Dinner can be simple, with a little sparkle.
Tonight, we made two bowls of instant noodles. One was kimchi ramen, and the other was sesame noodles. We also opened two bottles of English sparkling rosé. It was an easy dinner, but it turned out to be much more interesting than we expected.
Instant noodles are probably not the first food that comes to mind when people think about sparkling wine. Most people would picture celebration or a special dinner. We simply felt like opening two bottles of sparkling rosé. Sometimes, the most enjoyable ideas start with the food that is already in the kitchen.
Kimchi & Balfour Brut Rosé 2021
Kimchi ramen is full of flavour. It is spicy, slightly sour, and packed with umami from the fermented kimchi. There is already a lot happening in one bowl, so we were curious to see what the wine would add without taking anything away.
We poured a glass of Balfour Brut Rosé 2021 and started dinner. The first sip was fresh, bringing citrus, blood orange, grapefruit and red berry flavours. After another bite of noodles, the kimchi tasted brighter and cleaner. The chilli was still there, but it did not stay in the mouth for as long, making the next bite feel fresh again.
One thing we really enjoyed was how the fresh fruit flavours worked with the fermented character of the kimchi. They did not cover the food or compete with it. Instead, they lifted the flavours of the noodles and kept the kimchi as the centre of the dish.
The fine bubbles also made a difference. They kept each bite feeling lighter, especially with the rich soup and seasoning. We found ourselves enjoying the last few bites just as much as the first, because the bowl never became too heavy.
One more thing surprised us. The bright pink colour of the wine looked great beside the deep red kimchi. It was a simple dinner, but the colours on the table made the whole meal feel a little more special.
Sesame & Bolney Bubbly Rosé
Sesame noodles gave us a completely different experience. The sauce was rich, smooth, and full of roasted sesame flavour. It was creamy, nutty, and much richer than the kimchi ramen, so the wine played a different role with this bowl.
Bolney Bubbly Rosé turned out to be an interesting match. The wine brought little hints of strawberry, red cherry, redcurrant and a light touch of almond. The fruit flavours stayed in the background, so the roasted sesame remained the main flavour from the first bite to the last.
After a few bites, we noticed that the bowl no longer felt as rich as it did at the beginning. A sip of sparkling wine refreshed the mouth, and the next bite tasted just as enjoyable as the first. The fresh acidity helped balance the richness of the sesame sauce without changing its character.
The light almond note in the wine also worked naturally with the roasted sesame. Both flavours stayed clear, and neither one covered the other. Instead, they sat comfortably together, making the whole bowl feel more balanced while keeping the sesame flavour exactly where it should be.
We simply opened two bottles of sparkling wine that were already waiting in the fridge. It is an easy combination to enjoy at home. Sometimes, opening a bottle of sparkling wine is all it takes to make an ordinary dinner feel a little different.
