As red and green decorations create a festive anticipation of the approaching holidays, let’s just add some more red! Red wine, that is.
In the design of food and wine pairings, I often am asked what wine goes with a particular menu. However, what if you have a special bottle of wine and want to find the perfect entrée to go with it? Here are a few red wine varietals and some of my favorite pairings.
Pinot Noir can be very finicky. But when it’s good, it is VERY good. I like it because it is one of the few reds that I like with a light salad. I pair it with a spinach salad with poached lemon chicken, sweet corn and dried cranberries. I also enjoy it with pork tenderloin, grilled or roasted, with lots of rosemary and garlic.
Sangiovese begs for everything Italian and tomato-based sauces. You could liven up some classic entrees like spaghetti and meatballs or pizza with a variety of Italian meats.
Alicante Bouschet is a delicate and elegant red that is not well known. But once you hook up, I believe that you will be pleased. I love it with angel hair pasta with shrimp and a blend of red and white cream sauce (AKA pink sauce). Heaven! Ravioli stuffed with sweet potato would be another wonderful party in your mouth.
Merlot has gotten a bad rap because….well, several years ago, there was a lot of bad merlot. Don’t be shy about renewing your relationship with this very fine varietal. I have enjoyed it with casual dining entrees like the Allen Brothers Steak Dogs with all of my favorite condiments. Now and again I will have a “picnic dinner” with deviled eggs with horseradish and sliced tomatoes. Merlot is a winner here.
Lastly my favorite, zinfandel. This grape is very flexible and goes with many dishes. I love chili, particularly this time of year. Zinfandel is the “go to” wine for me. I also enjoy it with salmon. Who would guess? Salmon has enough fat and texture to stand up to this very big wine.
Cheers and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!