You know you are loved when your best friend makes you an amazing dinner. This is a typical from Medellin, Colombia.
Cargamanto Bean Stew with avocado, pork cracklings, chorizo, fried sweet plantains and fresh cilantro to add to taste. Amazingly delicious.
Pontificis white wine blend of Viogner, Marsanne and Roussanne grapes from Pays D’Oc, in the south of France. Elegant and aromatic pairing with hints of apricot and white flowers. Light on the palate with gentle and crisp acidity.
Cuban Ropa Vieja.
If you’ve ever wondered what wine to drink with Cuban food, in this case Ropa Vieja, you should give this wine a try.
Ropa Vieja, which translates literally to Old Clothes, is shredded beef in a sofrito of peppers, onions, garlic, etc. (I like to add a little chorizo and green olives) this Layer Cake Primitivo does the trick in a magical way. It is made with the intensely dark and rich Primitivo grape from Puglia, Italy, known as Zinfandel elsewhere. This particular Primitivo offers allspice and stewed black cherries on the nose, and added hints of dark caramel and butterscotch on the palate. Balances beautifully with the smokiness of the chorizo and the savory brine of the olives. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5. $16
Would you like the recipe?
RED WINE WITH MEAT? NOT NECESSARILY
When pairing any dish, it is important to consider all its components, from the protein, to the seasoning to the sauces.
When pairing this dish of Pan Roasted Pork Chops, one of the main components in addition to the meat, are the herbs that went into the marinade. the 48 hours of marinating in parsley, cilantro, thyme, rosemary in addition to garlic and onions adds complexity that should be mirrored in the wine. Another consideration is the fact that there was no acidity added to the marinade in the form of lemon juice or vinegar. This will play a key role in the selection of the wine. Mushrooms and asparagus were cooked simply. Extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. No butter or cream.
The only component with acidity in this dish is the quick mock béarnaise sauce. Mayo, whole-grain mustard, red vinegar, tarragon, olive oil, salt and pepper.
The advantage to a side sauce like this, is that each diner can adjust the amount of sauce to his or her own taste, or skip it all together.
So, we need a wine that is fresh without much acidity, medium body, not earthy, not oaky.
Chardonnay is a wine that meets this criteria, although a light red Beaujolais would also work.
The paired Pam’s Un-Oaked Chardonnay has a fresh golden delicious apple and slight citrus aroma, medium body and a welcome buttery texture in the palate. Although I found it slightly sweet, the sweetness is welcome as a counterbalance to the sauce. The wine should be properly chilled to about 50º F.
It bears mentioning that if the chops had been grilled over firewood, this would have added a layer of smokiness to the flavor profile and in turn it would have called for some oak in the wine, in which case a Pouilly Fuissé from the Maconnais region of Burgundy, or perhaps a slightly oaky California Chardonnay would have been a good option.
Please ask away if you have any questions.
LESSER KNOWN WINES THAT WILL SURPRISE YOU.
Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano. #1
Slowly Braised Pork Chops with Tomato Jam and Basil. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano makes a very good pairing with this dish. Despite the name, this wine is different from Montepulciano d’Abruzzo which is actually made with Montepulciano grapes.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is made with Sangiovese grapes, from the Prugnolo Gentile strain to be exact. I find this wine has a body between Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, both made also with Sangiovese. Usually, I am not very fond of Ruffino wines, but this particular Ruffino Tenuta Lodola Nuova Vino Nobile is truly a delight to drink. Dense aromas of ripe fruit and licorice permeate the air as soon as you open the bottle.
No need to wait too long for the wine to open up. The first sip grabs you with a good amount of acidity and soft tannins. Great value at about half the price of a Brunello.
The Veneto is one of the Italian regions producing some of the richest and best known wines in the world.
Two of these wines are Amarone and Recioto della Valpolicella.
One of the key steps in making Amarone is the drying of the grapes on straw mats under special conditions for a period of about 120 days after collection.
This process called raisining, concentrates the flavors and aromas, as well as the sugar in the grapes. The higher proportion of sugar in the grapes, the higher resulting alcohol content. Usually 15% or higher in Amarone.
Recioto della Valpolicella wine, starts life pretty much the same way, although the grapes may remain longer on the straw mats for even higher concentration.
The main difference however, is that the fermentation process is stopped before all the sugar in the wine is converted to alcohol. At the right time, the wine is subjected to a temperature cold enough to kill the yeasts that convert the sugar into alcohol.
This process leaves just the right amount of residual to balance the alcohol, usually about 13٪
Obviously quality varies among producers, but a good Amarone will be a revelation, and an excellent Recioto will leave you literally speechless with its unexpected richness and intensity. If you are not familiar with Recioto you will likely be puzzled about the sweetness and acidity underlying powerful aromas and taste of sun-baked ripe fruit that feels like a jolt of flavor in your mouth, and I swear some of you might feel your legs wobble.
I recently spoke to Dennis, the owner of Tenuta Lenotti while tasting some wines at Whole Foods. His wines are delicious and show the care and effort behind the producer.
He assures his Amarone and Recioto will be available at Whole Foods soon.
Cantine Lenotti Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico $50
Intense aromas of ripe fruit mirrored on the palate with a good amount of acidity and velvety tannins.
Amarone will pair very well with roasts and Game but also pairs beautifully with chunks of Parmiggiano Reggiano cheese.
Cantine Lenotti Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG Classico $40 for 500ml.
Wonderfully intense with a great balance of acidity and sweetness. Excellent after dinner or with dessert. Or, pair a small glass of Recioto della Valpolicella with some good quality dark chocolate. And remember a little goes a long way.
Salute!
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