For red meat and game lovers there’s no place quite like Mgarr. This northern Maltese village has gained a well earned reputation amongst the local population for dishing up traditional fayre, without pomp and ceremony, at value for money prices, time after time. And if that’s not reason enough to visit it on a Friday night then here’s another one. Tonight there’s a great wine promotion on in almost all the towns restaurants organized by Emmanuel Delicata (see advert below for details).
Now although you can find an assortment of most foods to eat throughout the restaurants, the most popular ‘meals of choice’ tend to lean toward the more ‘gamey’ dishes like Spaghetti with Rabbit sauce, Fried Rabbit, Quail or Horsemeat. So, just in case you are going along tonight, or any other night for that reason, here are a few tips when it comes to pairing up your chosen dish with a wine that will do it justice.
Although I would probably opt for a red wine with these dishes, if you are a white wine lover, there are nearly always options, although you might struggle trying to match a white wine with the Horsemeat. For the Rabbit and Quail dishes though, you will find that a full flavoured, fairly heavy white wine will go well. Try out the 2008 Grand Vin de Hauteville D.O.K. Malta Superior Viognier or the white 2008 Maltese Falcon blend of Girgentina Chardonnay with a touch of Moscato.
As for the red wine choices, with the Spaghetti and fried rabbit you will probably find a fruity, medium bodied red with soft tannins will go well. Something like the 2008 D.O.K. Malta Medina Syrah, Carignan, Grenache or the Maltese Falcon red wine blend made from Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. For the Quail and those of you who prefer your Rabbit in a sauce try the medium bodied but easy drinking 2008 Pjazza Regina red made from a delightful blend of Syrah, Merlot and Sangiovese. Finally with that strongly flavoured, rich Horsemeat you are going to need a red wine with the same credentials, so I would recommend a Grand Vin de Hauteville Cabernet Sauvignon D.O.K. Malta Superior. Another surprisingly good match that works particularly well is the medium bodied 2008 Medina Sangiovese which has good weight and nice peppery flavours that go perfectly with this powerful, robust, red meat dish.