Epic Macaron & Wine Evening @ kitchening with carly

Epic Macaron & Wine Evening

Back in November we offered an Epic Macaron and Wine Evening for up to 10 people as our donation to the Vancouver Aquarium’s 2011 Toast to the Coast silent auction. By the way, we thoroughly enjoyed being at the event itself, meeting all the great people and…the event raised over $80, 000 for the aquarium’s programs.

Bids were going wild for me and finally near the end of the evening a vivid couple I’d met earlier that evening came over to announce “I think we’ve won you!”. Indeed they had. They’d won myself, our macarons, my good friend Mike Nierychlo (aka “the wine guy”) and lots of great wine…for an evening.

Here is the wine and macaron pairing details and a few glimpses into our epic night.

Pellegrino, Marsala ($17.99) – This Italian treat makes for a perfect aperitif. A mostly dry wine with hints of sweetness. It’s nutty, with subtle sweet spiced flavours of black tea, toffee, butterscotch and nutmeg.

Macaron Pairing - Chai Macaron with Cardamom Butter Cream

Paradise Ranch, Late Harvest, Merlot ($16.99) – Yummy is pretty much the best word to describe this semi-sweet desert wine. It tastes like a sweet cranberry cocktail with hints of tart citrus peal on the finish to round it off and keep your mouth watering for more.

Macaron Pairing - Mandarin Macaron with Vista D’oro’s Spiced Cranberry & Ice Wine Jam

Blandy’s, Duke of Clarence, Madiera ($27.99) – Probably one of my favourite sweet fortified wines. Made on the Island of Madeira just off the coast of Portugal. This fortified wine will remind you of port with deep rich flavours of raisins, figs, and hints of black cherry. But, unlike port this wine is heated during its ageing process which gives it also rich flavors of dark chocolate, coffee, toffee, butterscotch and and brandy.

Macaron Pairing - Cinnamon Macaron with Vista D’oro’s Fig & Walnut Wine Jam

Andres, Golden Cream Sherry ($7.99) – This wild card of a sweet wine is bound to befuddle your wine snob friends. For only $8 you are getting pretty good value for a simple, fun, nutty, baked fruit cake and almond flavoured, semi-sweet fortified wine.