Uncork the Cosmos: 6 Stellar Wines for Meteor Shower Magic

The Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak in just a few days so we thought we’d uncork some stellar wines for this star-gazing event.

Here with her cosmic wine picks is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com

Natalie, great to see you again!

Thanks for having me! I’m over the moon to be here with you 😉

Tell us a bit about the meteor shower and how we can celebrate it with some stellar wines.

The Perseids are one of the brightest meteor showers of the year. They come from the constellation Perseus, the son of the Greek god Zeus.

Let’s celebrate with wines that sparkle just as much as the night sky, starting with the Veuve du Vernay Brut Sparkling Wine from Burgundy, France. You’ll be drinking the stars as well as watching them!

Veuve du Vernay Brut Sparkling
Burgundy, France

This wine is crisp and refreshing. It rockets your senses with green apple and citrus. It would be perfect with “meteor shower popcorn,” a gourmet blend of freshly popped kernels tossed with truffle oil, parmesan, and black pepper, its earthy aroma wafting through the night air.

Another option would be “lunar lemon tarts,” individual warm pastry shells filled with tangy lemon curd and topped with a swirl of torched meringue, resembling the cratered surface of the moon.

It has these fine bubbles that dance in your glass, much like the meteors across the sky. Did you know that most of them started their journey millions of years ago and are only about the size of a grain of sand? Such a spectacular light show from such tiny particles!

Wonderful, what’s next?

For a truly out-of-this-world taste of summer, I’d recommend Jacob’s Creek Moscato and the Lively Bunch Rosé. Both are fresh and brimming with notes of ripe field berries and light florals.

The rosé’s gorgeous pink color reminds me that the colour of a meteor depends on its chemical composition. They can range from a rosy red-violet to blue-green to orange-yellow.

Jacob’s Creek is supporting a supernova of daytime stars competing in the NBO national tennis tournament this week. Feel free to sniff or sip as you like.

Jacob’s Creek Lively Bunch Rosé
Australia

Jacob’s Creek Moscato
South Australia, Australia

Strawberries are a classic pairing with both tennis and these summery wines. But for our celestial theme, how about “stardust strawberries,” ripe berries dipped in white chocolate and rolled in edible silver glitter, sparkling like distant stars in the moonlight?

You could also try “galaxy grape skewers,” alternating green and purple grapes threaded onto skewers and frozen, mimicking strings of colorful stars.

Brilliant! What’s next?

I have two wines from Cobble Hill, a new winery in the Cowichan Valley of British Columbia. What better place to observe a meteor shower than from atop a hill?

Kismet is a star-bright, innovative blend of an unusual and tasty BC gapes that have a lime-zest finish. I’d pair it with “solar system sushi,” with different rolls representing planets, served on a circular platter with a wasabi “sun” at the center.

Cobble Hill Kismet
British Columbia, Canada

Cobble Hill Zweigelt
British Columbia, Canada

I’ve paired it with their red wine, Zweigelt, which offers aromas of black cherry and spice. Give them a sniff or sip as you imagine yourself sprawled out on a cozy blanket, gazing upward nibbling on “supernova sliders,” mini burgers topped with glow-in-the-dark cheese slices that shine bright in the darkness or “astronaut’s antipasto,” a selection of cured meats, cheeses, and olives vacuum-sealed in space-food style pouches for easy, mess-free snacking.

You have one last wine for us?

Yes, this is the final countdown. We’ll finish with the Les Jamelles Cabernet Sauvignon from the south of France. It’s a full-bodied red with deep thruster notes of blackcurrant and vanilla.

Sipping this is like wrapping yourself in a warm, velvety blanket under the night sky as you dig into some spicy “cosmic chili,” served in insulated mugs, topped with a swirl of sour cream to represent the milky way and then finish with “black hole brownies,” rich, dark chocolate brownies with a molten center, served warm in individual foil packets.

Les Jamelles Cabernet Sauvignon
Vin de Pays d’Oc, France

Houston, we don’t have a problem with this wine. All systems are a go!

Any additional tips for organizing a stargazing wine party?

Check the weather forecast and pick a clear night. The Perseids peak around August 12-13, but you can see them for several days before and after. Bring comfy chairs or blankets, and don’t forget insect repellent — and the wine.

Natalie, this has been absolutely stellar! Do you have a toast to send us off?

I’d like to leave everyone with this thought: As you gaze at the meteor shower, remember. It’s a reminder that great things take time, just like a fine wine.

So here’s my toast: May your glasses be full, your skies be clear, and may you always take time to wonder at the magic above and within. Cheers!