I really despise cold weather. Winter storm Cora is ripping through the Midwest, leaving layers of ice and snow on our home. And I am so grateful to be spending the month in sunny Cocoa Beach, Florida!
While friends at home were bracing for the cold, I was discovering a Cocoa Beach gem. Heidi’s Jazz Club and Restaurant offers Austrian dishes, live music, and a fairly impressive wine list.
My husband and I stopped by for some live music and dinner. We were warmly greeted, without a reservation, and seated at a lovely table perfect for enjoying the entertainment. We were offered water and bread service and handed our menus. I, of course, went straight for the wine list.
I spent a few minutes looking over all of the wine by the glass and wine by the bottle options. The by the bottle wines that caught my eye included a Bordeaux, Cote du Rhone, Riesling, and Gruner Veltliner. Selecting my entree would be the first step in creating a perfect pairing.
I chose the Chicken Rahm Schnitzel; chicken in a lemon creme sauce with spaetzel and vegetables. I’m not going to lie. I chose this dish because of the spaetzel.
Just seeing the word spaetzel instantly transported me back to Heidelberg, Germany, 2014. I was there with a small group of high school students. We stopped for lunch at a lovely outdoor restaurant overlooking the river. That is where I first had authentic spaetzel. Spaetzel is a noodle; a seemingly simple thing. When prepared properly, however, it’s a real treat!
Having decided on my entree, I returned to the wine list. What would pair perfectly with with my chicken, vegetables, and spaetzel dish?
When in doubt, stick with this golden rule of food and wine pairing.
Regional wines pair with regional dishes. What grows together goes together.
If you’re eating an Italian dish, choose an Italian wine. Enjoying a French meal, choose a French wine.
I was eating an authentic Austrian dish, so I chose the Austrian wine; Gruner Veltliner. Gruner Veltliner is pronounced (Gruh-ner Velt-lee-ner). It is a white wine grape and is the primary grape grown in Austria.
The Gruner Veltiner I enjoyed was a dry, crisp white wine with high acidity and medium body. It offered up bright, crisp notes of citrus and fresh minerality on the palate. It paired beautifully with the Chicken Rahm Schnitzel, highlighting the lemon in the cream sauce.
I’m looking forward to returning to Heidi’s Jazz Club and Restaurant and will again choose the Gruner Veltiner. I want to take advantage of the opportunity to explore this wine further. I’m excited to see how it pairs with a different entree!
I will leave you with this tip. Pairing regional dishes with wines from the same region is always a safe move.
Cheers from Cocoa Beach!
