Ensenada-style fish taco with white wine

On this occasion, we devised a unique pairing based on comfort and everyday life. A fish taco, Baja California's signature, accompanied by a regional white wine: Teo, produced by Vinícola Retorno.

Let's talk about the wine. Teo is a white wine made with 90% Chenin Blanc and 10% Chardonnay from the Guadalupe Valley. It is aged for eight months in both American and French barrels, which enhances the notes of vanilla, toast, and butter, which harmoniously blend in intensity with the fruity notes of pineapple, apple, and pear, characteristic of the region's grapes.

And the dish? To many, it might seem like a run-of-the-mill fish taco. Digging deeper into the dish, we discover a myriad of techniques: the battering, which brings together the flavors of mustard, beer, and some herbs; the freshness of the salsa bandera; the milky note of the cream; the bitterness of the cabbage and the pungency of the pickled onion with oregano.

That's why we decided to pair these two greats: for their intensity and complexity.

The complexity of the wine matches the intensity of the flavors of the fish taco. In this way, the elements of both can create a good pairing that allows us to enjoy the flavors of both the wine and the dish even more. A non-barrel-aged white wine would be too light to pair with a fish taco, which is why Teo pairs so well. The wine is crafted to have intensity and complexity while maintaining its freshness, which, with the help of the taco's garnishes, allows the acidity to shine.

And it's this acidity that cleanses the palate, cuts through the fat of the fried fish, and at the same time harmonizes with the freshness of the wine. When we combine acidity with acidity, both are enhanced, and we can play with multiple mouthfeel sensations.

And just like that, the wine can pair with multiple dishes that match its complexity. It's just that sometimes regional dishes become so commonplace that we can't imagine how well they can pair with a regional wine. Probably no one thinks of bringing a wine to a fish taco cart or stand, but this is just one more excuse to try the combination at home and enjoy one of the least expected pairings for the Ensenada routine.