MAMA NEEDS A GLASS OF WINE: THURSTQUEEN SHARES 5 NEW WINE AND BREAKFAST PAIRINGS TO LEVEL UP YOUR GAME DURING MOTHER'S DAY 2022 (OR YOUR NEXT WEEKEND BRUNCH)
Mother’s Day is the ultimate excuse for a bottomless boozy brunch. I know my Mom enjoys a good mimosa like the best of ‘em, and she’s always down to experiment and try new wines.
A lot of people fall into the trap of thinking that when you go to brunch, you are allowed to drink three things: a mimosa, a Bellini, or a Bloody Mary. They also fall into the trap of thinking that the only attire they can wear to such an occasion is a floral printed dress, sandals, and one of these hats:
A very dear friend of mine who calls sh*t like it is told me these were Brunch Hats, and he couldn’t be more correct.
I don’t know what to do about the hat situation, I’m afraid. But I CAN help you with the booze situation and offer some fine wine alternatives because that’s what Thurstqueen is all about!
The truth is, if you’re enjoying a boozy brunch, there are loads of different wine and breakfast pairings you can experiment with! Regardless of your plans this Sunday May 8th, feel free to use this article whenever you’re out and about brunching with your besties and want to switch things up. (Hat is not included.)
PAIRING ONE: FRENCH TOAST WITH BERRIES, BACON & PINOT NOIR
A CLASSIC BREAKFAST PAIRING IF YOU WANT IT ALL
There’s a LOT going on here. Think about it - you’ve got the ultra fluffy, somewhat sweet nature of French Toast, crispy, caramelized bacon, and bright fresh berries. You’re going to want a wine that is versatile, and not some crazy full-bodied red. Enter Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir has loads of bright red fruit aromas, like cherries and raspberries. The medium body of this wine isn’t going to overwhelm the light and fluffy texture of French Toast. Pinot Noir also has loads of clove and some vanilla aromas which make it pair beautifully with a slice of smoky bacon.
PAIRING TWO: PANCAKES, SYRUP, & MOSCATO D’ASTI
GOT A SWEET TOOTH? NO PROBLEM
Moscato haters — hear me out. Moscato d’Asti is actually a beautiful, lightly sparkly, lightly sweet wine when done right. There’s a special freshness to Moscato d’Asti, and it’s never cloyingly sweet. Definitely consider giving Moscato d’Asti a shot when having pancakes with maple syrup. Its gently balanced sweetness isn’t going to compete with the luscious richness maple syrup brings to the dish. The light bubbles can also serve as a palate cleanser between bites. Be sure to look for Asti from the Piedmont region of Italy.
PAIRING THREE: VEGGIE & GOAT CHEESE OMELETTE WITH CHABLIS
BRUNCH LIKE A QUEEN (OR A THURSTQUEEN)
Chablis’ aromas of crisp, bright green apples, coupled with laser-like acidity make it the perfect wine to pair with the richness of this egg-based dish. Chablis is a special type of Chardonnay that is found in the northernmost region of Burgundy in France. It’s not your typical oaky and buttery Chardonnay. Instead it’s crisp, lively and bright. Chablis gets its sharp, mineral-driven quality from limestone soil and Kimmeridgian Clay - a type of clay loaded with fossilized oyster shells. The mineral-driven, chalky flavors this wine brings are the perfect complement to the goat cheese in this omelette.
PAIRING FOUR: BREAKFAST BURRITO & BEAUJOLAIS
FOR ALL YOU SPICE FIENDS OUT THERE…
A Breakfast Burrito has loads of different flavors - and maybe even a little spice too! That’s why you want a mellow and super versatile wine, and more specifically that’s why you want Beaujolais. Beaujolais, as we’ve discussed before is an LBD (little black dress, duh) wine, in the sense that it pretty much goes with every different flavor under the sun. Crushable, mellow and easy drinking, with aromas of Cherry jello, and smoky violets, Beaujolais is an excellent wine to consider pairing with any flavorful dish.
PAIRING FIVE: EGGS BENEDICT & OFF-DRY RIESLING
YOU DECADENT MOFO, YOU
Speaking of LBD, Riesling is the quintessential LBD wine - and by that I mean it goes with EVERYTHING. Just trust me, you’re going to want a wine like Riesling if you order Eggs Benedict the next time you go out to brunch. Rich, creamy hollandaise sauce layered atop smoky ham, poached egg, and toasted English muffins make this breakfast quite the hedonistic one. The reason why I suggest Riesling is because Riesling is one of the few wines that is able to steal the show, yet also be a background wine. It plays incredibly well with other dishes, never competing too much with all the flavors going on. With just the right amount of acid to cut through all the fat and a touch of residual sweetness to balance everything out — this pairing is truly a decadent one.