideal for the summer evening sunshine. Focusing exclusively on cava, Spanish sparkling wines produced using traditional methods, Segura Viudas is known for its sophisticated and fresh cavas. Located in verdant hills outside of Barcelona, the Segura Viudas winery lies within the ancient region of Penedès whose wine-making history dates back to the 12th century.
Segura Viudas cava undergoes a centuries-old process of secondary bottle fermentation known as aging of lees. This method creates wine with added layers of complexity and more refined bubbles. Available in a Brut and a Brut Rose as well as an organic variant, each bottle adds a sparkling freshness to summer evenings spent with family and friends.
A winning combination
Now, to find the perfect food pairing. Dating back centuries, the Spanish tradition of tapas originated in the southern region of Andalusia and has since spread all around Spain and beyond. Tapas may not have started in Barcelona, but the tradition has flourished among the Catalans for more than half a century. Tapas bars fill Barcelona’s wide avenues with typical dishes including patatas bravas, pan con tomate, salt cod fritters and Spanish anchovies.
Often rather simple dishes, many tapas recipes can be easily made at home. Pan con tomate (Spanish tomato bread), or pa amb tomàquet as the dish is known in Catalonia, is ubiquitous in the region. Pa amb tomàquet requires just a handful of ingredients but results in a dish far greater than the sum of its parts.
Start by grating a ripe tomato into a pulp and adding salt to taste. Set that aside and slice and toast a hearty bread, which will form the base of the dish. This is where the magic happens. Take a half clove of garlic and run the cut side over the surface of the toasted bread. The garlic imparts a wonderfully savoury flavour without being overpowering. Now spoon the tomato mixture over the bread, drizzle with olive oil and finish off with a sprinkle of flaky salt.
Perfectly paired with a Segura Viudas Cava Brut, the combination is best enjoyed al fresco on a balcony, patio or back garden. Ideal for entertaining, the pairing works great as a pre-dinner appetizer, while the cava’s aromas of white fruit, citrus and light floral notes will make that summer sun feel just a bit more Spanish.
To shop the Segura Viudas Cava Brut, visit shop-bc.markanthonywineandspirits.ca.
This content was produced for the advertiser by RedPoint Media for commercial purposes. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Avenue staff.