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The Season’s Best Sips: Wine and Concert Series Pieces Pairings

October 27, 2015

From Fall through Winter, we’ve chosen to pair several of our upcoming concert series pieces–as well as a few other notable chamber music classics–with wines to make your listening experience that much more…full-bodied. Feel the notes, taste the spirit, and absorb all that these sips and sounds have to offer your senses.

  1. Anton Arensky’s Piano trio No.1 in D minor, Opus 32
    As performed by the Trio Shaham Erez Wallfisch in Concert 3, November 3rd, 2015

    Arensky’s piece opens gently, evoking an autumnal and melancholic mood that is perfect for the season. Though the melody becomes more cheerful throughout, it remains reminiscent of its opening chords and features a turbulent ending.We suggest a Poplar Grove’s Cabernet Franc to enjoy with this piece. This stormy kind of wine is a bit of an “underdog” grape, funky, and often blended with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon for a Bordeaux style; a turbulent sort of wine in itself–deep, and reminiscent of its roots.
  2. Antonín Dvořák’s Piano Trio in E minor, Op.90

    Quail’s Gate Winery’s Chenin Blanc is light-bodied with a clean finish, yet features great texture. An extremely versatile grape, it mirrors Dvořák’s Op. 90 in its simple-seeming structure yet has a more evocative finish than one might expect. They both manage to be a little brooding in their lightheartedness; introspective while cheerful. 
  3. Schubert Trio in B-flat Major, op. 99, I. Allegro moderato
    See the Han Finckel Setzer Trio perform Schubert in Concert 4, Tuesday, January 12th, 2016

    A rosé and a waltz: nothing will quench your thirst like the sophistication of JoieFarm Winery’s Rosé. Candy-like by nature, hints of spicy and herbal notes round out this wine to make it more unexpected; as is the scale of Op. 99 for a piano trio. Perfect dancing partners.
  4. Franz Joseph Haydn’s Quartet in C Major, Opus 76 No.3 ““Emperor””
    As performed by the Emerson String Quartet in Concert 5, Sunday, January 31st, 2016

    This ambitious, hymn-like quartet is best paired with Honest John’s Red from Road 13. Round, rich, and soft on the palate, this approachable red mirrors all of the nuances in Haydn’s piece. Blended from several grapes in the area, the perfect balance of intense flavours highlight every key change and change in mood. 
  5. Antonín Dvořák’s Quartet in A flat, Opus 105
    As performed by the Szymanowski Quartet in Concert 7, Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016
    The origins of Opus 105 lie in a choral song composed by Dvořák on Christmas Day. Though begun on a sorrowful note, it quickly moves into a joyful melody and evokes for us a light, extremely well-balanced wine that moves into a full-bodied finish. One taste of Quail’s Gate Winery’s Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay, and you’ll be turning up the music to revel in the complexity and nuances of both the luscious notes and decadent sips. 
  6. Johannes Brahms’ Quartet in C minor, Opus 51 No.1
    As performed by the Mandelring Quartett in Concert 8, Tuesday, March 1st, 2016

    Sophisticated, harmonious, with a dramatic finish: the unexpected depth of TantalusRiesling lives up to Brahms’ obsession with perfection and the multiple revisions this particular Opus underwent (often described as possessing those very attributes). The choice may be less traditional than a red, its juicy offerings match Brahms’ lyrical genius. 
  7. Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 14
    See the Takács String Quartet perform Beethoven in Concert 9, Sunday, March 13th, 2016
    Though grand and accomplished in the usual vein, this particular piece of Beethoven’s was considered avant garde for the period in its cyclical composition. We found that the Marechal Foche from similarly accomplished St. Hubertus Vineyard & Winery offers the same, slightly quirky appeal. A deep red, it’s strong in acidity and tastes of black fruits; exotic and unexpected from the typical red.

Cheers!

Inspired to sip something a little different than our suggestion? Please share with us!

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