Fireworks and Bangers!

I’m not speaking about the loud explosions and amazing light display here, I’m speaking about sparkling wine and sausages!

“British sausages being called bangers seems to be a historical legacy, a colloquial term left over from war time when sausages sometimes exploded in the pan when you cooked them. We started calling sausages bangers sometime during the first World War, it was a slang name for a sausage at the time.” Quote from English Breakfast Society

A very traditional dish of Great Britain is ‘bangers and mash’ which, though basic sounding, comprises of many variations from the style of sausages such as pork/beef/chicken/corn along with what accompanies the dish such as gravy/peas/swede/fried onions and much more.

A popular dish that usually makes an appearance on the menu during the weekly home cooking and also likely to be an option at cafes, pubs and restaurants across the country.

A ‘Great British dish’ and a ‘Fireworks’ Gold Medal Winning English Sparkling Wine pairing – Can we really look to accompany such a traditional, what some will think as ‘simple’ dish with a quality sparkling wine?

When we look at the variety of options we have today when purchasing food and wines too, we can take what some would see as being basic up to a whole new tasting experience level. With this in mind, why shouldn’t bangers and mash be eligible to be paired with a glass of bubbly?

We decided to give it a go and pick out a sparkling wine that had won an award in our category of ‘Fireworks’ so that it could compete not only by cleansing the palate from any greasy textures from the dish, but also snap back at the bangers themselves!

Fireworks category – Glass of Bubbly Awards: “An intense and powerful wine that really bursts with flavours in the mouth.”

Pairing Bangers and Mash with Fizz:

The Bangers

During my weekly round of food shopping for article writing I stumbled across some eye catching packaging in the meat section, The Jolly Hog 6 British Pork Sausages ‘Caramelised Porker’. A new brand for me and noting the RSPCA assured certification mark along with their story and social media channels highlighted on the back, they were added to my basket.

 

“Once upon a time there were three jolly brothers… a rugby player, a shop broker and a cabinet maker! The three brothers loved eating meat, especially pork. They decided to create their own porky delights which one day would become the best and the most delicious in the whole land… ” Our Story of Olly, Max & Josh – The Jolly Hog.

Tasting notes: “Full of meaty flavours and very little greasy texture. You feel you are getting more goodness over fats, these taste healthy. Great savoury pork flavours with a touch of sweetness from the caramelised onions in the length.”

 

The Fizz

We chose the Ridgeview Blanc de Noirs 2014 English Sparkling Wine that took home a Gold Medal in the ‘Fireworks’ Category at the Glass of Bubbly Awards 2018. This limited edition label had received great tasting notes and scores with a most expressive nose and great fruity flavours.

 

Sparkling wine tasting notes: “Rounded orchard fruits, honey, honeysuckle, hay, oaky brioche and a touch of red currant on the nose. Flavours are light, not overpowering and leave a mouth watering sensation. Touch of pastry, lively yellow stone fruit zestiness, dry citrus in the length.”

68% Pinot Noir 32% Pinot Meunier

 

 

The Pairing of The Jolly Hog and Ridgeview

Pairing tasting notes: “The sausages held very little greasiness and the wine, though a Blanc de Noirs, was not overly punchy. This made both very suitable together. A burst of green fruits and garden nettles initially followed by sweet savoury flavours from the dish.”