Great Wine Source Wine Blog

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Posts Tagged wine and food pairing

Wine of the Day – Sangiovese

Jan 19

Posted by greatWineSource in Italy, Reds, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for January 19, 2010

Sangiovese

Sangiovese grape  

Whenever I talk about this wine, I remind tasting guests that Sangiovese is the dominant grape in Chianti … which leads us to remember “Silence of the Lambs” and the famous “fava beans” scene, generally not something one likes to remember when having fun at a wine tasting, but it does add an element of interest.

Origin

Sangiovese originates in central Italy and is believed to date back to 600 BC. The name is derived from Latin and means the “blood of Jove”.

Style

Sangiovese is a red grape varietal and is affected even more than other grapes by soil and climate as well as the fermentation and aging techniques. Traditionally, Sangiovese is aged in large oak tanks. These tanks are neutral and serve only to concentrate the wine through evaporation and allow the slow absorption of oxygen to create more complexity through chemical reaction.

Newer oak techniques involve introducing oak chips and blending into the aging process. In the 1970’s, winemakers began creating what is called “Super Tuscans” blending Sangiovese with non-Italian varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, and introducing these newer or modern oak treatments into the production process.

Wines made from Sangiovese

Sangiovese is the dominant grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano produced in Montepulciano, Italy – at least 70% of this wine must be Sangiovese. Chianti must be produced from 80% Sangiovese and Brunello di Montalcino is produced from a clone of Sangiovese in a style that provides for long-term aging.

Characteristics

Wines made from Sangiovese vary greatly based on region, production and aging. In general, younger wines emit fresh, fruity flavors of strawberry with hints of spice, but when aged transforms aromas and flavors to cherry, oak and leather.

Pairing

Sangiovese pairs very well with pizza, spicy pasta dishes and tomato based pastas. I’ve paired it with Caprese Salad and it was delicious.

I’m including a recipe for an Italian Pesto Burger to help you savor and imagine how this fabulous wine will pair with simple and fun meals for any occasion.

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Nero d’Avola

Jan 17

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Wine of the Day for January 17, 2010

Nero d’Avola

As you may know from reading previous blogs, I drink a lot of California wines. (Research and Development when you’re a wine consultant is “tough” work, but hey, somebody’s gotta do it, right?) In the spirit of research for my blog and business, I have to experience international wines as well (YES I have to!).

Nero d'Avola 

This week will be Italian week. I already wrote about Dolcetto and Sagrantino di Montefalco and last night my husband and I enjoyed a Tola 2005 Sicilian Nero d’Avola.

Origin

Nero d’Avola originates in Sicily and is its most popular red grape, used in the region’s bestselling varietal wine. Nero d’Avola means “Black of Avola” and is named after the city Avola in southern Sicily.

Style

This wine, also known as Calabrese, historically was used almost exclusively for fortifying weaker reds in France and northern Italy, and like other Sicilian reds, has been known to be a bit syrupy with alcohol content reaching 18% (more a dessert wine than a table wine). However, styles have changed and this wine now is quite lovely with moderate alcohol content and flavors and aromas reminiscent of Syrah.

Characteristics

This wine has beautiful ruby colors with aromas of cherry and plum, and hints of spice and earth. The Tola we enjoyed was lacking in the peppery or spice finish, but was enjoyable with its full dark cherry aromas and flavors, firm tannins and the slightest hint of tartness.

Pairing

Nero d’Avola, like Syrah, will pair well with rich, zesty pastas and meat sauces. My husband and I also enjoyed it with Werther’s Dark Chocolate with Caramel.

Producer

I found the Tola at Festival Foods at a reasonable price, and would recommend it if you’re looking for a nice Italian red.

So, my “research” on the Nero d’Avola is finished (for now), on to Trebbiano. Like I said, it’s “tough” work, but somebody’s got to do it. :)

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Sagrantino di Montefalco

Jan 16

Posted by greatWineSource in Italy, Reds, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for January 16, 2010

Sagrantino di Montefalco

Origin

Sagrantino di Montefalco is a red grape originating in Umbria, Italy.

Style

Today you will find this wine is dry and fully of tannins. For years, it was made into rich sweet wines called passito, which is produced using the method of drying the grapes on straw mats.

Sagrantino di Montefalco grape

Characteristics

I was turned on to it because of its deep color, full body and abundance of blackberry aromas, with hints of violet, spice, chocolate and earth. This combination emits a sense of luxury to me.

This wine has specific aging requirements. It must be aged for 30 months before release of which 12 months must be in Oak barrels (preferably French Oak).

In my research, I discovered that this grape is thought to contain the highest amount of cancer fighting polyphenols of all known grapes. Bonus for those of us who enjoy these full-bodied reds!

Pairing

As I mentioned in my Sauvignon Blanc post, this wine will pair well with your spicier Chilis, and will other excellent complements are asiago cheese, paella and roasted meats.

Leading producer

Arnaldo Caprai is a leading producer of this wine, and while not inexpensive (at $35 and up) is well worth the investment. (FYI, I consider inexpensive wines as less than $20.) If you can find it at a local wine store, let me know where and I will post for others’ benefit.

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Sauvignon Blanc

Jan 15

Posted by greatWineSource in California, France, Whites, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for January 15, 2010

Sauvignon Blanc

White Chicken Chili — that’s what I made for lunch today. At my full-time job at Alternative Solutions in Sheboygan, we had “soup week” where each day someone brought in a different soup. Today, a co-worker and I brought in Chili: she brought in red chili and I brought in White Chicken Chili. So, as I was making it and putting the ingredients together, I was thinking of what wines would pair well with it (I happen to have a few bottles in my overhead bin at work).

Sauvignon Blanc grapesWell, Chenin Blanc will actually pair nicely with White Chicken Chili, and so will a nice light Sauvignon Blanc. Read on for more info on this elegant and adaptable grape and follow through to the end to see what wine will pair well with your red Chilis.

Sauvignon Blanc is an earthy wine, commonly generating aromas of grass, and as mentioned in previous blogs, is used as a blending wine with Sémillon to create a Meritage or Sauterne wine.

Sauvignon Blanc originated in Bordeaux and its name refers to “savage white”, so when you drink a Sauvignon Blanc, you can picture yourself as enjoying a wild white wine, which is one of the reasons I’m going to enjoy it with the White Chicken Chili. Researchers have recently discovered, and this is amazing to me, that Sauvignon Blanc – a white grape – is a parent grape along with Cabernet Franc to Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wines from this widely-planted grape should be fresh and crisp, with grassy aromas and citrus flavors. Other foods you can pair with this bright wine are shellfish, summer salads, Havarti cheese and I like it with green olives.

Alternative Solutions is a fantastic company, developing software solutions for small to medium property and casualty insurance companies. They are so supportive of my wine business and have often had wine tastings in the office. When we have food weeks or festive lunches, we crack open a bottle of wine or beer (wine for me, thank you, even with a last name of ‘Brewer’). I will be enjoying a Sauvignon Blanc with the White Chicken Chili and those who will enjoy the red Chili could pair it with Zinfandel or Sagrantino de Montefalco. What is Sagrantino di Montefalco you ask? You’ll just have to check back on another day.

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Malbec

Jan 14

Posted by greatWineSource in France, Reds, Wine of the Day | 1 Comment

Wine of the Day for January 14, 2010

Malbec

I was approached this morning by a member in my networking group who wanted to find a way to learn about wines and know what the right wines are to select with foods. Well, of course, I let her know that my wine tastings are a fabulous way to do that AND have fun at the same time – visit: www.greatWineSource.com\wine_tastings. I also recommended that she visit this blog daily. We are all so busy, but this is a quick way for the new wine enthusiast to learn a little bit about wines, aromas, flavors, and food pairings.

On to the Malbec …

Malbec When you think of Malbec, what region of the world do you think of? I think of Argentina. Well, did you know that it actually originated in Burgundy, France? This dark, inky wine was one of the six grapes blended into the red Bordeaux, and is still grown in France, but in the Cahors region in Southwest France.

I imagine Argentina when enjoying Malbec because Argentinean Malbecs have a certain romance surrounding them, producing such beautiful, robust wines, while remaining lovely and enjoyable for the newer wine enthusiast.

In Argentina, it is generally made in the style of Cabernet Sauvignon (and can be blended with). Malbec is more approachable when young, with somewhat softer tannins than Cabernet, but still retains structure and body.

You may enjoy your Malbec with aromas and flavors of leather, blackberry, chocolate, with subtle hints of flowers and herbs. Interesting foods to pair with this favorite are bread dipped in olive oil with garlic, chile peppers and cilantro (bringing in a bit of sassiness to match this sexy wine); casseroles, anti-pasta and grilled steaks (really steaks and most red wines are a delicious combination).

As a shout-out to Kelly, if you need to furnish your office, hotel, hospital, restaurant, see Kelly Nething, Lakeshore Business Interiors: www.lakeshorebi.com, 800-236-8497 (be sure to ask for Kelly and tell her Kathy Brewer sent you!)

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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