By Adriana Ermter
“A wine pairing can elevate your dining experience to the next level,” say Angela Marotta and Melissa Marotta-Paolicelli, the co-proprietors of Two Sisters Vineyards in Ontario’s scenic Niagara-on-the-Lake. “When a wine and food are properly paired, they will either complement or contrast one another in an incredibly delightful way. We want to tantalize all the senses and encourage you to use your sense of smell each time you bring the glass to your palate for tasting and savouring.”
Angela and Melissa are taste masters when it comes to stimulating the senses through scrumptious food and the vineyard’s exceptional grapes. Collaborating with their winemaker, Adam Pearce; estate sommelier, Dieter Unruh; along with their on-site restaurant Kitchen76’s chef, the duo carefully choose wines to match their seasonal menu offerings — all to ensure that their guests and clients have a memorable, tasty experience. It’s all about creating “a wine and food balance,” they explain. “Robust more complex red wines will pair better with heavier foods, and lighter foods work beautifully with whites, rosé wines and the sparkling variety. If the wine is too light, the food will take over and vice versa, so paying attention to a wine’s profile and body is very important.”
To help diners with the pairing process, Kitchen76’s menu includes suggested wine pairings specifically selected by their winemaker, sommelier and chef. Similarly, the vineyard’s expert team provides these top-notch pairings for on-site events and experiences at the estate — all to ensure that each glass and plate served are thoroughly enjoyed. But you don’t have to dine in to reap the perfectly paired rewards. The Two Sisters Vineyards Wine Boutique team provides guests with suggestions for meals made at home, while suggested food-and-wine pairings are also noted on the e-commerce page of the vineyard’s website to help online buyers make their selections. Going the extra mile, Angela and Melissa share family and Kitchen76’s recipes too, publishing them in each Wine Club member’s quarterly Club TSV shipment of wines, so that perfect pairings can be recreated at home.
Favourite pairings include the Two Sisters sparkling Blanc de Franc with a grazing table filled with cured meats and delectable cheeses. Their 2019 Unoaked Chardonnay works impeccably with bitter greens, such as the Insalata Cicoria offered at Kitchen76, and a bottle of their Cabernet Sauvignon should be enjoyed with a bold-flavoured pasta such as a Rigatoni Bolognese. “Learning and discovering wine is very exciting,” the sisters say. “Look to explore varietals that you may not have tried before to discover a new favourite. And, of course, drink what you enjoy.”
