Every occasion and season has a drink to celebrate. Champagne or sparkling wine is a symbolic sip for a wedding, anniversary, or achievement. Long-awaited gatherings with families and friends call for classic beers and wines. On scorching sunny days, vibrant cocktails become buddies, and red and white wines are acknowledged as official allies in formal meetings and celebrations.
However, the more choices we have, the more we navigate the labyrinth of confusion. In fact, one incorrect selection can turn things south.
Imagine: You are out on a date in an exquisite dining space and have ordered elaborate culinary fare and decadent desserts. As soon as the sommelier hands you the libation list, you are in a cold sweat, realizing that your choice can make or break the evening.
But what if we tell you there are 4 tipples for every occasion? Yes, you read it right! This write-up highlights sweet, spice, and everything nice with delicious food pairing for every celebration, so you walk on the air under such nail-biting situations.
With no more dilly-dallying, let’s sip you through drinks that pour joy into every revelry.
If you are a wine connoisseur or an occasional drinker, you would have heard about this versatile, bold, and quintessential wine. For individuals not familiar with Merlot, it is a red wine known for its medium to full body, soft tannins, and fruity flavors, including ripe black cherry, plum, and sometimes chocolate or herbal.
The origin of the Merlot used in the wine can be traced back to the Bordeaux region of France. For many years, these grapes were used as a pure varietal in its homeland. Although, during the 19th century, it gained popularity as different regions, including the United States, Italy, Chile, and Australia, utilized it in their wine-making process.
Today, Merlot remains a beloved grape type in the hearts of vintners and wine aficionados. Merlot can be savored on its own or with numerous Cayman Islands foods such as rice and peas, curried goat, plantains, ackee and fish, and callaloo, but Jerk Chicken continues to be the most preferred and immaculate pairing with it.
The dense and spicy flavor palate complements the fruity notes of Merlot, elevating your sensory experience.
Get ready to embark on a journey to tropical paradise because Chardonnay is sure to make your exotic dreams come true with its vibrant flavors featuring lemon, grapefruit, peach, apricot, pineapple, and mango. This white wine is crisp, bright, and refreshing, just like holidays in Cayman.
The making of this wine goes back to the Burgundy region of eastern France, where it was cultivated for several centuries and was named after the village of Chardonnay in the Mâconnais region.
Year after year, the White Burgundy became notable in several wine-producing regions like California, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Chile. From unoaked to oaked to sparkling, Chardonnay can be crafted in multiple ways and accompanied by lobster, crab, alfredo, carbonara, roast chicken, turkey, brie, and camembert.
Apart from these mouthwatering dishes, Coconut Shrimp is another delightful option listed on almost every waterfront restaurant in Cayman. The rich and succulent texture, subtle sweetness, and crisp & flavorful coating of Coconut Shrimp beautifully harmonize with the creamy and full-bodied Chardonnay, offering a refreshing contrast to your taste buds.
One sip is all it takes for this red beauty to become your poison. It’s bold and captivating, just like you. Cabernet Sauvignon was first cultivated in the Bordeaux region of France around the 17th century. After several years, it became a worldwide sensation, ruling the hearts of iconic regions like Napa Valley, Tuscany, Australia, Chile, and South Africa.
While Cabernet Sauvignon is recognized for its various exceptional qualities, one attribute that always ceases to amaze oenophiles is its versatility. It teems with tempting flavors, featuring blackcurrant – a dominant note, blackberry – adding a touch of intense & velvety zest, plum – contributing to the intricacy, green bell pepper – promoting the herbal or vegetable notes, and cedar, tobacco & vanilla – other complementary savors.
Cabernet Sauvignon also highlights high tannin levels, offering structure and boosting the aging potential. When it comes to acidity, enthusiasts may expect moderate to high sharpness, giving a tinge of refreshment and peppiness with every sip.
Curry Goat is one of the most balanced servings with Cabernet Sauvignon. The powerful and spicy flavor profile of Curry Goat impeccably tunes with the profound and sweet taste of the wine, flattering each other and creating a truly delightful and harmonic culinary adventure.
Sometimes amber, sometimes delicate hay, you may find Riesling produced in various ways. Hailing from the Rhine region of Germany, this grape variety dates back to the 15th century and is believed to be a hybrid of an obscure grape and Traminer. Riesling not only swept away Germans but also time-honored planting locations, such as Alsace, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, thanks to its ability to cater to diverse palates.
Riesling is immensely aromatic, flaunting notes of florals like jasmine and honeysuckle, citrus such as lime and lemon, and stone fruits including peach and apricot. The wine has a refreshing and crisp character and covers a broad spectrum of sucrose levels.
Riesling can be accompanied by Thai or Indian cuisine. Although Caribbean Jerk Pork is known to be the best food in the Cayman Islands, can be a wonderful delicacy to be combined with wine as its complex flavor profile offers a refreshing contrast to the spicy, fruity, and citrusy notes of the Jerk.
This was all about the sippers for every season and celebration. If you are on an excursion or a localite wondering where to eat in the Cayman Islands, we extend our warm invitation to sip and savor by the alluring turquoise waters and mesmerizing ombre skies.
Our Caribbean fine dining restaurant exhibits an extensive selection of culinary delights and vintages from around the world. From smoking hot starters to luscious sweet treats, we have many fresh and delicious choices, such as Lobster Cake, Conch Fritters, Seafood Curry, Local Daily Catch, Chateaubriand, Rack of Lamb, Panna Cotta, Parfait, Red Velvet Chocolate Lava Cake, and so much more.
Our across-the-border wine collection offers over 2,400 selections from Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany, the Rhone Valley, and Cayman, which are meticulously arranged in our elegant wine room. As for the Cayman wine price, it depends on the grape variety, weather conditions, soil, oak, and bottle aging process. Select the one that suits your palate, and if you are a novice drinker, let our wine sommeliers assist you in choosing the one that complements your meals.
At Grand Old House, we not only promise to treat your palate but also an enduring experience of exquisite flavors, elegant ambiance, classic wines, and impeccable service. So, what are you waiting for? Book this pinnacle of gastronomic delight and be prepared to be awe-struck with every step and bite.
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