KANGAROO sausages, well I never! I’ve just spotted some on a TV programme about England’s oldest family butchers.
I can’t say I’ve ever eaten kangaroo, but I’m making the assumption that a ripper Aussie shiraz would make a good pairing. So for now I will stick to recommending wines to go with pork sausages.
Sausages have to be one of my favourite meals. They are a comfort food of the highest order and a wonderful winter warmer antidote to the worst weather January and February can throw at us.
I’m talking about proper bangers, of the ‘gourmet’ variety. Liberally spiced and made with a high content of quality pork.
Most red wines will work with sausages but I like to complement the spicy flavours on the plate, with a spicy wine in the glass.
Campo Viejo Garnacha 2012, from Rioja, is capable enough. It is a new addition to the popular Spanish wine brand. Smooth, savoury and not too heavy, it suggests stewed raspberry and plum, with liquorice and plenty of spicy notes on the finish.
I always think wines made with South Africa’s pinotage grape are good contenders for pairing with barbecue grub. Stellenrust Pinotage 2011 is a good example and it will certainly work well with a plate of sizzling sausages. Full, ripe and spicy, it is brimming with flavours of raspberries and blackberries, dark chocolate and smoke.
Because of its name, I was going to include d’Arenberg The Love Grass Shiraz 2010 in a forthcoming round-up of wines for Valentine’s Day. I tried it with some sausages the other day however and decided it was too good a match not to include here.
From the McLaren Vale region, it tastes just like Aussie shiraz should. Full bodied, spicy and peppery, it has flavours of forest fruits, with coffee, toasty oak and fine tannins.
• Campo Viejo Garnacha 2012, Rioja, around £8.60 Asda, Ocado and Tesco Wine 15/20
• Stellenrust Pinotage 2011, Stellenbosch, £10.19 from sawinesonline.co.uk 17/20
• d’Arenberg The Love Grass Shiraz 2010, £12.50 from Slurp.co.uk 18/20
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