Raspberry Ripple Cake and a Trophy Winning Sparkling Wine

4th May 2020

Deseado and Raspberry Ripple Cake

There are quite a few amazing sparkling wines that are permanently stored in my memory bank and sometimes those saved taste sensations come back to life following me enjoying certain foods – I frequently say to myself, “now that wine would pair perfectly with this dish”.

I recently over indulged by placing in my shopping basket some heavenly looking desserts including a choice of cakes. I had of course in mind pairing many of them with sparkling wines though just a look at this overly tempting gateaux, the Mary Berry ‘Raspberry Ripple Cake’, pushed the trophy winning sparkling Deseado Rosé from Argentina to the front of my mind.

Pouring Deseado rosé Trophy Winner Glass of Bubbly

Pouring the Deseado Rosé – The Trophy Winner in the ‘Dessert’ Category at the Glass of Bubbly Awards 2019.

 

Familia Schroeder Deseado Rosé Tasting notes – “A fizz with just 9% alcohol. Wonderful raspberry ripple and strawberry jam aromas. You are ever so tempted to taste! A sweet rosé with such delicate and elegant red fruit flavours. Ripe raspberry and strawberry pastry flavours with a great balance being not overly cloying on the palate and yet takes a star role at being ever so moreish.

A slice of cake and a glass of fizz will appeal to many people and to be honest, offers some incredible pairings especially with the sweeter sparkling wines and rosés. Many styles of sparkling wine will pair with cake desserts including famous Champagne labels (demi-sec ideally) and sparkling wines (dry / extra dry) such as Cremants (Blanquette de Limoux) and red sparklers.

For me, the following is a recommended guide on pairing cakes with sparkling wines:

  • Plain heavy sponge cakes (such as madeira) with only a small amount of icing / jam / powdered sugar – Extra Dry Prosecco
  • Chocolate cakesRed sparkling wines
  • Lighter sponge cakes / fluffy cakes – Champagne (demi-sec / rosé)
  • Cakes with high amounts of icing / cream / jam – Sweet rosé sparkling wines
Mary Berry Raspberry Ripple Cake and Deseado Rosé

Mary Berry Raspberry Ripple Cake and Deseado Rosé

 

Mary Berry Raspberry Ripple Cake

I had one of these already not that long ago so memories were still very much alive and though it was somewhat a ‘naughty but nice’ moment I simply had to pick it up once again. This time I knew very well which sparkling wine it was to pair with as the Deseado Rosé was more or less the exact replica yet in liquid form. I was looking forward to tasting them both together!

Mary Berry Raspberry Ripple Cake with Familia Schroeder Deseado Rosé Pairing Notes – “A delightful heavenly balance between the intense sweet raspberry sponge, icing and jam alongside the elegant ripe raspberry flavours of the sparkling wine. It’s a hard battle of dominance over the dreamy raspberry sweetness between the cake and the wine which your palate can sit back and enjoy.

Christopher Walkey

Co-founder of Glass of Bubbly. Journalist and author focused on Champagne & Sparkling Wines and pairing them with foods.