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Wines are becoming more popular as holiday gifts thanks to their reputation for both mood and health benefits. Reports that French people have far lower cardiovascular death rates than other people in the Western despite their heavy intake of fat such as cheese, butter, red meat and fried potatoes because they drink wine just like water have helped. Wine, especially red wine, contains plenty of polyphenol, which removes low-density lipoprotein cholesterol that tends to accumulate in our blood vessels.
Considering that traditional Korean holiday dishes are high in fat, you may get well benefit from drinking wine during this Chuseok holiday to protect your health. Giving a bottle of wine as gift to acquaintances or relatives will also make you popular. SOPEXA (Société Pour l'Expansion des Ventes des Produits Agricoles et Alimentaires), which has been offering opportunities to consumers to try French wines with a variety of dishes, says Korean food goes well with wine. The Chosun Ilbo has some tips on the best combinations, focusing on French wines.
Bordeaux with Meat
Korean meat dishes including sanjeok (made of beef and vegetables) and bulgogi (marinated grilled beef) seasoned with relatively strong spices like garlic and soy sauce go well with the rich red wines produced in St-Emilion or Pomerol in Bordeaux in southwestern France. Those produced in Macon Villages or Beaujolais Villages in Bourgogne in eastern France are also good. You don’t have to drink red wine with all meat; some white ones, if they taste strong and refreshing, are good too. If you have meat dishes such as galbijjim (steamed short ribs) that are seasoned with strong spices, you may want to choose a red wine with lots of tannin, which will make you feel less heavy after your meal.
White Wines from Alsace with Fish
Korean fish dishes that are prepared for ceremonial purposes are usually steamed or broiled without adding special seasonings, and they go well with white wine. Choose wines whose aroma can hide the fishy smell. White wines from Alsace are good, as they are dry, have plenty of tannin and taste refreshing. Riesling or Muscadet wines are also recommended.
Sparkling Wine with Pan-Fried Food and Seafood
Mixed dishes of vegetables and sliced meat or pan-fried food that contains vegetables, meat and seafood along with light seasonings goes well with fruity white wines or sparkling wine. Sparkling wine, especially Champagne, is good. Plain dishes such as Korean platter with nine delicacies go well with white wines that have mixed and refreshing flavors or sparkling wines such as Sancerre, Pouilly Fume and Vouvray from the Loire in central France.
As for price, French wines are more expensive than those produced in other countries because of their high-end image. The most popular clarets are the most expensive. For those who have little knowledge of wines, French wines are good. For people who like to drink wine, Chilean, Australian, and U.S. wines make a good present. There are also organic wines or very sweet dessert wines. Even experts find it difficult to select the right wine according to different occasions. So don’t be shy to ask staff at the wine shop for advice.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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