Pies, pies, pies.
Whether it’s a light flaky puff or a perfect buttery crust, rolling out the dough and celebrating British Pie Week (March 6 to 12) is a marvellous excuse to partner your pastry with a delicious glass of vino.
A much-loved British classic, even if you can only dream about baking your own pie, what’s not to love about tucking into some warm and comforting food in the twilight days of winter?
Whether it’s the glazed pastry casing of a posh pork pie or a crimped Cornish pasty, here’s what to sip alongside it to underpin the flavours.
1. Chicken and mushroom pie
For white meat in a creamy sauce, try a lightly oaked chardonnay such as Parker Williams Vineyard Chardonnay 2016, Coonawarra, Australia (£12.99, Virgin Wines). This sleek white from one of the region’s top estates has classic aromas and flavours of citrus, ripe pear and peach with a flick of vanilla and a lengthy finish – balanced, bright and full of verve.
2. Steak and kidney pie
A versatile red from northern Italy, Truly Irresistible Barbera D’Asti 2012, Italy (£6.99, The Co-operative) deftly mixes rich black cherry notes with ripe plums and spice that contrasts well against an earthy, savoury forest floor. An unbeatable price and match with the meaty gravy of the sauce.
3. Beef and mushroom red wine pie
A real crowd pleaser, once you’ve tasted Mount Rozier The Beekeeper Merlot 2015, South Africa (£7.99, The Co-operative), there might be just enough left over to make the sauce. A rich, smooth, fruity red that pulls all the right taste-strings, plummy dark fruits are laced with smoke and spice.
4. Slow cooked lamb pie
(Handout/PA)
To discover the Jumilla wine route in south east Spain, try El Mayoral Monastrell Petit Verdot, Jumilla, Spain (£6.99, Aldi). A blend of monastrell and petit verdot grapes, it offers sun-drenched cherry fruits with hints of blackberries steeped in liquorice and spice. Whether you’re a novice wine drinker or connoisseur, there’s enough depth to be interesting.
5. Cheese and onion or vegetarian pie
If you want the wine to do the talking and pump up the veggie goodness in a simple supper, Carignan Terre d’Ardoise 2013, France (£10, Marks & Spencer) is a rustic red from the Languedoc-Roussillon made from gnarled old carignan vines. The ripe summer berry aromas and dark brambly fruits are knitted together with liquorice, fennel and firm tannins for a rich character.
6. Cold meat pies
A delicious food friendly red that bears the restaurant’s name, Cantina Siciliana 2015, Italy (£7.99, Laithwaites) is soft and mouth filling and balances generous black cherry and raspberry fruits with sweet spice and black pepper, ending with a black olive note on the juicy finish.
