Gamey meats include boar, elk, moose, and venison… Any animal that is raised in the wild or wild-like conditions, with free range on where they go, what they eat, and how they live, is classified as a gamey meat. I have always loved different types of meats. As a commodities trader and having traded all types of meat on world exchange markets for years I got to learn what I do and don’t like. And as with Wine, each palate is individual and what you like may be different than what someone else prefers.
The combination of tasting fine wines with different types of meats can bring out not only the different scents or flavors in the wine but also enhance the experience how how your meat tastes. I recently purchased a few varieties of gamey meats in the form of slider burgers. Boar, elk, and bison from www.wildfork.ca. I wanted to try out each taste paired with our Ricord Merlot.
Pairing With Gamey Meats
When pairing with gamey meats, which are typically rich and lean – you want to pair with a medium or full bodied wine. Make sure that it has a smooth tannic structure and is lower in acidity. What are tannins? Definition: Tannins are a cluster of compounds that have a bitter, slightly acidic flavor. They are naturally occurring plant polyphenols found in nature. Tannins are particularly important because they give the wine some texture and body as well as a good mouth feel. So pairing a full bodied smooth wine with the game meat will make it taste more delicate and delicious.
We will be tasting the game sliders with the Ricord Merlot. Merlot wines tend to have tasting notes of black cherries, blackberries, plums, cocoa, and violets. But what’s really interesting is that each type of meat will bring out a slightly different taste in the wine.
Sliders, Sliders and More Sliders
The three types of game we will be tasting:
Bison Sliders
With similar flavour to beef but lower in fat and higher in iron, bison sliders are delicious and sure to impress family and guests. Grill or pan-fry them for incredibly tender and succulent mini burgers but I prefer the grill. The are great as an appetizer or a meal for people with smaller appetites. Try them on a toasted, buttered bun, topped with Dijon mustard and roasted mushrooms. You can also wrap them up in iceberg lettuce leaves if you’d rather go bunless. This is a great gluten free option for me.
Elk Sliders
Milder than wild boar, ostrich or venison, elk is very similar to beef in taste and texture, but slightly sweeter and more delicate. Elk sliders are lean and delicious so you can simply grill or pan-fry them for incredible flavour in every bite. Serve them on a toasted bun, topped with your favourite condiments or try them au naturel to savour their exceptional flavour.
Boar Sliders
More intense than pork with a slight nuttiness — but not gamey — wild boar sliders are delicious and offer a unique taste. They can also be grilled or pan fried but anyway you have them is good. Try them on a toasted bun, topped with Spanish onion and basted with spicy barbecue sauce or au naturel. They’re just that good!
All of these sliders are:
- Free of preservatives, processed or refined ingredients
- Raised without the use of added hormones
- Rare find
- Gluten free
Whatever type of game meat you try, our incredible wine club offers a great selection to pair with. So step out of your comfort zone and try some different options for the dinner table tonight!
Response Magic