With summer comes an abundance of fresh fruit. It’s always a treat to go to the farmer's market and buy directly from local growers. The sights, the sounds, the smells - what a sensory overload! But when time permits, there is nothing more rewarding than heading straight to the source and spending a day picking your favourite fruit and cooking something special with it. Hello, strawberry pie!
Light yet extremely satisfying, fruit desserts have become a regular in my summer diet. A delicious elixir to sip with them adds to the enjoyment. Below are some of my favorite matches. The key is to select a wine that is at least as sweet as the dessert.
For the purist, a simple cup of fresh fruit is a dessert in itself. Frothy and light, with bursting flavours of white peaches, oranges, and marmalade, Moscato d’Asti from the Piedmont region of Italy is my go to. For a local flavour, serve with the Elephant Island Orchard's ‘Pink Elephant’ 2012.
If calories are not a concern, add some vanilla gelato to your fruit. It is a quick and easy dessert that always puts a smile on everyone's face. The ice cream will numb your mouth a little and reduce the sensation of your taste buds. This means that you need to go with something sweeter and more intense. Tawny port or a liqueur Muscat from Australia are great options. An icewine made of Cabernet Franc will also be a sweet treat. My pick is the 2010 Cabernet Franc Icewine from Tawse.
To me, there is nothing that says summer like a strawberry and rhubarb pie. Making my own dough is pure therapy and what can I say about the sweet smell and taste of these two fruits cooked together? Heaven! A Late Harvest Riesling or Pinot Gris from Alsace, France works like a charm. The Orofino Late Harvest Riesling 2013 is another great match.
Being from Quebec I couldn’t write about dessert without talking about blueberries. Yes, you do find them across Canada, but we believe that our terroir produces the most flavourful blueberries. A true Québécois pride. Blueberry crumble is easy to make and so satisfying, especially when served with a delicious Banyuls. For a more creative match, try the Elephant Island Cassis fortified wine. Serve your crumble with ice cream and pour some of that delicious fruit wine over it! Decadent indeed. Santé!
