As the misty morning forest brightens, the sound of barking dogs can be heard. Twigs snap underfoot. Figures dressed in orange vests flash behind the trees. Orange or orange-red is the high-visibility color required by hunting regulations for moose hunting. Bird hunters are also recommended to wear a high-visibility hat or other accessory. The excitement builds! The hunting party has gathered. If hunting luck has been on their side, at the end of the season hunters, family, and landowners gather for a moose feast around a pot of moose stew.
In Finland, game is available during hunting season, but treasures for the dinner table can also be found in freezers year-round. It's local food at its best! Moose fillet or moose roast is the only true game dish for many, but we also know that for many, nothing beats the combination of sautéed reindeer and creamy mashed potatoes finished with butter.
The same forests provide delicious accompaniments for game meals – mushrooms and berries. Mushrooms in various forms are popular to serve with game and easy to prepare. And a sautéed reindeer dish isn't complete without lingonberry compote. If you can wait a moment, lingonberries are at their best – after a couple of frosts! Root vegetables and herbs pair beautifully with the strong flavor of moose meat.
The flavor of game can be complemented with sweet berry jellies. Game dishes have strong flavors and pair well with robust red wines. The flavor profile is completed with full-bodied red wines that are compatible with forest flavors and, on the other hand, with the accompaniments.
Spanish El Pacto 2016
is a nuanced, dark cherry, and spicy red wine that's an excellent choice for reindeer meat. True to its name, it forms a perfect union with reindeer dishes. Try reindeer fillet with this wine, for example.
You can find price and product information here.
Ironstone Old Vine Zinfandel
is a juicy, ripe fruity red wine that pairs well with dark meat dishes and game. Juicy and jammy red wines share ripe berry character and jammy richness. You can find cherry or forest berry jam and dark plum aromas in this wine.
You can find price and product information here.
Portuguese Merino Organic
is a full-bodied, tannic, cherry, ripe blackberry, lightly raspberry, subtly currant, spicy, toasty wine suitable for game – whether the dish is a stew or a roast. Its grapes are hand-picked
You can find price and product information here.
Baron de Ley Gran Reserva
When you want to serve an elegant wine with delicious game dishes, your choice is the full-bodied red wine classic Baron de Ley Gran Reserva. It's a full-bodied, nuanced, and developed wine. This wine also forms a perfect flavor pairing with reindeer fillet.
You can find price and product information here.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Rouge
A stylish choice is the French classic wine Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Rouge, which complements the flavor of both dark and light meat. Rich and aromatic wines are a good choice when you're serving game dishes.
You can find price and product information here.
