Recipe: Sparkling Sabayon with Fresh Fruit

Chef Michael Stiller from Tina’s Restaurant suggests pairing this dessert with the same wine used in the recipe is a foolproof way to impress your guests. His recipe for this elegant French treat comes together quickly once prepped, so grab an extra bottle because you’ll want a glass while you cook!

Makes 2-2.5 cups and serves 4

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 egg yolks
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup sparkling wine
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• Yellow cake or buttermilk biscuits to serve 6 (optional) 
• Assortment of fruit
  • Fresh strawberries and blackberries tossed with lemon and sugar
    OR
  • Ripe mango, pears, or apples lightly sautéed with a bit of the wine and some sugar
    OR
  • Fresh pineapple and bananas

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a large bowl over boiling water, AGGRESSIVELY WHISK egg yolks, granulated sugar, and sparkling wine. Continuously whisk until silky and thick. It will start foamy as you whisk it, but as the yolks gently cook, it will become smooth in 5-7 minutes. Push this sabayon through a fine mesh sieve and chill in the fridge for at least 30-45 minutes. Use this time to gather, wash, or cut fruit for your dessert.
2. Whip heavy cream, vanilla, and powdered sugar until light and fluffy, and then keep cool in the fridge.
3. When you are ready for dessert, fold the cold sabayon with the whipped heavy cream. Layer it in glasses with the gathered fruit or between yellow cake or buttermilk biscuits for a twist on a fruit shortcake.

WINE PAIRING RECOMMENDATIONS

Wine characteristics: A Dundee Hills sparkling wine is an unbeatable pairing option here. Look for a vintage with a fine mousse offering a luxurious texture and well-developed fruit notes to accentuate the berries in the dish.

• Cramoisi Vineyard Blanc de Noir: This wine offers a rich texture that gives body and density of flavor to the sabayon. It also has a broad, generous expression of fruit that will allow you to pair it with many different fruits or berries.
• Argyle Vintage Brut: This traditional method stunner has a bright and crisp profile with excellent consistency and balance. It is widely available and has a great price-to-quality ratio! You can always count on Argyle Vintage Brut to be there, ready to go.