Mission Possible: Discovering New Zealand Wines at Table 8
The French are quite particular about their wine. The folks in Northern California are too. Just imagine their restlessness now that the rest of us have acquired a taste for the new Thunder from Down Under - delicious and affordable pours from Australia and New Zealand. David Strada would like you to alter your notion of “every day wines” to include the remarkable products he’s promoting for the Winegrowers of New Zealand.
For the past 10 years, San Franciscan Strada has traveled across the US and down to the Land of the Kiwi to share his enthusiasm for New Zealand Wine. His zeal borders on the evangelical as his efforts have expanded wine exports to more than 2 million cases last year. We joined him for lunch at Table 8 on Ocean Drive last week so he might share the best of the bunch with local foodies and journalists who seemed to embrace his passion with each paired course.
Executive Chef Govind Armstrong prepared a host of tapas to kick off the event including tiny New Zealand beef sliders and olives stuffed with New Zealand sausage to compliment a sparkling Lindauer Brut. One of the most popular exports, this non-vintage bottle-fermented sparkler retails for just $12. A house-smoked salmon over herbed sprouts followed and Strada paired this with a 2007 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc - a delightfully affordable fruity white with a grassy, herbal quality. At $15, this seems an ideal South Florida summer drink with fish, salads or Asian food.
A crispy snapper with tiny winter vegetables and a spicy crayfish bisque worked wonderfully well with the steely, dry 2006 Stoneleigh Riesling, winner of the Sydney International Wine Challenge. Table 8 Wine Director Joseph Pascual shared his enthusiasm for New Zealand wines and continues to be dazzled by the performance of Cloudy Bay wines, which rate among his top sellers.
The final course, a spice-rubbed loin of New Zealand lamb featured the best of the day’s pairings; a smooth, satiny 2006 The Crossings Pinot Noir. While the whites were distinctive and refreshing, the depth of flavor to this black cherry and spice-filled wine really made the red drinking enthusiasts among us sit up and take a second look. I joined the new converts who surrounded Strada after lunch to toast his clever suggestions and learn more about the regional varieties.
Next time you’re out and about at a local wine shop, grab a bottle of the Pinot (under $20) and see for yourself.
Table 8 serves daily starting at 8am and remains open through a late night, small bite menu until 2am on weekends. Govind Armstrong has recently released his “Small Bites Big Nights” cookbook which makes it mighty easy to create your own wine tasting event right at home. Be sure you include a bottle of The Crossings Pinot Noir - it made a Kiwi Missionary of me.
Cheers!
Table 8 South Beach
1458 Ocean Drive
305-695-4114
www.table8la.com
(photo 2: John Lacko)
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