November's wine pairing from Last Drop Wines

'Apple, kohlrabi, speck, fennel and hazelnut - I feel like breaking into the song "These are a few of my favourite things!"

Truthfully, salads are rarely my thing however this one is right up my street. Favourite foods deserve equal favourites from the cellar. I have selected two wines: a dry Riesling from Pfalz, Oliver Zeter 2020 and an unlikely Pinot Gris from Oregon. Why two, because it has been a long weekend and I am feeling indecisive or I feel exceptionally thirsty?  Both wines were tried with the salad and between four at the table, no one could call a clear favourite.

Please no pre-judgements on Riesling as it must be sweet. This isn't, and for most of my customers, it has become a repeat buy. The bear on the label has an enchanting background. It is a representation of the winemaker's grandfather by one of his longstanding drinking friends, who was an illustrator. It is always good to have talented friends and talented winemakers. The brothers are full of talent and good all-rounders as is this wine with some tropical fruit notes (melon)  and a glorious freshness in the finish. When your salad is finished, you will be happy to have another bottle in reserve.

The Pinot Gris from Portlandia is a bit of a unicorn wine - a wine that I wasn't looking for but once tasted I had to have within the collection. Think pears, honeysuckle, great minerality and a whisper of cinnamon. They are so many combinations of goodness: apples and pears, pears and speck, cinnamon and apples, all the above with a minerality to add to the exciting crunch.'