Food and wine pairing: Slow cooked shoulder of pork with Spanish Albariño

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend wine lovers!  

As a family we had a slightly quieter weekend - with that I mean, we weren't entertaining guests or out for a meal in town. We still juggled various kids clubs from football to theatre class and lacrosse! 

I often enjoy having a roast slow cooking in the oven at the weekend as it means we can be flexible with our plans but we have something yummy and a little bit special to enjoy too. 

This Saturday I prepared a delicious slow cooked shoulder of pork in a cider and apple gravy - it was delicious! I served it with creamy mash and steamed greens. 

I had fun too deciding on what to pair the dish with! I chose a Depende Albariño and let me tell you a little more about my decision... 

What is Albariño?

Albariño is a white wine grape variety primarily grown in the Rías Baixas region of Galicia, Spain, and in northern Portugal (where it’s known as Alvarinho).

Here’s a quick overview:

On the nose you'll find citrus notes, green apple, and stone fruits such as peach and apricot. You may pick up on some floral or herbal notes too.

Taste wise its dry and zesty with a high acidity and light to medium body.  

Why did I chose to pair it with the roast shoulder of pork dish?

Shoulder of pork is quite a fatty piece of meat so I wanted a wine with high acidity to cut through the fat. In Galicia Albariño is often paired with seafood that is prepared in creamy sauces - again this wine cuts through the rich sauce well. 

I also wanted a white wine that would hold it's own against the pork - a lighter wine would have been lost against the flavours of the pork.

What was the verdict? 

I was very pleased with my pairing! The Albariño really complemented the flavours of the dish - the acidity of the wine was mellowed by the acidity of the apples and as hoped it cut through the fattiness of the pork well. 

Next time I prepare this dish I'll be trying it with a pinot noir I think to compare and contrast! 

Are you planning on trying this pairing? Let me know how you get on in the comments!