August 2009 Recipe of the Month

All-Time Favorite Food and Wine Pairings

If there's one thing our staff spends a lot of time doing, it's trying out different foods with different wines. We asked each of our staff members who picked wines for this months' selections to tell us their all-time favorite food and wine pairing. Each one is a sure-fire recipe for a good night!

Chad Watkins: Tarte Flambee (Alsatian white pizza with onion and bacon) with Riesling

Kathy Brindle: Chicken fajitas with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

Phil Unger: Bryan Flannery's roast rib cap with Pinot Noir

Thomas McGarry: Braised short ribs with an aged Hermitage

Rick Bedkowski: Pork chops with Cotes du Rhone. Maybe a little applesauce

Laura Moorin: Mushroom risotto with Barollo

Cathy Wilkes: Sauteed foie gras and huckleberries with Muscat de Beaumes de Venise

Ivonne Nill: Pedro Ximenez Sherry generously poured over good vanilla ice cream.

Gary's Wine Club June 2009 Selection: 2008 Martinborough Vineyard Te Tera Pinot Noir

2008 Martinborough Vineyard Te Tera Pinot Noir
Grape variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Martinborough, New Zealand
Food pairing: Seared Ahi tuna with tomatillo salsa

A few years back, we discovered a small vineyard called Martinborough that was producing a very good Sauvignon Blanc from the eponymous appellation in New Zealand. Te Tera Sauvignon Blanc became a staple on our shelves, but it was only this year that the quality of their Pinot Noir came to our attention.

Perhaps it was the blessing of a very good growing season, or the able hands of winemaker Paul Mason, but whatever the cause, we've found Martinborough's 2008 Te Tera Pinot Noir to be a fantastic example of what New Zealand Pinot can be: at once light and silky, but also carrying deep chocolate and plum flavors that make it rich without heaviness. Ever humble, the winery gives much of the credit to the mercy of Mother Nature in this vintage. Excellent winter soil moisture combined with a very settled spring (to give us) some of the best flowering conditions we've ever seen. Glorious summer weather... minimal rainfall ... a dream season overall. If only Mother Nature were this kind all the time.


http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/new_zealand/09131.html

Gary's Wine Club June 2009 Selection: 2008 Momo Sauvignon Blanc

2008 Momo Sauvignon Blanc
Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: New Zealand
Food pairing: Pesto-marinated shrimp on the barbie

We tasted this new find in early March this year, prior to any press, and were pleasantly surprised. Admirably round in style with ripe citrus fruits, bright acidity, and not overtly herbaceous, as we find some New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs to be...this was going to be a hit. So seeing the summer months on the horizon, we bought what we could on the spot and set some aside for the June Wine Club. As it often happens, we were not the only ones that were impressed by the Momo. It appeared in the April 30th issue of Wine Spectator and was rated 90 points. A popular national restaurant chain jumped on board, pouring it by the glass, and suddenly only a limited amount was available. We thanked our lucky stars that we had already set some aside for you just in time. The perfect quaff as the mercury rises, we think you'll enjoy the grapefruit, tangerine and green melon flavors and the kicky, juicy finish.

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/new_zealand/08842.html

Gary's Wine Club June 2009 selection: 2008 Arona Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

2008 Arona Sauvignon Blanc
Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Marlborough, New Zealand
Food pairing: Red snapper with Thai green curry


After a rather long and drab winter, we're due for a summer full of color, don't you think? Fittingly, Arona is a Maori girl's name meaning "colorful." Not a bad start. Crack that bottle open, and you'll find just as much vibrant character within.

Bright, approachable, exuberant, and clean, this wine has been said to mirror its origin, the unspoiled South Island of New Zealand.

Never been there myself, but if the whole place happens to smell like passion fruit, nectarine, pineapple and just a little fresh cut grass, I'm willing to board the plane tomorrow.


http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/new_zealand/09433.html