Welcome to the Garden of France

As people around the culinary world are celebrating the amazing contributions of Julia Child on what would have been her 100^th birthday, I thought it would be appropriate to highlight some great wines from the Loire Valley, otherwise known as the Garden of France.  

This region in central France is home to some fabulous summer whites that will be music to your palate and your wallet.

While Julia was focused on Mastering the Art of French Cooking, I am striving to master the art of French wine and believe me there is a lot to learn. 

Some of my favorite red wines come from Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone, but a great way to beat the summer heat is with a lovely Muscadet, Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé.

When I think of summer, I dream of sitting by the beach with a big bucket of crab legs, mussels or peel and eat shrimp.  As I reach for a refreshing libation to wash down my briny treats, I often to turn to a Muscadet. 

Muscadets are made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape.  The wines are light bodied with a hint of brininess, light fruit notes including apple, pear and melon with a pop of refreshing acidity that make it a lovely pairing with many seafood dishes especially shellfish.  Oh, and did I mention that you can usually get a great bottle for $10 or less. 

While these wines makes for a great summer sipper, don’t discount them in the fall with a nice roasted butternut squash soup topped with lump crab meat.  Absolutely delightful!

When looking for a Muscadet at the wine store, look for the labels that feature the words Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, these tend to be better quality.  Sauvion is a great producer.

I am also a big fan of Sancerre.  Sancerre is made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape. If you are used to the big bold Sauvignon Blanc’s from Marlborough, New Zealand, you will be in for a bit of a surprise.  I find a Sancerre to feature a bit more minerality that tends to pair better with foods.  You will still find the refreshing citrus notes with aromas of fresh cut grass, but I find these notes to be a bit more restrained and balanced on the palate than its New Zealand counterpart.

One of my favorites right now is the 2010 Christian Salmon, which sells for about $20 a bottle.  I love this wine paired with a roasted shrimp risotto topped with lobster sauce.   This wine also goes great with oysters.

Until next time, let your palate be your guide.

Bubbles on Any Budget

A great sparkling always comes to mind when looking for that perfect beverage to celebrate a special occasion. And no - you don't have to drop a Ben Franklin to find a delicious bottle of bubbly.

Believe it or not, there are bargain bubbles that will leave your guests thinking you spent a small fortune catering to their every desire.

While most "Champagnes" will likely put a dent in your wallet, there is good news if you know where to look. For those wine novices out there, a sparkling wine can only be called Champagne if it's actually produced in Champagne. (Hence, all Champagne is sparkling, but not all sparkling is Champagne.)

My husband captured this inside the caves
at Schramsberg on our honeymoon last fall. 

Also, Champagne can be only be made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Mineur grapes.  Other sparklings around the world can use different blends of grapes.  Don't get me wrong Champagnes are delicious, but you will be hard pressed to find a great bottle for under $40 bucks, but of course there are always exceptions like the Chateau Montandon which comes in at $35 and is a wonderful bottle.

Now that we straightened that out, let's talk real value!

If you head west from Champagne to Spain, you will come across some beautiful Cava's for under $15 a bottle.  I recently hosted a party for my husband and I served an $8 bottle of Rondel Brut Cava for the birthday toast. No joke - 8 bucks! It had beautiful notes of peach, apricot and almond.  You should also consider trying this with a little guave nectar for a great mimosa to serve with your next brunch. Don't let the blue bottle fool you.

Italy, home of Prosecco, is another great option if your looking to pinch a few pennies.  If your looking for a little more fruit in your sparkling, Prosecco is the way to go. Prosecco's are made in theCharmat Method. They undergo the second fermentation in a tank instead of the bottle, which lends to more fruit in the nose and on the palate.

There are many great Prosecco's for under $20.  One of my new favorites is the il Cortigiano, reasonably priced at $12.  This one has some nice acidic tartness and yeasty aromas.  This makes a perfect pairing with grilled peaches wrapped in basil, prosciutto and drizzled with balsamic glaze. Yummy! One more suggestion when it comes to Prosecco, try serving your next bottle in a wine glass instead of a flute - this will bring out more of the fruit.

A Virginia sparkling at a Cape Cod wedding. 

When it comes to the U.S., I have two favorites right now - the 2008 Blanc de Noir from Schramsberg in Napa Valley, California and Thibaut Jannison from Charlottesville, VA.  They are priced at $38 and $18 respectively.

Many of my friends are skeptical when I tell them about a great sparking from Virginia, but you have to try this one!  You won't be disappointed.  We actually served this one at our wedding in Cape Cod last year. 

One more thought before I go, don't wait for that next big celebration to pop the cork! Sparklings make a great apertif and are a perfect pairing with sushi.

Until next time, let your palate be your guide!

Great Grillin' Wines

As you get ready to fire up the grilll over the holiday weekend, it's time to think about what you will be serving with those burgers, ribs, kabobs and other BBQ goodies.

Allow me to make a few recommendations that are sure to please your palate.

One of my all time favorite burger wines has to be a Zinfandel, hands down. And no, I am not talking about the sweet, pink White Zinfandel you may have taken from your grandmother's kitchen when you were a kid.  (No offense, but can we PLEASE put down the White Zin and try something new! More on this in a future blog.)

Anyhow, in  my humble opinion,  there's nothing better than a big juicy burger with blue cheese and bacon matched with a big, bold Zinfandel. A great Cabernet will also do the trick here. The high acidity, tannic structure,  jammy notes and hint of spice make Zinfandel a perfect match for a steak, burger or ribs.  However, you may want to watch spice in the BBQ sauce. Too much spice will have your wine and food competing against each other. Not a good scenario. If you are looking for a smoother alternative to a Zin, you could always check out a nice Syrah.  Some of my favorites comes from the northern Rhone Valley.  A young Syrah from northern Rhone tends to have nice tannins and a little smokiness that goes great with BBQ ribs.

Zins to Try:

• The 2009 Jelly Jar from Napa Valley boasts big jammy flavors with hints of vanilla and spice. ~$25
• If you are looking for all the flavor at a lower cost, check out the 2010 Predator Zin from Lodi, CA. It's a great bargain at about $12 a bottle. (You get a little more tart fruit on the palate, like cranberries, but it's still nicely balance for the price)
• The 2009 Sobon Estate "Fiddletown" is also a great choice. ~$22  

Opting for lighter fare like fish or chicken? You may want to try a nice Riesling or Gewurztraminer. Rieslings make a lovely pairing with grilled fruits and chicken. The spicy sweet notes of a Gewurztraminer are a wonderful compliment to blackened fish or chicken. I am a big fan of German Rieslings from the Mosel Valley, some of the greatest Rieslings in the world come from this area.   If you haven't ventured past Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, give something new a chance this barbecue season. As I always say, too much wine too little time. 

And if you are still unsure what to serve, you can always opt for a Pinot Noir, it's food friendly and works well with most grilled meats.  One of my favorites right now is the 2005 Chateau de Chamirey from Burgundy.  There's a nice nose of wet earth, followed by some nice ripened fruit and a very long silky finish. I just picked up a 1/2 case for $20 a bottle at my local Total Wine store. Great bargain, since the wine is typically priced at about $35.  If you can get your hands on this, your palate will thank you. If not, the 2007 is also drinking quite well.

So, go fire up the grill and enjoy the holiday weekend.

Until next time, Carpe Vino!

Crystal

Carpe Vino

Welcome to my world of wine.  Let’s take a journey together through the fertile fields and tangled vines of wine country and find the perfect pairing for any occasion.

Food and wine have long been a passion of mine. Don’t tell my husband, but my first true love was a bottle of 1997 Brunello Di Montalcino.  Nothing quite captivates your senses or evokes as much emotion as that perfect bottle of vino.   In fact, it was a 97’ Brunello that I served to my future husband on our third date that landed a ring on my finger.  Needless to say, there is special place in my heart for this Italian beauty.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a great Bordeaux, Napa Cab, crisp German Riesling or just about another varietal depending on the mood, but this girl’s heart belongs in Tuscany.

Too much wine too little time.  That’s my motto!  Of course, we all have that go-to wine, the one we love, or the one that’s simply safe.  If I can give you one piece of advice when it comes to wine, take a chance!  Life’s too short to be boxed in to one or two standard selections.  As my mom always said, “try something new, you might just like it.” 

With more than 5,000 grape varietals, it’s no wonder the occasional wine drinker gets a little intimidated when perusing the shelves of their local wine store.  There’s white, red, rose, sparkling and that’s just the beginning. 

If you go with a white – do you choose a Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Muscadet, or perhaps a  Riesling?

Or what about red?  Is it a Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, or even a Malbec?  We haven’t even talked about Old World or New World – feeling dizzy yet?

It’s no wonder people feel like they have a case of vertigo when attempting to make a simple selection to go with the sumptuous dinner that awaits them. 

It doesn’t have to be that way. Wine doesn’t have to be Pandora’s Box.  Your palate holds the key to unlocking the mystery and I am here to help. 

Like a great artist that turns a blank canvas into a masterpiece – we can use our palates to create our own work of art by marrying the perfect wine and food combination.

So tonight, I think I am going to whip up a blackened tuna steak with a black bean corn salsa and avocado cream sauce.  I think this one calls for a Russian River Valley Chardonnay.  Not into white?  Go for a nice Syrah instead.

  

Leave your GPS at home and let your palate be your guide!

Carpe Vino,

Crystal