Pairing
Flavors
A Curated Culinary Journey of Regional Rioja Moments
Destination: Southeast – Miami
If there’s one thing that makes Miami locals enjoy their favorite seafood recipes even more, it’s pairing them with the beauty of Spain’s finest wines.
LOCAL FLAVOR RECIPES
A Magical Pairing in “the Magic City”
Even if you’ve never been on a fishing trip before, you can’t help but wake up early when you’ve planned one like ours. When we saw Miami’s morning sun, plus its perfectly blue skies, a great day was already guaranteed. As our fishing charter set course for Biscayne Bay, the waves picked up, and so did Miami’s beauty. The farther we moved away, the more the city’s skyline looked like a landscape masterpiece that was missing its frame.
After raising our first toast, we accidentally discovered a pairing. When you’re enjoying a young Rioja white, Miami’s glistening turquoise water turns out to be an even more refreshing vista.
Upon reaching Biscayne Bay, it was time to fish. Before long, we reeled in several great catches, some of which the captain let us keep, with a blackfin tuna being chief among them. Even if you aren’t able to fish, you can still enjoy the wine pairings we’ve found, because our recipes couldn’t be easier to make and harder to resist.
Enjoy a Meal, Sent from Miami
The flavors we found to pair with Rioja are just as local to you as they are to Miami. Whether you pick Rioja reds or whites, either of the above makes an exceptional match for these three seafood recipes, all of which are easy to recreate at home.
To start, we have Shrimp Ceviche with Plantain Chips. This vibrant, zesty reimagining of a millennia-old Peruvian staple pairs beautifully with the matured character of Rioja Reservas.
Miami is just as well known for its stone crabs as Rioja is for its wine. Our Creamy Stone Crab Pasta with Lemon brings the best of both together. Delicious on its own, this dish becomes even more complete when paired with aged white Rioja.
For the main course, we have Grilled Red Snapper with Caramelized Shallots and Lemon Sauce. Grilling red snapper highlights its natural flavor, but pairing it with the beautifully aged complexity of white or aged white Rioja creates a truly palate-mesmerizing meal. Few things complement the crispness of grilled fish better than tannins that have had time to soften.
