I can’t actually believe that I’ve yet to write a post about a vegan Cabernet Sauvignon… or a vegan Merlot, or vegan Malbec! It’s mostly because it is often easier to pair vegan food with white wines – or rosé – and, also, the weather is getting warmer; meaning I’m really craving salads and summery dishes. And yet, I do have a place in my heart for big, bold red wines. So, why not crack three bottles with one cork, in this New Zealand red blend, which is made from all three hefty red grapes? Not only is the Pask Cabernet Merlot Malbec vegan-friendly, many others of Pask Winery wines are suitable for vegans as well – and they are made in sustainable vineyards.
Gimblett Gravels Vineyards Are Certified Sustainable
All of Gimblett Gravels vineyards are certified sustainable – in fact they were one of the first vineyards in New Zealand to achieve ISO 14001 accreditation. They reuse grape matter from winemaking as fertiliser!
Gimblett Gravels is the wine district, located in Hawkes Bay province – one of the sunniest, warmest areas of New Zealand. Named after the winery’s founder Chris Pask, their PASK collection are their quintessential wines, and although they are best known for their Bordeaux blends (Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot) they also produce a variety of other good red and white wines.
Pask Gimblett Gravels Wine Review
The first thing to note is the beautiful deep purple colour; when placed under light, it’s edged with garnet. Highly perfumed, the wine offers blackcurrant, cassis and plum, with pepper spice and a touch of aniseed. Underneath, echoes of woodsmoke and oak flavours, from being fermented with oak. The black fruit character is pronounced – probably due to the high percentage of Cabernet in the blend (65%). Tannins are juicy and the finish is good. It gets better, too, on it’s own. Originally I served this alongside food, but the match was slightly off-kilter (tomatoes are very acidic) and I noticed the flavours deepened after we’d finished the meal and focused on the wine.
Pask Cab Merlot Malbec Notes
ABV: 13%
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon (65%) Merlot (29%) Malbec (6%)
Where to buy: Online or wine merchants (around £13-£14)
Red wine and vegan food: vegan meatball pasta
All in all, a very nice vegan wine for dinner. It’s definitely a full-bodied wine, but not hard work to enjoy and good for the price. Wine lovers wanting a good vegan-friendly red wine should consider trying this.
Initially I thought this would be a good wine to pair with meatball pasta – but I think a more acidic wine with would have been better; Sangiovese is good for tomato based pasta dishes for that reason. However, I made the choice based on matching the wine to the meat element – and that did work, due to the green lentils and savoury herbs that went into them. This would make a good match for meatier vegan sauces and a good wine for spaghetti bolognese. Once you have a recipe for homemade vegan meatballs, this becomes one of the easiest mid-week meals to enjoy alongside wine. Try it, and let me know how you get on!
Happy drinking,
Jess
The Uncorked Vegan 