La Sommelierre

Pair Up with La Sommelierre - January 2010

Italian Comfort

Casseroles are one of the best ways to warm you when it’s cold out. Here is a Cal-Italia menu, anchored by lasagna, guaranteed to make you toasty warm, transporting you to the hills of Tuscany. Start with a peachy, Prosecco ‘cocktail’ and finish with a rich, golden Vin Santo. This meal can be a romantic get-away for two (with easily freezable leftovers). Or serve the whole pan to feed a busload of twelve.

California citrus aptly represents Italy’s sunshine. Pick oranges or grapefruits, cut them into supremes and then scatter them over a bed of romaine lettuce. Drizzle with a tangy citrus vinaigrette and serve with a bubbly, peach Bellini (3 parts Prosecco to 1 part peach schnapps). Now that’s refreshing!

Next is a fundamental wine-and-food pairing that works nearly every time: regional foods with their regional wines. Italy proves this rule more than almost anywhere in the world. For example, the classic red wine of Tuscany, Chianti, is made primarily from high-acid Sangiovese grapes. The higher acidity will make it perfect with the tomato sauce found in the lasagna recipe listed here.

A simple but elegant finish to this Italian comfort meal is crunchy biscotti, a twice-baked cookie that can be found on most grocery store shelves. It is excellent for dipping into a tiny glass of sweet Italian Vin Santo or a cup of bitter Espresso.

So, go on. Pair Up!