As the cold winter weather persists, cozy nights at home become increasingly appealing. Nothing beats a night by the fireplace with a beautiful glass of wine and someone special by your side.
Rich with a notable tannin structure, our award-winning Heaven’s Gate Winery 2018 Malbec is the perfect compliment to a charming evening for two at home. We have put together a simple, classic date night dinner wine and food pairing that, despite its simplicity, is sure to impress.
Our Feature Wine
Malbec Flavour Notes
While Malbec’s origins are in France, about 70% of its grapes are now grown in Argentina. It favours higher elevation and requires a hot, dry climate to thrive. This makes many spots in the Okanagan a great candidate for successful cultivation of this climate-fickle varietal. Malbecs are full-bodied wines that are admired for their rich berry and fruit flavours and smooth finishes. Primary flavours found throughout the varietal’s profile are plum, blackberry, vanilla, cocoa and sweet tobacco.
Pairing Malbec with Food
Even though Malbec is rather full-bodied and carries a medium to high tannin profile, it pairs beautifully with a variety of foods.Meats, savoury dishes with depth and spicy foods will complement this rich red. Consider enjoying it alongside:
- Steak, pork, lamb, salmon, and dark poultry
- Spicy ethnic dishes such as curries
- Cuban-style recipes and Mexican meals with smoky chillies
- Pungent, salty cheeses like blue cheese and Gorgonzola, or milder cheese like Monterey Jack, melted Swiss and provolone
- Herbs like sage and rosemary, which enhance Malbec’s fruity flavours
- Mint to bring out Malbec’s complexity (think lamb with mint jelly)
- Dark, rich chocolate or salted caramel desserts
The Ideal Dinner Date Pairing
Filet Mignon with Roquefort Chive Sauce
Date night calls for a little indulgence. What better way to elevate an evening at home than with an impressive filet mignon with a rich, creamy roquefort chive sauce. Pair it with a bottle (or two) of our acclaimed Heaven’s Gate Winery 2018 Malbec and you have the perfect evening.
A classic choice for a dinner date out, this steakhouse-style recipe will feel just as spectacular, if not more so, when you prepare it
yourself. It has an ingredients list that is simple and the instructions can be executed by even the most novice chef. All you will need is:
- 2 – 10 oz filet mignon steaks
- vegetable oil
- butter
- salt & cracked peppercorns
- heavy cream
- french Roquefort cheese
- fresh chives
Please note: The recipe calls for you to salt the steaks with fleur de sel. Fleur del sel is briny and less salty when compared to kosher salt or sea salt. It is much more delicate. If you do not have fleur del sel, we recommend using sea salt and reducing the amount to ¼ to ½ of the amount listed in the recipe.
That’s it! Serve alongside some steamed asparagus or your favourite roasted vegetables and you have an elegant, romantic dinner for two.
What Our Guests are Saying
“Went for a tasting with four other ladies and we couldn’t say enough about this winery! The wine was absolutely delicious, the hospitality was incredible and the overall experience was amazing. Absolutely recommend this adorable little winery!”
Come in and say hi when you purchase your bottles of Heaven’s Gate Winery 2018 Malbec. Make sure to take in the stunning Okanagan vineyard views while you are here. We can’t wait for you to try our BC VQA certified wine and hope you will find a new favourite. If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our Okanagan Guide To Food & Wine Pairing.