#ThisWineThatDish | Robin Ridge Gamay | Prawn Stir Fry

“In this series, I will be sharing my take on which Wines pair well with some inspirational recipes”

Okay first I confess this is not exactly an inspirational recipe, sorry, not sorry. On busy days I am looking for something that’s quick and easy. The Prawn Stir Fry fit the bill. So next was deciding which wine to pair with this “leftover” style dinner. I wanted something to up the game. I think the Robin Ridge Gamay was the right choice.

Interesting that Gamay is less popular than a Pinot Noir, or maybe it’s just not planted as much in B.C. as it is in Beaujolais. Perhaps it’s time that we appreciate what a Gamay wine has to offer.

2022 Robin Ridge Gamay Organic

Intense blueberry and raspberry with subtle aromas of violets, exotic cinnamon and complex gamy notes. Bright, juicy, and fresh on the palate with flavours of raspberry, plum and long stony, mineral finish .

Pair with smoked meat, grilled eggplant, roasted duck or turkey dinners.

Fruity and rich but also pleasingly lighter tannins. Gamay is so versatile, it goes with so many things, from pizza to seafood. Surprised? It goes very well with seafood and also with sweetish or tangy dishes like this one I paired with the Robin Ridge Gamay.

Delicate floral notes on the nose, followed by ripe berries. The wine is juicy with medium body. I suggest you enjoy this wine with some chill. Rule of thumb for me is to put the wine in the fridge an hour before dinner, remove the wine half an hour before serving. That seems to be about right and keeps the wine at a slightly, not overly, chilled state.

This was a bit of a quirky pairing where I used the wine to redeem an otherwise “leftover” dish but with great success. If you haven’t tried Gamay yet, you really should. Robin Ridge 2022 Gamay is a nice place to start.

$25.99 available at select BC Liquor Stores or $27.25 online from the winery

Prawn Stir-fry

Prawns, fresh or frozen (thawed) about 8 per person
Any of the following:
red, yellow or orange bell peppers
chili peppers (optional)
thinly sliced carrots
french cut green beans
onions
plus any vegetables you have on hand (chopped or sliced)
fresh garlic and ginger slices
Hoisin sauce
Seasame oil (optional)
Grapeseed oil
corn starch for thickening and to add a nice glaze
orange juice or broth or wine or sake (optional)

Using a wok add the grapeseed and sesame oil, heat at medium high. Add the onions followed by the other vegetables, when about half way cooked add the ginger and garlic.  Add the prawns now and cook for 4-5 minutes. You can opt to add either broth or juice when the vegetables are still crisp. Add the corn starch cooking for just a minute or two more. Finally add the Hoisin Sauce and toss until combined. Serve over rice.

This is a dish that I make when I don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen. It paired very nicely with the Robin Ridge Gamay.

About Robin Ridge Winery

The small family operated Winery is happily located in the stunning Similkameen Valley 30 minutes west of Osoyoos or southwest of Penticton.The Organic vineyard was established in 1996 and expanded in 2012.

Tim and Caroline Cottrill purchased the property in 1996 and began establishing their vines to grow a variety of grapes. The Robin Ridge estate vineyard includes 18 acres of well drained soils on the Similkameen Bench near the Junction of Hwy 3 and Hwy 3A in Keremeos.

Robin Ridge creates a broad spectrum of wines for you to enjoy.  From the varietal expressive Gewurztraminer and the easy going, off dry rosé, Flamingo, to the complex, brooding Meritage, they strive to give you a taste of the Similkameen and their terroir in every glass. 

Best known for their signature wine the Gamay, Robin Ridge also produces award winning Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot.  Their latest inspiration is a traditional Sparkling Finch.

Organic Winegrowing & Viticulture

Organic growers aim to produce wines that are true to the earth, no synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides are used. Instead organic producers are careful co-creators with nature.

It relies on fertilizers of organic origin such as compost manure, green manure, and bone meal and places emphasis on techniques such as companion planting. Biological pest control, mixed cover cropping and fostering of insect predators are encouraged. In general, organic standards are designed to allow the use of naturally occurring substances.

Natural winemaking is a style of winemaking that can be applied to any wine. It is loosely defined as using native yeasts in the fermentation process and minimal or no sulfur dioxide in the winemaking process.- Wikipedia

The Cottrill’s have chosen to use the labor intensive Geneva Double Curtain trellis that aids in exposing the fruit to the intense Similkameen sunshine.  Being Certified Organic they allow nature to speak through the terroir to produce naturally intense flavoured grapes and wines while respecting the soil and environment around them.

The gravelly loam soil ensures the vines struggle and encourages them to produce very small yields of intensely flavoured grapes. 

​Wine notes courtesy of the winery. My notes (in bold italics). Images: MyVanCity I received complimentary wine to facilitate this feature.