Ceviche and Susana Balbo Torrontes

I’m currently away in Priorato in Spain (of which more later this week) but this was a great combination I came across last week at the Gaucho Grill in Swallow Street, London.

They’ve always served ceviches (raw fish marinated in citrus juice) but the selection has recently been refined by their executive chef Fernando Trocca who I met earlier this year in Argentina.

There were three kinds: a salmon tiradito (a layered version of ceviche) with citrus oil, lobster with white gazpacho and grapes and raw scallops with coconut dressing - all quite spicy. (You can order any three as a single course.)

The Susana Balbo Torrontes comes from the cool Salta region to the north of the country and is considered one of Argentina’s best. It has a perfumed floral character, not unlike a Gewürztraminer and took all the exotic and spicy flavours in its stride. I like the fact that being one of the grape varieties Argentina has made its own it’s the obvious local pairing too.

(Obviously it goes without saying we had steak and Malbec too but I probably don't need to point out again what a good combination that is!)