Pair Up with La Sommelierre - October 2011
Soup Time!
October in northern California is often warm during the day and chilly at night. This menu addresses that dichotomy by starting with a cool white wine and finishing with a warm soup. This year, I am featuring a soup from the Dominican Republic, a country that shares the same island as Haiti in the waters between Florida and South America.
Start with an easy to find, aromatic white wine like torrontes, a hybrid of muscat of Alexandria and the mission grape. Argentina produces torrontes at great prices. Lush aromas and flavors such as peach, apricot and lychee are typical, and the moderate alcohol levels which will allow it to work with the Aleppo pepper in the Sautéed Shrimp and Mozzarella appetizer.
Sancocho de Frijoles is a bold soup that incorporates savory pork and slightly sweet, sweet potatoes and requires a wine with plenty of big flavors. A hearty Livermore Valley merlot, like the estate wine from the Wood Family Vineyards, will have just the right complementary peppery notes as well as a zippy acidity to stand up to the lime, vinegar and fresh herbs.
As usual, I make the trek through the Caldecott Tunnel to Kermit Lynch in Berkeley or DuVin Wines in Alameda to buy Vin du Bugey-Cerdon. It’s sweet, pink, bubbly nature makes it the only wine I pair with the super sweet chocolates of Halloween. This year try it with a Butterfinger. The salty, crunchy center creates a perfect harmony with the wine in both texture and flavor.
So, go on. Pair Up!
Find recipes online at www.lasommelierre.com
