Yalumba Unwooded Chardonnay

Wine Name: Yalumba Unwooded Chardonnay

Wine: Yalumba	Type: Unwooded Chardonnay
Country: Australia	Region: Barossa Valley?
Rating: OK	Price: $10
Recommendation: Recommended, especially for the price

Last week’s blog included a somewhat involved recipe, this week we were after simplicity, so we created a straightforward meal from scratch rather than following a recipe. We also attempted to select an unassuming wine that would not overshadow the meal. The result was Chicken Burgers with pineapple, mango and avocado on Ciabatta bread with an unwooded Chardonnay.

The wine comes from the Yalumba winery located in Angaston in the Barossa Ranges, in the heart of the Barossa Valley in South Australia. Angaston is one of South Australia’s oldest towns. Today it is apparently a vibrant town with many food and wine tasting experiences including; café’s, coffee shops, light meals, or an award winning meal experience. There are also reportedly plenty of fresh local produce options such as cheeses, coffee, meats, fruits and of course wines. Tourist accommodation seems to be plentiful with B&B’s, lodges, cottages, homesteads, motels, and hotels

The Yalumba Winery, being around 160 years old, is Australia’s oldest family owned winery. The word Yalumba is Australian Aboriginal for “all the land around”, Yalumba is a large wine producer with a large range of diverse products. The Yalumba winery has developed its own vine nursery for their own research and development and also to supply vines to wineries throughout the country. In addition to producing wines and vines, Yalumba is the only winery in Australia, and one of a select few in the world, with their own Cooperage for making the Oak barrels so essential for many winemaking processes.

The wine is a light color for a Chardonnay, and has citrus fragrances, predominantly lemon. The flavor is subtle and also includes; citrus, green melon, and apple. It is slightly buttery and has some acidity. If your preference in a Chardonnay is strong Oak flavors, then this is not the wine for you. If however, you are looking for a more subtle flavored Chardonnay experience then this is well worth trying. It would be a good accompaniment with seafood, chicken, salads and white meats.

Chicken Burger with Pineapple, Mango, Avocado on Ciabatta bread.

Ingredients:

Skinless chicken breasts

Pineapple sliced into rings

Mango sliced

Avocado sliced

Onion sliced

Tomato sliced

Ciabatta bread, cut into burger sized pieces

Optional items:

Green Onions

Cilantro

Low sodium Soy Sauce

Teriyaki sauce

Sweet Thai chili sauce

Bacon

Cheese

Preparation:

Baste or marinate the chicken breasts in any of the above sauces.

Cooking Instructions:

Cook the ingredients on the grill in roughly the following order, cooking time dependent on your judgment and taste preferences. Chicken can be basted with any sauces while cooking if desired.

Start cooking the onions on the grill first, or in a pan and Sautee if desired.

Start cooking the chicken breasts next. Cook whole or cut in half and cook the halves, depending on your preference.

Pineapple slices

Mango slices

Tomato slices

Avocado slices

Combine between Ciabatta bread slices, either uncooked or lightly grilled according to taste.

Enjoy!

We purchased bacon and Jarlsberg cheese but got carried away with the cooking and forgot to add them, but they can easily be added to the above.

Rating: OK, very good value for money

Recommendation: Recommended, especially for the price.

Winery Web Site

www.yalumba.com