Harmonies with black truffle

We are in the middle of the season of the black truffle, or winter truffle, and all of Spain's producing regions host encounters, fairs and gastronomic festivals around this strange fungus of such high gastronomic value. In the woods of Soria, in the mountain areas of Teruel and Castellón, in the foothills of Huesca Pyrenees... Also in areas of Álava and Navarra or in the Riojan region of Cameros: the black truffle is produced in more and more locations of the eastern half of Spain, always associated with limestone geologies, rugged orography and oak forests.

We love black truffle, preferably fresh and raw, and that's why we've looked for the best wine harmony options. We based our research on the recommendations of one of the world's leading experts in molecular pairing, the Canadian sommelier François Chartier. Former collaborator of El Bulli, Chartier and his team have thoroughly investigated truffle thiols, volatile compounds that contain sulfur. Thiols such as dimethyl sulfate (DMS) belong to the same molecular family as the compounds generated during wine fermentation, most notably the white varieties Sauvignon blanc and Verdejo and the red Syrah and Garnacha.

The wines of these varieties are an optimal choice to create powerful aromatic pairings with black truffle. Also with aged red wines, which often develop aromatic hues of the same family as the dominant truffle molecules. This explains and confirms the classic aromatic combination, known for a long time, between a fine Pomerol or a penetrating Rioja Gran Reserva, and a black truffle recipe.

For all this, we dare to recommend, from the Muriel Wines portfolio, wines such as the fruity Real Compañía Verdejo and the expressive Real Compañía Garnacha, both very representative of their respective varieties. Also the Muriel Fincas de la Villa Gran Reserva, an icon of elegance and gastronomic possibilities. There are three very different options that show the versatility of the black truffle and the ability to enhance the aromas and flavours of this fungus, the star of the winter kitchen.
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