The Sommelier: Lesley Quinn, StellarSomm, Best Sommelier of Atlantic Canada 2017
The Appellation: Rosé D’Anjou
AOP Key Varietals: Grolleau Noir, but may also include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Malbec, and Pineau d'Aunis.
The Pairing: Arugula, Strawberry, and Goat Cheese Salad
According to Lesley Quinn “for me the perfect summertime Loire AOP is the Rosé D’Anjou. It uses mainly the Grolleau grape and crafts an off-dry style of pink wine that fills the glass with strawberry and wild rose aromas. My family were strawberry farmers here in PEI (Prince Edward Island) so this wine conjures up memories of sitting in the shade on a summer day hulling the tops off the berries. My favourite pairing with the wine is an arugula, strawberry, and goat cheese salad with a thick balsamic vinaigrette on top. Loire Valley wines paired with goat cheese tend to work well as the region produces 70 per cent of all of France’s goat cheese. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t sat down and simply enjoyed the wine with a bowl of freshly picked PEI strawberries too.”
