Labor Day will be here before we know it, and as we lament the end of a sunny, lazy summer and brace for the beginning of the back-to-school hustle and bustle, how about you grab a bottle of South American wine from sibling wineries Montes and Kaiken in Chile and Argentina and ponder that whole work-life balance thing that our Latin American friends to the south seem to do so much better than we do.
This Labor Day weekend, skip the usual burgers and hot dogs in favor of something a bit more unexpected: healthy and easy-to-prep seafood dishes paired with these delightful discovery wines. After all, even though it’s a holiday that celebrates the worker, those lucky enough to have a day off don’t want to spend all of it laboring in the kitchen, especially as warm and humid as it’s been in many parts of the country the last couple of weeks.
Make a Lobster Ceviche with mango and avocado before guests arrive. Fill acrylic tumblers with a few scoopfuls of the ceviche with a pinch of sea salt and a handful of tortilla chips (for dipping), and serve it alongside refreshing and zesty Kaiken Terroir Series Torrontes (SRP $17), which entices the senses with notes of minerality, tropical fruit, and fresh white flowers.
Pre-prep some delicious Maryland Crabcakes with fresh crabmeat to fire up on the grill, top with fresh greens or sandwich between tasty bread and pair with the delicious Montes Alpha Chardonnay (SRP $25). This Chardonnay is full-bodied and creamy, and it’s a match made in heaven with the crab cakes.
Sear up Chili-Rubbed Wild Salmon with an avocado salsa and serve it with Montes Limited Selection Pinot Noir (SRP: $17), its delicate palate with bright notes of luscious raspberry, strawberry, and cherry that will lift the dish beautifully.
The Kaiken Terroir Series Malbec/Bonarda/Petit Verdot blend made with grapes from 105-year-old malbec vines offers rich deep plum, cherry, and black fruits, with notes of leather, and soil. Pair this blend with barbecue beef spare ribs on the grill this holiday weekend.
Elevate your Labor Day Barbecues with Chile’s flagship grape with a bottle of Montes Alpha Carmenere (SRP $25), or the low-yielding Montes Alpha Syrah (SRP $25). The Carmenere offers red fruit, chocolate, and plum with rounded, sultry tannins, while the Syrah features floral, peppery, and leather notes. Both Montes wines are dry-farmed for maximum intensity and highest quality—just like your typical work ethic.
As Americans, we work much too hard. Let’s resolve to take more siestas and life a bit more slowly in general with the help of Montes and Kaiken.
Jana
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Wendy Rafferty says
Love these wine pairing for fall! We are a big wine family! Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Definitely going to add these to my list of must haves!