Food and Wine Pairing Ideas

Wine and Food Pairing - Pinot Noir and Vinegar

2012-01-20T15:02:00.000-05:00

I learned something new about food and wine pairing from Food Network star Ted Allen in the Youtube wine video titled 'Robert Mondavi Discover Wine with Ted Allen: Vinegar.'

Allen suggests using a vinegar as a final seasoning for meats and pairing the dish with a Pinot Noir. He explains that the acidity of the vinegar brings out the fruitiness of Pinor Noir wine.

I have enjoyed Pinot Noir mostly with salmon, but I am eager to try serving this red wine with meats as well. The idea of using vinegar instead of extra salt to provide extra taste seems a healthier choice!

The video is available here: http://youtu.be/fPLudaXDfTQ

Would you add vinegar to food as a seasoning?

Robert Mondavi features more wine and food pairing videos on their YouTube channel atwww.youtube.com/RobertMondaviPS

Most-read Articles:Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

Weekday Dinner Red Wine Pairings

2011-02-23T07:26:00.000-05:00

Late Winter - Early Spring Wines

The temperatures are still below freezing most days here in Upstate New York and I find myself cooking in the evening, after the sun has set. I'm dreaming of spring temperatures, but snow is still on the ground.

What to drink?

For weekday meals, I need an inexpensive wine that can serve as both a match for my dinner and a pairing for simple appetizers I am snacking on while I prepare dinner.

Here are three choices that I have enjoyed lately -

Bogle Merlot - My boyfriend Arun picked up this wine, and I enjoy it's oaky notes and red berry flavor as much with dinner as I do by itself. I keep a bottle of this on hand as my 'crazy day at work must have a half glass immediately upon arriving home' wine. I also enjoy a glass with Kashi pizzas, especially the mushroom trio, though cheese or tomato based pizza is also a pleasant pairing.

'Alchemy' from Hunt Country Vineyards in Branchport, NY. I purchased this wine at Capital Wine and Spirits in Albany. Alchemy is mostly Cab Franc and Merlot, full details are here.

I was very impressed with this wine. I love Cab Franc from the Finger Lakes, but am wary of any other red wine. I need to get over my fears and explore more red wines from the Finger Lakes, because this one was well balanced and delicious. I brought the bottle to a potluck party. Hunt Country offers recipe pairings for many of their wines on their website.

And a sparkler - Gruet Methode Champenoise Brut from New Mexico. I buy this at Empire Wine in Colonie.

What does New Mexico know about wine making? Apparently alot, as this wine is elegant and quite tasty! I would recommend this wine as an everyday celebration wine, and a gift. I would also bring this wine to a potluck, the idea of sparkling wine from New Mexico is a conversation starter and when your friends find out the price, they will thank you for spilling your sparkling wine secret!

Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

How California Winemakers Prune Vineyard Grapes

2010-09-29T08:16:00.000-04:00

In this video from the California Food and Wine Alliance website, I speak with Mark Enlow from Tamayo Family Vineyards about the practice of pruning the second fruit from the vines.

I admired Mark's passion for all aspects of the winemaking process. He wants the best possible wines to come from Contra Costa County vineyards - even when they vines aren't his own!

What wine pairs best with vegetarian meal?

2010-09-14T08:06:00.000-04:00

Veggies & Vino! will spotlight the incredible agricultural riches of harvest season in the Hudson Valley—from great wines to a veritable cornucopia of fabulous vegetables. The event is the result of a partnership with volunteer students from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), who will design the recipes and prepare the food. The event will take place at Whitecliff in Gardiner, NY on Sunday, September 26, 2010.

Yancey Stanforth-Migliore, owner of Whitecliff, presented a selection of wines this summer to some of the students in the nutrition class of Jennifer Stack. Jennifer, who is Nutrition Instructor at the Culinary Institute, is volunteering to partner with Whitecliff on the event. Wines were chosen for variety of style, and include a range from dry to fruity, and light to full bodied. Five student teams have each select a specific wine, and are developing recipes to complement the wine based on foods that are fresh and in season in the Hudson Valley. Just before the September event, Stanforth-Migliore will take the students to meet with local farmers at Four Winds Farm and Talliaferro Farm, two fine local organic growers, to buy produce directly from the farm. At the event, the public will be invited to move between the various tasting stations to taste each wine with its paired recipe, and to speak with the students who designed them.

Jennifer Stack is Assistant Professor in Liberal Arts at the CIA, and is proprietor and executive chef of Cedar Hill Bed and Breakfast, right next door to Whitecliff in Gardiner. Whitecliff Vineyard is an eleven-year old Hudson Valley Winery with a 26-acre vineyard and a strong emphasis on grape-growing. Its European-style wines are featured in some of the region's best restaurants, including the CIA, Gramercy Tavern, and Xavier's, and its Riesling just won Best White Wine in Show at the prestigious San Francisco International Wine Competition.

Tickets at $19 in advance and $21 at the door are available for either of two seatings, at 2 pm and 4 pm. They include tapas sized food portions and tastes of five wines. Weather permitting, lawn seating will be available for the afternoon for $25. Whitecliff is located at 331 Mckinstry Road in Gardiner. For further information, call 845-255-4613.

Food and Wine Pairings with Hannah Nicole Wines

2010-09-07T08:21:00.002-04:00

I recently discussed wine and food pairing with Hannah Nicole Vineyards founders Neil and Glenda Cohn at the Contra Costa Wine Growers Summer Celebration.

Click here for the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTF0yOn9vyk

Drinking New York - Calendar for wine related events in New York state

2010-08-30T12:17:00.003-04:00

My friend Bill Dowd sent me the following message:

-----

DRINKING NEW YORK contains New York-centric news, tastings, event information and product debuts.

Please join me at http://drinkingny.wordpress.com for THE most comprehensive New York State drinks event calendar available anywhere (feel free to send in news of your events), plus some new features such as HANGOUTS, where you’ll be introduced to the trendiest spots opening up.

Upstate, Downstate, NYC Metro, Long Island ... Wine, liquor, beers ... They’re all fair game for inclusion on DRINKING NEW YORK.

-----

If you are planning a wine or beer country vacation in New York, check out his listing of New York's beverage trails here:
http://drinkingny.wordpress.com/nys-beverage-trails/

October 2010 Albany Schenectady bus tours to Finger Lakes wineries

2010-08-23T08:07:00.001-04:00

Wade Tours has two wine themed bus tours this fall.

The trip to the NY Wine and Culinary Center is Sunday, October 3, 2010.

The Wine Tasting in the Finger Lakes tour is Sunday, October 10, 2010. Wineries include Bellhurst Winery, Ventosa Vineyards, Zugibees & Three Brothers.

More information is at wadetours.com

Contra Costa California Wineries - Tamayo and Viano

2010-08-10T07:20:00.001-04:00

I had the pleasure of tasting wines from two Contra Costa County based wineries at a the recent Contra Costa Winegrowers Association "Summer Celebration."

Viano Vineyards in Martinez is a century-old vineyard producing several notable wines. I was thrilled to meet David Viano, a soft spoken man in dusty cowboy boots, certainly more comfortable in his vineyard than at the loud, bustling tasting room.

The Viano Chardonnay was the most classic example I tasted that day. I found that many of the other wines relied too heavily on new French oak. The Viano Chardonnay successfully balanced French Oak with the grapes' traditional fruity notes.

The Viano Petit Sirah offers a lower level of tannins than a Cabernet Sauvignon, making it a gentler wine and more accessible to wine drinkers that shy away from 'tannic fruit bombs' so famous in California. If a novice wine drinker enjoys Merlot, this would be a good first step towards widening of the palate.

I enjoyed the Viano Sangiovese. The Viano family has started with a quality plant stock. This wine shows the traditional flavor of a Sangiovese, with a silky smell, light tannnins and the proper level of acidity.

Tamayo wines were a pleasure to taste. I enjoyed the Tamayo Red. Usually, a winery's "house" red and white are forgettable glasses of wine from forgotten corners of the vineyard, but the Tamayo Red was a pleasant, smiling wine with a complex smell I savored for at least a minute before my first taste.

Mark Enlow, the vineyard's general manger, was very well spoken and told the story of Cana, Tamayo's flagship wine, with such eloquence I dare not try to paraphrase it here.
Find out more about Cana here: https://www2.ibgcheckout.com/tamayo/catalog/view_product.jsp?product_id=1065&cat_id=1002

What struck me about these two wineries is that they were far more like the small, family-owned Finger Lakes wineries I love than the massive, commercialized, 'amusement park' wineries that have become so successful in nearby Napa and Sonoma.

David and Mark really love the process of growing grapes and creating wine that is true to the Contra Costa area, and their passion expresses itself in their wines.

Finger Lakes Wine Country Free VIP Access Passport

2010-08-09T08:13:00.000-04:00

Finger Lakes Wine Country, New York is offering visitors a free Experience Passport. The passport will allow VIP access to private wine tastings and curator-lead museum tours.

To receive your free Experience Passport, visit the following webpage: http://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com/Plan_Your_Visit-Receive_More_Information.aspx

The Finger Lakes region includes Corning & Steuben County, Elmira & Mark Twain Country, Penn Yan & Yates County and Watkins Glen & Schuyler County.

Bounty of the Hudson Wine Festival wineries

2010-07-14T15:08:00.002-04:00

The Bounty of the Hudson Wine Festival is a Shawangunk Wine Trail event celebrating Hudson Valley Wines. The event is the only wine festival featuring 100% Hudson Valley Wines, restaurants and locally grown produce.

Visitors will enjoy tastings from over a dozen Hudson Valley Wineries.

Bounty of the Hudson Wine Festival will take place at Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery, 114 Little York Road in Warwick on July 24 and 25, from noon to 5pm each day. Tickets are $25 in advance and $39 at the door.

Attending Wineries include:

Adair Vineyards
Baldwin Vineyards
Brimstone Hill Vineyards
Glorie Farm Winery
Palaia Vineyards
Stoutridge Vineyards
Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery
Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery
Pazdar Winery
Robibero Family Winery
Cereghino Smith Winery
Millbrook Vineyards & Winery
Clinton Vineyards
Hudson Chatham Winery
Cascade Mountain Winery

Contra Costa Winegrowers Association "Summer Celebration" at Hannah Nicole Vineyards

2010-07-12T10:42:00.004-04:00

I am pleased to announce I will be a wine judge for the upcoming Contra Costa Winegrowers Association "Summer Celebration" at Hannah Nicole Vineyards.

I am honored, because I grew up in nearby Concord, CA.

The Contra Costa Winegrowers Association was created to promote grape growing and wine production throughout Contra Costa County, and establish it as a premium wine producing region.

In the Diablo magazine article, 'Wine Country in the Burbs,' Julie Miller Dowling traces the comeback of Contra Costa as an important winegrowing region in California.

Find out more about Contra Costa wines at Snooth: http://www.snooth.com/region/usa/california/contra-costa/

Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click Here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

2010 Long Island Wine & Food Festival

2010-06-18T08:57:00.000-04:00

At next week's Long Island Wine & Food Festival, guests will have the opportunity to learn about local flavors, tastes, sights and smells of Long Island’s wine country.

The three-day festival kicks off with an exclusive cocktail reception on June 25. On Saturday, June 26, attendees will experience the wines, food, and activities. The festival culminates Sunday, June 27 with a Grand Tasting in the historic village of Greenport, a working seaport since the 18th century.

To see the complete program of activities or to purchase tickets please visit: http://www.longislandwineandfoodfestival.com/

PARTICIPATING WINERIES:
Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard
Bedell Cellars
Bella Vita Vineyard
Brooklyn Oenology
Castello di Borghese
Channing Daughters
Clovis Point
Comtesse Therese
Diliberto Winery
Duck Walk Vineyards
Grapes of Roth
Harbes family Vineyard
Jamesport Vineyards
Jason's Vineyard
Lieb Cellars
Long Island Meadery
Martha Clara Vineyards
McCall Vineyards
Old Field Vineyards
Osprey's Dominion
Palmer Vineyards
Peconic Bay Winery
Pindar Vineyards
Roanoke Vineyards
Scarola Vineyards
Sherwood House
Shinn Estate
Sparkling Pointe
Suhru Wines
Waters Crest
Wolffer Estate

New York's Bounty of the Hudson Wine Festival 2010

2010-06-15T10:30:00.002-04:00

The Bounty of the Hudson Wine Festival will be taking place July 24th and 25th at Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery located at 114 Little York Road in Warwick, New York.

The festival will feature side-by side tastings from over 15 Hudson Valley wineries. Wines include Seyval, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Chef Janet from the French Culinary Institute will be demonstrating wine and food pairing with Hudson Valley wines and local produce.

Farm vendors Pennings Orchard, Ragowski Farms and Sprout Creek Farm.

Tickets for the Bounty are $25 plus tax in advance and $39 at the door. Festival hours are 12noon – 5pm each day. Tickets can be purchased at www.gunkswine.com

California Syrah and Food Pairings

2010-06-03T08:15:00.000-04:00

In the New York Times article 'Is There Still Hope for Syrah?' Eric Asimov bemoans the growing disinterest in California Syrah.

Syrah, like Riesling, is in the middle of an identity crisis. When a wine novice looks for a bottle of red wine, they don't know which California Syrah they are getting - a big, bold, fruity wine like Shiraz is in Australia, or a more nuanced, savory, complex wine, like those that come from the Rhone region in France.

Rhone style Syrah wine is a good match for game meats.

At the end of the article, Asimov mentions ten producers that make Rhone style Syrahs, including Bonny Doon, Failla and Qupe.

What style of Syrah do you prefer?

Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

best Beer and Food Pairings

2010-05-25T11:29:00.002-04:00

Men's Health offers a list of dinner ideas in their slideshow 'The Best Beer and Food Pairings.'

The article recommends a crisp beer like a pilsner or lager with pizza. Hosting a pizza and beer tasting sounds like a casual and fun way to gather friends on a warm summer evening. Choose smaller glasses to encourage guests to try several different beers and slice the pizza into smaller squares as well.

For an "adult campfire" dessert, consider smores paired a sweeter beer. I have enjoyed chocolate with a cherry lambic beer before.

Most-read Articles:Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click hereHow to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click HereWant to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Riesling and Food Pairings at Applewood Winery in Warwick, NY

2010-04-27T11:48:00.003-04:00

Applewood Winery, located at 82 Four Corners Road in Warwick, NY will hold their 2nd Annual New York Riesling Experience this Saturday & Sunday- May 1 & May 2 from 12 Noon – 5PM.

Participants will get the chance to taste a variety of Riesling styles, including Applewood's Dry & Sweet Riesling,a Dessert Riesling and a preview of a yet to be released Sparkling Riesling. Wines are paired with delectable treats selected and prepared by Chef Suzanne Donovan.

Tickets may still be purchased in advance at a discount thru Thursday $10 in advance $15.00 at the door. Visit the winery online at: www.applewoodwinery.com

Most-read Articles:

Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here

How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones?

Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Cheese Review: Etorki Cheese

2010-04-23T11:15:00.003-04:00

I received a handsome hunk of Etorki cheese from Ile de France the other day in the mail!

I cut the cheese into portions and shared with my friends. My friend Bernadette found the Etorki softer than she had anticipated, and mild with a nice saltiness. She would like to experiment with Etorki by adding it to a tart with fruit.

Wikipedia suggests that "those allergic to cow's milk, Etorki can be substituted for Gouda or Cheddar when cooking with cheese."

I enjoyed Etorki's nutty taste and soft texture. Ile de France describes the taste as similar to hazelnuts. This cheese melts well and would cube nicely and pair with a bold red wine, like Zinfandel, at a cocktail party.

Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here
Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Book Review: 100 Perfect Pairings

2010-04-16T13:32:00.002-04:00

I really missed California as I was thumbing through Jill Silverman Hough's book,'100 Perfect Pairings.' Hough, a teacher and food writer from Napa, CA, has put together a book featuring dozens of easy yet artful recipes and provides just enough wine pairing information to enable a food lover to select a wine with confidence.

The recipes that caught my eye were my kind of food - simple to prepare, but had just one or two ingredients that vaulted them from "that tastes good" to "ooh, what's in there." The fresh corn with citrus butter, a match for Sauvignon Blanc, adds the zest of an orange, lemon and lime to unsalted butter. Cinnamon cream cheese sandwiches are recommended as an afternoon pairing with a glass of Gewurztraminer. Syrah is a match for a salami, mozzarella, walnut and herb topped pizza.

The recipes are the star of this book, but I absolutely loved the way the author presented several essential food and wine pairing tips in the sections 'A Really Brief Discussion of Food and Wine Pairing,' and 'Fine Tuning Tips.' This part of the book, just a short four pages, gives food and wine pairing novices many of the tools I teach at my food and wine pairing classes.

The book is small enough to keep in the kitchen or bring to the grocery store. 100 Perfect Pairings would make a great gift for a new bride, a housewarming gift for a friend who loves to entertain, or a solid culinary addition to a wine lover's bookcase.

Most-read Articles:

Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here

How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Wine and Food Pairings from Cella Bistro

2010-02-26T09:47:00.003-05:00

Cella Bistro in Schenectady is hosting a wine dinner pairing New World wines from South Africa, New Zealand, Chile, Australia and California with "old school" foods on March 7, 2010.

The first course is soft polenta matched with Chenin Blanc from South Africa. Chenin Blanc is a white wine, and, according to the winery, Indaba Chenin Blanc has "tropical fruit aromas of pineapples, bananas and a touch of honey, as well as flavors of apple and citrus." I would guess that a fruity condiment would be a good match to the Chenin Blanc.

The second course is a twice baked goat cheese soufflé, green salad, caramelized pear and white balsamic vinaigrette matched with a Matua Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand. Sauvignon Blanc and goat cheese are a magical pairing for me! Sauvignon Blanc's from New Zealand tend to have rich fruit notes, so the wine will pair well with the caramelized pear as well.

The third course is a fettuccine carbonara with house cured and smoked bacon
paired with a Concho y Toro Carmenere from Casillero del Diablo, Chile. The rich dark fruit flavors in the Carmenere will complement the smoked bacon.

The fourth course is a cassoulet made with white bean and sausage with duck confit paired with a Pennfolds Shiraz/Cabernet blend from Koonunga Hill, Australia.

The fifth course is an Angus beef rib eye roasted on the bone and finished with housemade butter and fresh thyme paired with a Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel, from North coast, California.

Dessert is simple, a glass of Vidal ice wine, from Standing Stone Vineyards in the Finger Lakes, New York.

Most-read Articles:

Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here

How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Top 10 Valentine's Day wine and food pairings for chocolate dessert

2010-01-04T10:30:00.003-05:00

February is the perfect time to host a Valentine's Day dessert and wine pairing party. Serve the following wines and desserts together to see which match works best and give your guests some great dessert ideas for Valentine's Day and other special occasions!

Try these wines:

Moscato d'Asti
Brachetto
Riesling Late Harvest wine
Ruby Port
Banyuls

Try these foods:

Fresh berries and cream
Fresh Cherry Tart
Regular and Chocolate Cheesecake
Chocolate cake
Dark chocolate

Moscato d'Asti is full bodied and unctuous for a slightly sparkling wine and could be a good selection to please someone who thinks sparkling wine is far too dry for their tastes. It is a good match for the berries and cream.

Brachetto d'Acqui is an excellent match with dark chocolate and a good match with fresh cherry tart. It paired well with chocolate cake, even with a sugary frosting.

Banyuls is a good pairing with both the chocolate cheesecake and regular cheesecake.

Ruby Port is a good match with the dark chocolate as well as a chocolate oreo-type crust on a cheesecake. It matches well with cherry tart.

A glass of Royal Tokaji pairs well with cheesecake and chocolate cake.

Most-read Articles:

Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here

How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Best Wine Pairing Tips for Christmas, New Year's and Hanukkah

2009-11-30T10:14:00.002-05:00

Instead of hiring a caterer or cooking all week to serve complicated holiday treats, why not make this year's holiday party an opportunity for your guests to have a good time and take home some new favorite food and wine pairings to use in their own kitchens?

For a dinner party where the guests will be a mix of red and white wine lovers, I suggest buying a bottle or two of both a German or Finger Lakes Riesling and a Pinot Noir from Burgundy.

Riesling is a wine that many novice wine drinkers will be familiar with, and choosing a dry version will enable the wine to pair with a wide variety of seafood and white meats with fruit or cream based sauces.

Pinot Noir is a light, tasty red wine that can pair with many foods, especially meats with mushroom-based sauces. Encourage guests to try both wines with each dish and offer their impressions of which wine pairs best with each course.

Adding a wine and food tasting element to Hanukkah and Christmas parties can be as easy as purchasing a few dozen plastic wine glasses.

Instead of the traditional separation of food and drink, arrange a group of empty wine glasses next to a selection of finger foods. Place a handmade sign directing guests to try the 'Cabernet with the aged cheddar cheese' or the 'Sauvignon Blanc with the chips and mango salsa,' in front of the snacks and let guests choose their own wine and food pairing.

For more suggestions on appetizer pairings, watch my video on pairing wine with cheese:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XthfDWIeN_g

A perfect after-dinner wine for enjoying Hanukkah 'gelt' or the chocolate treats from the Christmas Stocking is Port. Port is a fortified wine and meant to be sipped and savored slowly, so portions are smaller than table wine. The residual sugar in Port wine allows the wine to pair very well with sweeter chocolate as well as nuts and savory blue cheeses.

For the adventurous wine drinker, chill a bottle of Brachetto d'Acqui. This is a slightly sweet red wine with a little sparkle in the glass. Brachetto pairs well with both chocolate and fresh strawberries.

New Year's Eve party wine and food pairings are focused on the drink of the night - sparkling wine!

Put out the classiest pairings early in the night and save the more interesting matches for after the ball drops. Champagne and other dry sparkling wines pair with salty and oily foods. Early evening snacks can include Caviar and a wide range of traditional hors d'oeuvres.

After midnight, get creative by inviting your guests to try their leftover bubbly with familiar favorites like potato chips, french fries, fried chicken and salted popcorn. For guests that like their wines a little sweeter, serve a bubbly Moscato d'Asti. This fruity sparkler pairs well with fresh fruit and berries with cream or other not-too-sweet desserts.

What are your favorite holiday food and wine pairings?

Most-read Articles:

Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here

How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

Thanksgiving food and wine pairings

2009-11-02T16:57:00.001-05:00

In an article for Bon Appetit entitled "The Best Wine for Your Thanksgiving Table" Heather John shares some great ideas for Thanksgiving food and wine pairings. Her tip - look to Spain for your Thanksgiving red and white wines.

Most-read Articles:

Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here

How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Chocolate and Wine Pairing for an Adult Halloween Party

2009-10-23T11:00:00.003-04:00

Sample the following wines and desserts together to see which match works best for your Halloween party!

Try these wines:

Moscato d'Asti
Brachetto
Riesling Late Harvest wine
Ruby Port
Banyuls

The pairing OPTIONS are:

Fresh berries and cream with Moscato d'Asti
Pineapple dessert with Moscato d'Asti and Riesling dessert wine
Apple-Citrus Custard Tart with Late Harvest Riesling Dessert Wine
Fresh Cherry Tart with Brachetto, Banyuls, and Ruby Port
Cheesecake with Banyuls
Chocolate cake with Brachetto, Ruby Port and Banyuls
Dark chocolate with Brachetto, Ruby Port and Banyuls

The Beni di Batasiolo Moscato d'Asti was especially full bodied and unctuous for a slightly sparkling wine and could be a good selection to please someone who thinks sparkling wine is far too dry for their tastes. It was a good pairing with the pineapple part of the dessert but too acidic when paired with the cake alone. It was a good match for the berries and cream, but tasted bitter when paired with the citrus custard tart.

My favorite wine of the night, the Marenco 2007 Pineto Brachetto d'Acqui Piedmont was an excellent match with dark chocolate and a good match with fresh cherry tart. It paired well with chocolate cake, even with the white frosting.

The Ey Banyuls was a good pairing with both the chocolate cheesecake and regular cheesecake. It was not a good match with the tart cherry pie and the chocolate cake tasted too dry when paired with the Banyuls. The wine overpowered the dark chocolate.

The Ruby Port was a good match with the dark chocolate as well as chocolate oreo-type crust on the cheesecake. It matched well with the cherry tart.

A glass of Royal Tokaji paired well with the cheesecake and the chocolate cake.

Most-read Articles:

Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here

How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

Unique Affordable Steak and Red Wine Wine Pairing

2009-10-23T10:57:00.001-04:00

In an eye opening article on Snooth.com, Gregory Dal Piaz reviews a classic food and wine pairing - steak and red wine. His tasting group came up with two surprises - they chose an 'underdog' cut of meat as their favorite type of steak and a 'left field' type of wine I tried only to fulfill the requirements of my Wine Century Club application! I am intrigued at the pairing of a flatiron steak with Pinotage wine.

Would you try this wine and food pairing at your next steak dinner?

Most-read Articles:

Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here

How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

Ideas for Finger Lakes Winery Vacation

2009-10-19T12:07:00.002-04:00

Do you like to visit the wineries in the New York Finger Lakes wine region? Let the Finger Lakes Wine Country e-Newsletter give you some great ideas for activities to do on your next Finger Lakes vacation!

Sign up here:

http://fingerlakeswinecountry.com/Plan_Your_Visit-Newsletter.aspx

Here are my Top Tips for a great Wine Country Vacation

Most-read Articles:

Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here

How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

How to learn about craft beer in Albany, NY

2009-10-05T11:56:00.005-04:00

Oktober is a great time to learn about beers from around the world. You're invited to join the Capital Beer Advocates as we learn about beers from around the world at the Westmere Beverage Beer Tour.

When: October 12, 2009 6:00 PM

Where:
Westmere Beverage Center
1756 Western Ave.
Albany, NY 12203
518-456-1100

You'll discover new beers just like Columbus discovered America if you join us on the "Beer Lover's Tour" of Westmere Beverage. Jeremy Hosier, manager of Westmere Beverage will be our Tour guide and lead an exciting walk-and-talk tour of craft beers from around the world.

All your beer questions will be answered!

RSVP to attend here:
http://www.meetup.com/beeradvocates/calendar/11551302/

Most-read Articles:

Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here

How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

Best Beer pairings for Oktoberfest party

2009-10-02T11:01:00.001-04:00

This slideshow from foodandwine.com features beer pairings that will make your oktoberfest party the talk of the town. The best pairing for me would be Open-Face Grilled Eggplant Sandwiches with Guinness.

Would you drink beer with dessert? The final pairing is Graham Cracker Ice Cream Sundaes with Raspberries served with a lightly sweet raspberry lambic.

Most-read Articles:

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Best wine to order at fancy restaurant like Centrico, Nobu or Tribeca Grill

2009-09-28T16:26:00.003-04:00

Millbrook Vineyards & Winery in the Hudson River Valley is hosting their 19th Annual Harvest Party on Saturday, October 10th from 12 - 4 pm.

The wine tasting dinner will feature signature dishes from three of the Myriad Restaurant Group’s best known restaurants – Centrico, Nobu and Tribeca Grill - all prepared by Tribeca Grill’s Executive Chef Stephen Lewandowski.

Reading over the menu of food and wine pairings is the best way to find wine pairings for famous dishes like Centrico’s Seafood Ceviche, Nobu’s Black Cod Miso and Tribeca Grill’s Braised Short Rib.

First Course
Centrico’s Seafood Ceviche with jalapeno, cilantro and lemon confit paired with 2008 Millbrook Tocai Friulano.

Second Course
Nobu’s Black Cod Miso matched with 2007 Millbrook Chardonnay "Proprietor's Special Reserve"

Third Course
Tribeca Grill’s Braised Short Rib with truffled celery root mousse, brown butter carrots and porcini mushrooms paired with 2007 Millbrook Pinot Noir "Proprietor's Special Reserve"

If you can attend, tickets are $135 per person. Call (845) 677-8383 ext. 17 for reservations.

Tribeca Grill carries Millbrook Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay Proprietor’s Special Reserve.

I am a big fan of Millbrook's Tocai Friulano, especially with spicy food. Learn more about this wine here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms3MsfAincY

Most-read Articles:

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Wine pairings with corn chowder, duck confit, shortribs and pork chop at Schenectady wine dinner

2009-09-25T09:56:00.002-04:00

Cella Bistro in Schenectady is having a Fall Harvest Wine Dinner on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 6:30 pm for $65 per guest, plus tax/tip.

The menu will include:

Smoked corn chowder with potatoes, pablanos, house cured bacon and roast lobster tail paired with Cosentino Chardonnay.

Shredded duck confit salad with Belgian endive, fennel, pear, shallot vinaigrette in filo-wrapped brie with Cosentino ‘The Franc’ Cabernet Franc.

Braised shortrib tortellini with brown butter, sage & parmeggiano reggiano matched with Cosentino ‘Il Chiaretto’ Sangiovese.

Maple brined pan roasted bone-in berkshire pork chop, sweet potato-chorizo hash, charred brussels sprouts with house smoked bacon, sherried leek and wild chanterelle mushroom sauce, cranberry orange relish matched with Cosentino ‘Cigar Zin’ Zinfandel and Cosentino ‘The Zin’ Zinfandel.

My friend Tamar Shahinian of Southern Wine and Spirits will be on hand to describe all the wines. She does an amazing job and will have you scrambling for a pen to record great wine and food pairing ideas.

Cella Bistro is located at 2015 rosa road in Schenectady. Call 518-381-2081 to reserve a seat.

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Finger Lakes Winery trip from Schenectady planned

2009-09-21T12:43:00.001-04:00

Wade Tours in Schenectady is offering a Progressive Wine and Food Tour on Friday, October 16, 2009. Included is a wine and food pairing experience at Ventosa Winery, Lunch and a wine tasting at Simply Red and dessert at Knapp winery. Tickets are $115 per person.

Most-read Articles:

Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here

How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

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California Sauvignon Blanc styles and party food pairings

2009-09-18T12:20:00.002-04:00

In the Snooth.com article 'California Sauvignon Blanc - Where it's at is where it's at,' Gregory Dal Piaz profiles the different styles of Sauvignon Blanc that hail from north of San Francisco in California.

Dal Piaz reports that Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc wines "tend to be rich and round with many emulating the slightly oaky style that one encounters in Bordeaux."

Lake County Sauvignon Blanc wines are usually, "large scaled, fruity wines" similar to those found in Southern Napa Valley.

Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc's are similar to the New Zealand style wines and Dal Piaz states that "many consider the Dry Creek Valley to be the best AVA for Sauvignon Blanc in the state." He also classifies Mendocino County Sauvignon Blanc wines as having a "crisp minerality."

I think that Sauvignon Blanc wines are excellent appetizer wines and party wines. Possible appetizer pairings include goat cheese, feta,pecorino and extra sharp cheddar paired with plain crackers on a cheese plate. Oysters,clams, grilled shrimp and cilantro based dips are also good matches.

A great party idea would be to choose a few different Sauvignon Blanc wines from different parts of Northern California and pair them with the appetizers above. Guests can vote on their favorite pairing and which wine they enjoyed the most.

Most-read Articles:

Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here

How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

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BBQ Salmon recipe food and wine pairing with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

2009-09-14T10:47:00.003-04:00

Last weekend was warm in Albany, NY so I think many wine and food lovers will fire up the BBQ one more time for the last cookout of summer.

What do you offer your friends who do not eat ribs or steak or burgers or chicken when the occasion is a backyard bbq?

St. Francis Winery in Sonoma, CA offers a recipe for Whole Grilled Salmon Fillet that serves all the salmon lovers in your family and can be made on the outdoors BBQ. St. Francis suggests pairing their salmon with a Chardonnay, but this recipe would pair equally well with a Pinot Noir.

Most-read Articles:

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Albany, Schenectady Bus Trip to Finger Lakes Wineries

2009-09-11T10:29:00.000-04:00

Wade Tours is offering a wine tasting daytrip on Friday, September 25, 2009. Customers will visit Fulkerson Winery, Bellhurst Winery, White Springs Winery and Fox Run Vineyards. Lunch will be served at Bellhurst, overlooking Seneca Lake. Tickets are $95 per person.

Most-read Articles:

Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here

How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Wines for Doctors - What Wines to Serve a Physician?

2009-09-08T10:19:00.002-04:00

I was recently contacted by Sheryl, who was looking for a selection of wines that would impress a group of physicians gathering for an alumni dinner. Here is my response:

Sheryl,
Thank for emailing me. Choosing wines is always great fun! Since your food choices are rather general, I will offer some suggestions that will pair with many types of recipes and concentrate on giving your audience an education on wine that they can pass on to their patients.

First, I would recommend a Pinot Noir from New York. I am sure that resveratrol is the subject of many patient inquiries, and a study has shown that due to our climate, New York red wines are high in resveratrol. The article is here:
http://www.news.cornell.edu/chronicle/98/2.5.98/resveratrol.html

The Niagara Escarpment is becoming famous for their Pinot Noirs, try to find a bottle from Warm Lake Estate. Two Finger Lakes producers I would recommend are Fox Run and Dr. Franks.

Pinot Noir will pair well with a lighter meat dish as well as a heavier fish dish, like salmon. Pinot Noir is an excellent wine to have on hand for "red wine only" drinkers that order the seafood, as it will stretch to pair with traditional white wine dishes.

For a white wine, many people will expect to see a Chardonnay. I adore all types of white wines, and if this were an audience of wine enthusiasts, I would steer you to a more unique white wine, but you want your audience to be happy, so I will offer them one option that even a novice can feel comfortable drinking.

I will make it educational by suggesting that you choose an organic wine for your white wine. Many consumers are trying to eliminate pesticides from their food, for health or environmental reasons. My friend Randy Caparoso evaluates Organic Wines at his website, Denver Wine Examiner.

His reviews recommend the 2007 Ceàgo del Lago Clear Lake Chardonnay or the 2006 Del Bondio Oakville Chardonnay.

For the meat eaters' red wine, I would go organic as well, and try an Organic Petite Sirah. Frey makes an award winning version with a minimum of sulfites. Many customers testify that Frey wine does not give them the headaches that other red wines do. Frey is a larger winery, but this will give your physicians the opportunity to suggest their wines to patients back at home if they enjoy them at the dinner.

If you have enough money to afford a wine for the dessert course, I would suggest wowing your audience with a perfect match for chocolate! Cinzano Brachetto from Italy is a sparkling red wine that pairs amazingly well with chocolate cake and other rich desserts.

Best of Luck on your dinner!

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Fox Run tasting menu wine and food pairings

2009-09-04T10:45:00.003-04:00

Fox Run Vineyards is offering a great opportunity to talk about wine and food pairings with a winemaker and a chef committed to using locally grown products in her cooking. Fox Run's Harvest Tastings will be on September 10 & 17 from 5:30-7:30pm at the winery.

Meet Chef Heather Tompkins and Winemaker Peter Bell while sampling four food and wine pairings.

The Harvest Tastings menu includes:

Grilled cantaloupe and scallop ceviche with Thai chili, basil and lime paired with the 2008 Reserve Riesling.

Dates stuffed with house smoked Muranda Colby wrapped in smoked bacon paired with the 2006 Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Franc is a wonderful food wine and grows well in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

Curried ginger sweet potato fritters with Wixon Fall honey paired with the 2007 Reserve Chardonnay.

Squash filled with Lively Run goat cheese and roasted red pepper-saffron coulis paired with the 2008 Pinot Gris.

Pinot Gris is a great match with goat cheese, as is Sauvignon Blanc. I recently tried a great goat cheese from Ile de France as a twist on the traditional mozzarella pizza. I added crumbled pieces of goat cheese to a tomato and spinach pizza with a tortilla crust. After baking in the oven, the goat cheese clumps added a tangy flavor to the traditional pizza taste.

Most-read Articles:

Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here

How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Learn How to Be a Winemaker - luxury vacation in the Finger Lakes or Long Island

2009-08-31T09:57:00.002-04:00

These are way out of my budget range, but might be the perfect opportunity for a couple looking for a truly hands on winemaking experience!

Heart & Hands Wine Company, in the Finger Lakes wine region, is holding a 'Crush Camp' this October. Seven individuals will have the opportunity to participate in harvest and winemaking activities from October 1st through October 5th, 2009. Based on the timing of the grapes, Crush Camp participants will likely perform the following activities alongside the winemaking team of Susan and Tom Higgins: picking fruit, sorting grapes, daily punchdowns, lab analysis, pressing grapes, and plenty of cleaning.

Participants will stay at the E.B. Morgan House in Aurora, NY and dine at the Aurora Inn, Red Newt Bistro, and Pumpkin Hill Bistro. Crush Campers will receive 6 bottles of wine from the 2009 harvest upon release and a special gift bag.

The package costs $2495 per person, single occupancy, and $1795 per person double occupancy, plus local taxes. The package includes all meals and a four night stay at the E.B. Morgan House. Please see www.heartandhandswine.com for additional details or call the winery at(315) 889-8500.

Surprisingly, Wine Camp, a 4-day adventure in wine country on the beautiful North Fork of Long Island is a comparitive bargain at $899 a person.

The vacation includes:

* Premium wine country accommodations for three evenings
* Interactive learning sessions
* Tastings of wines from eight different wineries
* Dinner the first evening at The North Fork Table and Inn
* Breakfast each morning
* Al fresco lunches in the vineyards
* An elegant ‘Food & Wine’ Pairing Event at Castello di Borghese. This five course dinner, paired with six wines is created by Wine Camp Executive Chefs, Steve and Lia. Ann Marie and Marco Borghese personally host the food and wine dinner.

Wine Campers participate in hands-on learning experiences in the vineyards and wine cellars, working with winery owners and winemakers. Each couple also recieves a case of wine.

This program includes many of the region's award winning wineries:

* Bedell Cellars
* Castello di Borghese
* Corey Creek Vineyards
* Jamesport Vineyards
* The Lenz Winery
* Peconic Bay
* The Old Field Vineyards
* Paumanok Vineyards

For more information on Wine Camp, visit WineCamp.org

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Hudson Valley Food and Wine Pairing Dinner in a real wine cellar!

2009-08-28T09:47:00.003-04:00

Dust off your fall jackets, Brotherhood Winery is offering their very popular Candlelight Cuisine program again this year.

Chef Shawn Hubbell pairs three dishes with Brotherhood wines. Dinner is served by candlelight in their underground cellars.

At $35 per person, this is a steal for a complete wine dinner. Advance reservations are required, and each session sells out and has a waiting list. Dinners begin at 7:30pm on September 11th and 25th.

Shawn was kind enough to offer some food and wine pairing advice after a food and wine pairing class at Brotherhood last year, the video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BU-L36U_TU

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

First date ideas for Albany and Schenectady, NY

2009-08-24T14:05:00.003-04:00

Choosing a wine from a wine list for a group of friends can be a little scary, even for a wine lover, so imagine the stress in a first date situation! Here are my favorite local restaurants with that offer the best wines at reasonable prices, and ideas for what to do after a date if you do not want the night to end early.

Want to break the ice before dinner? I love visiting the Good Leaf tea shop at 274 Lark Street in Albany. Michelle Marks offers a tea smelling bar that will get the both of you sniffing different types of teas. Choose your tea and play checkers or ask each other questions from the trivial pursuit card deck as your tea is brewing. Ask your date why she likes the tea she choose and what memories she has when she smells different teas.

dp at 25 Chapel Street in Albany is the perfect place for a meat and potatoes guy to take his "I love foreign food" date to dinner. He can order a burger or steak while the lady can enjoy some of the Indonesian food on the menu. The wine list is very good, and owner Dominick Purnomo is usually available to suggest a wine that will match the cuisine. White wine drinkers will love dp, as Purnomo believes that Riesling can pair with any dish on his menu. Ask your date what she enjoys about foreign cuisine and if she has any favorite restaurants. When is the first time she tried sushi, pad thai or indian food?

If the night is still young, consider walking down the street to the pedestrian bridge and taking a stroll in the Corning Preserve. Ask your date if she has always lived around Albany, and if she ever went boating, rafting or waterskiing.

Schenectady

Cella Bistro at 2015 Rosa Road in Schenectady is known for their list of 20 wines under $20. The food is creative and excellent, but the best part for me is that feeling of luxury when I am able to order an entire bottle of wine for the table. Diners can take the traditional route and order two entrees, or get creative and order 5 or 6 tapas plates and have fun tasting and talking about several different types of food. A first date is really about breaking the ice and getting the conversation rolling, so my advice is to try the tapas and ask your date about her favorite foods when she was a child.

If the night is young, drive to Schenectady's Central Park and take a stroll in their Rose Garden. Which rose color is her favorite? What roses smell the best to her?

If it is summer, the best place for dessert is right over the Mohawk River - Jumpin' Jacks! There may even be a concert in Freedom Park!

Please add your first date ideas in the comments below.

How to taste more flavors in a wine - with Deodorant?

2009-08-21T09:42:00.003-04:00

I got a chance to taste a glass of Riesling with a friend at a recent trip to dp in Albany. Bernadette enjoyed the wine but couldn't pick out the flavor she liked. I swirled and smelled it and immediately recognized the sweet, fruity smell of apricot. As soon as I said Apricot, Bernadette agreed, but expressed frustration that she can rarely pick out wine aromas by herself. She is an excellent cook, so I explained to her that the wine lovers knack for picking up wine aromas is similar to the talent she has in the kitchen of knowing which spice to add to a dish.

Summer is the best season to improve your wine palate, because the fruits and vegetables aromas that are present in wines are also available in the local farmers market. But even if it's not summer, I can remind my nose of the scent of wine aromas by using jams, jellies, and even deoderant!

How can you learn how to smell more aromas in wine?

My shopping list and top tips for improving your wine palate are at 'Two Tips for Improving Your Wine Palate.'

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

What wine is the best pairing for Wasabi and seafood?

2009-08-17T15:28:00.000-04:00

My fellow CSW Holly Howell offers her favorite wine pairing for seafood in the FingerLakesWine.com article 'Seafood appreciates good wine.'

My favorite pairing is Jimmy's favorite, Kendall Jackson Chardonnay with a clambake. Holly also answered a pairing question that I have had for a few years - what to pair with a spicy wasabi crusted seafood dish? She recommends Gewurztraminer with Wasabi Crusted Tuna.

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

How To Order a Bottle of Wine in a Restaurant

2009-08-14T15:17:00.002-04:00

Here is an informative video on how to evaluate, accept and taste a bottle of wine at a restaurant.

Laura Jensen from Wine Spectator asks Juliette Pope New York's Gramercy Tavern several important wine service questions, including, What do do with the cork, what to look for on the wine bottle when it is presented, what to look for when smelling and tasting the sample of wine, how and when to send a wine bottle back and request a new one and how much to tip on wine service.

View the video here: http://www.winespectator.com

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Rose wine and food pairings

2009-08-10T11:22:00.003-04:00

A recent Red Newt Cellars and Bistro Winemaker's Dinner featured Finger Lakes rosés.

The menu included:

An appetizer of Flatbread with currant jam, duck confit, Old Chatham Ewe's Bleu cheese, basil and parmesan was paired with Heart and Hands 2007 Brut Rosé.

A rose-friendly salad of Green lentils, roasted corn, and organic field greens with a cherry balsamic vinaigrette was paired with Sheldrake's 2007 Dry Rosé.

Grilled bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin stuffed with cherries, garlic chevre and chard and a cherry-rosé wine sauce, served with roasted garlic grits and seasonal vegetable was paired with Red Newt Cellars 2008 Dry Rosé.

Apricot flan was also paired with a rose for dessert.

I have found a great pairing for a dry Rose - tangy, tasty Pissaladiere, an Anchovy and Onion Tart.

A classy Merlot food pairing!

2009-07-31T16:36:00.003-04:00

According to FingerLakesWine.com, "Merlot and Mignon" is the next offering in Keuka Spring Vineyards' summer wine education series.

The event will feature a tasting of vintages of Keuka Spring Merlot paired with a mignon appetizer sandwich. Guided tastings will be held in small groups on the winery’s terrace overlooking Keuka Lake (weather permitting).

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. A fee of $8 includes a tasting and a souvenir wine glass as well as a mignon appetizer pairing plate of filet mignon with co-owner Len Wiltberger's Merlot-based sauce.

Merlot lovers have had to deal with bad press ever since sideways - now they can enjoy their favorite wine at dinner with a very classy entree - Filet Mignon!

Classes on how to start a vineyard and make your own wine in New York

2009-07-27T10:42:00.002-04:00

The New York Wine and Grape Foundation newsletter recently profiled
the following home wine making courses -

Ed Kwiek, the owner of Woods Wine-Backyard Vineyard Consulting will soon offer a series of classes at the New York Wine & Culinary Center on how to start and operate a backyard vineyard. The classes include an introductory session followed by Planning and Cost Estimating; Cultivar and Trellis Selection, Pruning and Training; and Harvest, Crush, Fermentation, and Press.

The American Wine Society, a national consumer organization with a focus on home winemaking, is sponsoring a one-day seminar on August 1, 2009 at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County on Home Winemaking. Ed Kwiek will lead off with the backyard vineyard summary, joined by several active winemakers and Cornell professionals on many aspects of winemaking including a case study on Riesling and Starting a Winery.

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Bounty of the Hudson Wine Festival

2009-07-24T15:46:00.000-04:00

Mark your calendars - the Bounty of the Hudson Wine Festival is being held this August 1st and 2nd, 2009 from Noon to 5pm at the Millbrook Winery, located at 26 Wing Road in Millbrook NY. Tickets are $25 plus tax in advance or $35 plus tax at the gate.

Every winery on the Shawangunk Wine Trail is participating, as well as several others from around the Hudson Valley region. Sample a selection of Enjoy dishes from area restaurants, epicurean delights, farm fresh produce, cooking workshops and live music.

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

What foods go with Sauvignon Blanc?

2009-07-20T11:31:00.001-04:00

In the Sommelier Journal article 'Cooks love Sauvignon Blanc,' Joyce Goldstein tells readers that "Sauvignon Blanc is a dependable workhorse for seafood starters and a savior for wine-challenging salads of lettuces and bitter greens, radishes, citrus segments, fennel—even artichokes and asparagus."

Goldstein offers a list of Sauvignon Blanc friendly food pairings and gives readers the recipe for Scallop, Orange, and Fennel Salad with Peppery Citrus Dressing.

I enjoy Sauvignon Blanc with seafood dishes and especially with a simple appetizer of tangy Goat Cheese on a plain cracker.

Have you paired Sauvignon Blanc and food? What was your favorite pairing?

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Best Wine Movies!

2009-07-17T16:36:00.001-04:00

FingerLakesWine.com profiles six wine related movies. For me, a great vineyard themed movie like Bottle Shock would be a perfect choice after a romantic wine and food pairing dinner.

What is your favorite movie about wine?

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Learn about Food and Wine Pairing in the Hudson Valley

2009-07-13T12:15:00.003-04:00

Applewood Winery in Warwick, NY is hosting a Food and Wine workshop on Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 2:00pm

Students will learn the basics of food & wine pairing. This class will take place in the Applewood Pavilion and reservations are required.

The fee is $20.00 per person. To reserve your spot, call Applewood at 845-988-9292.

July 2009 events in the Finger Lakes for Dog Lovers!

2009-07-10T10:06:00.003-04:00

FingerLakesWine.com reports that two wine-related events in July will focus on dogs.

The fourth annual Grapehounds Wine Tour will be held at Finger Lakes Creek Cabins at 2382 Parmenter Road near the village of Lodi, Seneca County. The event will be from July 23-26 and include wine tasting, food, music, and seminars on dog health and behavior, with proceeds benefiting greyhound adoption organizations.

Admission is $10 for adults Thursday, Friday or Saturday; children younger than 18 will be admitted free. On Sunday, admission is free for all.

At 9 a.m. Sunday, greyhounds and their owners may participate in a ranger-guided walk to Taughannock Falls, a 215-foot waterfall in a state park north of Ithaca.

Go to www.grapehounds.com to register.

On July 23-26, 2009 the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail will host the Pets, Art and Wine (P.A.W.) event. Sixteen wineries along the trail will offer wine tastings, lawn concerts, seminars and dog land and water demonstrations.

Want to use wine to create delicious
meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive KathleenLisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

How to Cook with Leftover Beer

2009-07-06T15:54:00.000-04:00

It's Sunday morning, and you've got a cup of leftover dark beer from last night's festivities. Should you toss it down the drain?

I found this recipe in the Albany Times Union recipe box blog. "Brewing French Toast" gives the ingredients for a French Toast recipe that will take care of your hunger and that leftover beer at the same time!

Let the bread slices soak while you clean up the house, and have a delicious breakfast and a bit of the "hair of the dog" at the same time!

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Beer and Food Pairing advice for picnics and BBQ

2009-06-22T13:37:00.001-04:00

Brew Monkey offers an excellent article about pairing beer and food, including pairings for popular dishes like pizza, pasta, salads and dessert.

A picnic or BBQ is a great opportunity to try out a beer and food pairing on your friends and family. Have them try their favorite dish with their beer of choice, then with a beer "pairing" to see which one they prefer!

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive KathleenLisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

How to Serve Cheese in Summer - Salads, Burgers and on the Grill!

2009-06-19T09:42:00.001-04:00

Domenica Marchetti offers over a dozen suggestions for your summer cheese platter in the Washington Post article, 'Summer Cheeses - Get to know these 13 cheeses, each with seasonal charms suited to warm weather.'

The article offers cheeses that can go on summer salads, melted on burgers, eaten for dessert or, most interestingly, be grilled straight on the BBQ and served a little melted and gooey.

Would you grill cheese at your next BBQ?

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Red and white wine pairings with an Argentinian steak

2009-06-15T13:31:00.002-04:00

In the Dallas Morning News article 'Wine panel: Vintages from South America cozy up to grilled beef and chimichurri,' Tina Danze explores red and white wine pairings with an Argentinian steak dish.

This recipe is especially exciting because both red and white wine drinkers can enjoy this food and wine pairing.

Danze recommends serving the charcoal-grilled flank steak with both a full bodied, buttery Chardonnay and a rich and fruity Argentine malbec or an Old-World style Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile.

The wines match the spices in the chimichurri sauce, which is made with Italian parsley, cilantro, roasted garlic, lemon and lime juice, champagne vinegar, dried oregano, dried tarragon, dried bay leaves, cayenne pepper, hot Spanish paprika, red pepper flakes and roasted red bell pepper.

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Belgian Beer and food pairings

2009-06-12T09:55:00.001-04:00

In an article for the Toledo Blade titled, "Belgian Cuisine: Napoleon couple pair food and beer," Katie Smith lets Napoleon, Ohio brewmaster Bob Hall explain his favored beer and food pairings for a 'Bistro in Brussels' theme dinner.

Hall served a sausage and cheese platter with Hoegaarden Blanche.

Waterzooi, a Belgian seafood chowder, was paired with Saison Dupont from Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown.

Carbonnade a la Flamande with venison was matched with a Westmall Trappist Dubble, and

A dessert of chocolate mousse was served with a Lambic beer.

Last year I visited Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY and chatted with the brewmaster Phil Leinhart about possible food pairings with their Belgian-style beers.

His pairing suggestions are here:
http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2008/05/food-and-beer-pairings-from-brewery.html

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Scotch and Food Pairings

2009-06-08T12:09:00.001-04:00

My friends at Empire Wine are having a Scotch Tasting on Saturday, June 13, 2009.

You are invited to sample from over 50 single malts including:
Macallan (10year, 12year, 18year), Glenlivet (12year, 15year, 18year, 21year), Glendiddich (15year, 18year & 21year), Johnnie Walker (Black, Gold, Green, Blue), Laphroaig (10year, 15year), Highland Park (12year & 18year), Talisker, Oban, Balvenie (12year Doublewood, 15year, 17year Rum Cask, 21year Portwood) Ardbeg, Dalmore, Scapa, and many others!

Stop by on Saturday, June 13th from 12-6 p.m. at Empire Wine at 1440 Central Avenue in Albany, NY

Here is a history of Scotch Whisky - http://www.whisky.com/history.html

The Star Spirits article 'Scotch Steps Forward at the Table' by Jim Clarke features recipes and suggestions for food pairings with Scotch - http://www.starchefs.com/wine/starspirits/html/scotch/scotch.shtml

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Why decant wine?

2009-06-01T09:21:00.002-04:00

In the L.A. times article 'Wine decanting: Give wines some air,' W. Blake Gray discussed the benefits of decanting or aerating wines before serving.

Most interesting to me was the comment by Andrew Waterhouse, chairman of the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis, that a closed wine is actually the presence of "sulfur compounds that ... cover up the fresh fruit aromas you want to smell," not the absence of scent in the wine.

When a wine drinker lets a wine breathe, the compounds get a chance to reform into the smells that are advertised on the back of the wine bottle.

The article ends with advice about choosing the correct wine glass.

Here is a video on How to Choose the Correct Wine Glass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSVMX73Td68

Do you decant all your wines?

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What white wine with red meat?

2009-05-29T09:46:00.001-04:00

In the Telegraph article 'Matching wine and food with Gary Rhodes - Be bold with your wine selection and turn a good meal into an unforgettable one,' Catalina Stogdon shares wine and food pairing advice from Stella wine columnist Susy Atkins and Chef Gary Rhodes.

I am especially interested in Atkins' opinion that most meats can be paired with fruity whites. This is great news for wine drinkers who prefer white wines but are bound by the outdated thinking that ALL red meats must be paired with a red wine.

Have you paired a meat dish with a fruity white wine?

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Vegetarian match with Shiraz

2009-05-22T12:58:00.001-04:00

What do you do when you are cooking for meat eaters and vegetarians and the wine to match is an Australian Shiraz? Australian Shiraz's are boldly flavored red wines that match well with meat. But what if you have a vegetarian at the table? This recipe for Penne pasta with Manchego cheese and Mushrooms will pair with the Shiraz and enable all your guests to enjoy dinner with the same wine!

The earthiness of the recipe, which includes mushrooms, shallots, chives and Manchego cheese, matches the bold flavors of the Shiraz wine.

Tip: Buy extra Manchego cheese and offer it as an appetizer for all your guests with crackers!

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

How to get your husband to visit a winery with you!

2009-05-22T12:55:00.001-04:00

A treat in the Spring 2009 Issue of Hudson Valley Wine Magazine, 'From the Ice Age to a new age; Grapes, wine and the Hudson River valley' by Carlo De Vito is a great historical article on the origins of the Hudson Valley Wine Region. Print this article out or grab a free copy of the magazine and slip it under the nose of your history buff or budding minerologist to get him/her interested in going with you on a wine tour of the Hudson Valley!

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Wine and food pairing ideas from Dr. Frank's wine and food pairing ideas Vinifera Wine Cellars

2009-05-18T10:11:00.002-04:00

Wine and food pairing ideas from Dr. Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars!

Dr. Frank Dry Riesling 2007 can be served with lobster, shellfish and pork dishes.

Dr. Frank Semi Dry Riesling 2007 can be matched with lightly spiced foods or slightly sweet desserts.

Dr. Frank Rkatsiteli 2007 can be served with strongly flavored foods, such as Thai, Indian and Cajun dishes.

Dr. Frank Merlot 2007 pairs with pasta, grilled meat, and sausage.

Salmon Run Cold Brook White 2008 is a fifty percent Riesling and fifty percent Chardonnay wine that can be paired with seafood, poultry and lighter fare.

Dr. Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars
9749 Middle Road
Hammondsport, NY 14840

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Great New York Wine gift for history buffs and boaters!

2009-05-18T10:08:00.001-04:00

Several Hudson Valley wineries will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the Hudson River with a Quadricentennial Commemorative Wine Label! The wines will be made from 100% Hudson Valley-grown grapes or fruit.

Participating wineries include:

- Adair Vineyards, New Paltz
- Applewood Winery, Warwick
- Benmarl Winery, Marlboro
- Brookview Station Winery, Castleton-on-Hudson
- Brotherhood Winery, Washingtonville
- Hudson-Chatham Winery, Ghent
- Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, Millbrook
- Palaia Vineyards, Highland Mills
- Pazdar Winery, Scotchtown
- Silver Stream Winery, Monroe
- Stoutridge Vineyard, Marlboro
- Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery, Warwick
- Whitecliff Vineyard, Gardiner

The wine labels will have the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial-themed logo, “ExploreNY400.”

The Hudson River Region is the oldest winemaking region in the country with its grape growing origins dating back to the discovery of the river by Henry Hudson in 1609. The earliest vineyards in the country are attributed to the French Huguenots who settled in present-day New Paltz, Ulster County. There are now over 30 wineries located in the region on both sides of the Hudson River.

This is a great opportunity to give a history buff or boating enthusiast a clever and unique gift. I have always been wary of purchasing a no-name wine just because of the clever label, but this promotion will let me purchase a quality bottle of wine from a Hudson Valley winery I already trust.

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Meet Hudson Valley Winemakers!

2009-05-15T12:01:00.001-04:00

News From the Shawangunk Wine Trail:

You are invited to join the Shawangunk Wine Trail members and other Hudson Valley Wineries in the "Hudson Valley Wine & Culinary Food Pairing Dinner - A Celebration of Hudson Valley Wine" to be held June 12 at Terrapin Catering located at the Dinsmore Golf Course in Staatsburgh, NY at 7pm.

This dinner is open to the public and we invite you to come dine with the winemakers and winery owners of the Shawangunk Wine Trail and other Hudson Valley Wineries. The winning wines from the recent Hudson Valley Wine Competition will be paired with a 3 course dinner and the best of category wines will be served during cocktail hour.

Tickets are $85 per person and include dinner, wine, tax and gratuities. More info on the dinner can be found at http://www.scribd.com/doc/14679132/Celebration-of-Hudson-Valley-Wines

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

How to visit the Canandaigua Wine Trail

2009-05-15T11:53:00.001-04:00

FingerLakesWine.com reports that The Canandaigua Wine Trail is hosting Spring Sips & Savors from noon to 5 p.m. May 31. The self-guided tour to seven wineries and wine centers features wine and food pairings, wine tastings, tours and more.

Featured wineries include Casa Larga Vineyards, Widmer Wine Cellars, Imagine Moore Winery, Wilhelmus Estate Winery and Arbor Hill Grapery & Winery.

Tickets are $20, $35 per couple, and are available at all Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. as well as at the wineries and wine centers on the day of the event. For more information, go to www.canandaiguawinetrail.com or call (877) 386-4669.

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Wine and Food Pairings for Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc

2009-05-11T11:11:00.003-04:00

Santa Rosa based Saint Francis Winery is having a wine pairing dinner in San Francisco at the Pier 39 Fog Harbor Fish House on May 21. Though San Francisco is a little far for Albany, NY wine lovers to travel for a wine dinner, we can learn some wine and food pairing tips from their menu.

Keep this match in mind the next time you are preparing appetizers for a party - Smoked salmon bruschetta with Sourdough chip, dill cream; and Roasted Eggplant tapenade with Goat cheese, corn tortilla chip can both be matched with St. Francis Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County, 2007. Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent light white wine to offer at the start of a party. Guests will be moving around and white wines don't stain carpet as much as red wines can!

A Fresh Dungeness Crab salad with organic arugula, lemon-extra virgin vinaigrette and a citrus salsa is matched with St. Francis Chardonnay, Sonoma County, 2006. Chardonnay is a good match with crab, and a 'safe' wine that most guests will enjoy.

A Chili seared shrimp fettuccini with Maytag blue cheese sauce and fresh tomatoes will be matched with St. Francis Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, 2005. The strong flavors of the chili, blue cheese and tomatoes are matched with a strong red wine.

Braised beef short ribs with a creamy polenta and caramelized shallots are served with a glass of St. Francis Pagani Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley, 2005. Zinfandel is a classic California wine, and the bold flavors pair with the meaty flavor of the ribs and the creaminess of the polenta.

Have you been to a wine dinner? What was your favorite pairing?

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Finger Lakes Winery food and wine pairing - Porterhouse Steak

2009-05-08T11:34:00.001-04:00

Long Island wine write Lenn Thompson recently interviewed one of my favorite winemakers - Chris Stamp of Lakewood Vineyards in Watkins Glen, NY. Learn more about Chris and find out his ideal wine pairing for a dinner of porterhouse steak with avocado sauce at the LennDevours blog.

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

How to read a wine list

2009-05-04T13:40:00.002-04:00

In the article, 'Take Control Of The Wine List,' Wine Coach Laurie Forster explains how to navigate wine lists that are organized by varietal, geography or progressively according to the body of the wine.

Forster says that geographic and grape varietal lists account for 80% of restaurant wine lists, but the progressive list may be a growing trend for the future.

If I was handed a wine list full of unfamiliar wines, I would prefer to choose from a progressive wine list, so I could select a wine according to the meal I was choosing for lunch or dinner.

What is your favorite type of wine list?

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

What food to serve with Rioja wine

2009-05-01T11:22:00.000-04:00

Will you be enjoying Latin cuisine on Cinco de Mayo?

Vibrant Rioja offers a list of food pairings for wines from the Rioja region of Spain!

Here are their suggestions:

Rioja Blanco pairs with green salad, shrimp cocktail or shellfish.

Barrel Fermented White Rioja matches with richer fish (salmon, tuna),shellfish and things that actually have fruit in them (mango salsa for example).

Rioja Tinto Joven pairs with beef or turkey.

Rioja Tinto Crianza is a match for whole roasted fish, beef and pasta.

Rioja Tinto Reserva can be served with with lamb, risotto, pork, ratatouille.

Rioja Tinto Gran Reserva matches with fall and winter stews, sautéed
mushrooms and game birds, including duck, venison and pheasant.

what dishes have you had that paired well with a Rioja wine?

I love Enchiladas and Rioja Wine!

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

How to Study for the CSW Test - Australian wines

2009-04-27T12:20:00.002-04:00

I offered advice on studying for the CSW exam in this post from 2007: Certified Specialist of Wine Exam - How I Studied for the Society of Wine Educators CSW exam

In this post, I offered the following advice for learning about the different winemaking countries:

Read Wine Spectator and Go on Wine Shop Field Trips – I used the tasting notes in the back of issues of Wine Spectator to quiz and familiarize myself on wine regions, particularly Australian wine regions. I went to my local wine shop and looked at the different wine labels from around the world, particularly for Germany. The wines from those countries were unfamiliar to me, so the hands-on experience with labels and tasting notes helped me to learn geography and wine laws.

I recently received the following email from a prospective CSW:

I'm working toward becoming a CSW... I'm contacting you because I found your advice blog online about the exam and I had a question if you don't mind. The only information that I'm having trouble with are things like the soil, climate, and topography of the many many wine growing regions and wine zones of places like Australia, for example. I can remember places with unique characteristics ... I can't seem to assimilate the places with standard characteristics. Is this something I should be worried about or should I focus more on history, chemistry, major regions, etc?

I do remember very specific questions about wines and wine regions on the test, so this is an essential part of studying for the CSW exam. I learned about Australian wines by visiting wine shops and looking at the wines from Australia. For me, putting a bottle of Coonawarra wine in my hands and reading the back was a powerful way of associating the fact that the famous Cabernet Sauvignon wine grapes from this region on the Limestone Coast of South Australia are grown on "terra rossa" soil. A bottle of Riesling from the Clare Valley will remind me that the altitude of this wine region ensures cool nights even during the heat of summer allowing the fruit to ripen more evenly and slowly - which is why they can sucessfully grow Riesling!

In addition to touring a wine shop, I recommend watching the fun Youtube Wine shows from Wine Week. Danny and Brad talk about Australian wines, giving potential CSW's another chance to connect the wine regions of Australia with the wines they produce.

Do you have any suggestions for how to study for the CSW Exam?

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Is airline wine worth buying on your next flight?

2009-04-27T10:33:00.001-04:00

A great video to answer that silly question I've always had in the back of my mind - how does airplane wine taste to a wine expert?

WineLibrary TV's Gary Vaynerchuck puts a Cabernet Sauvignon to the test on a Southwest flight to Vegas.

Hot tip - Vaynerchuk says the saltiness of the peanuts improves the wine!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5iSZgH-szM

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Dr. Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars is open for business after fire!

2009-04-24T10:01:00.002-04:00

A Letter from my friend Fred Frank:

On April, 21 at approximately 8:30 pm Dr. Frank's auxiliary tasting room was destroyed in a fire. Thankfully, no one was harmed; we are very grateful to the local fire department for their quick response. Their reaction kept the fire from spreading to other close buildings on the property.

The night of the fire many reports were made that the entire winery was consumed in the fire, however that is untrue.

The fire was restricted to one independent building. We wanted to let all of our customers know that we are doing fine and that the winery is functioning as it always has. We have two working tasting rooms available for daily tastings and festivals and our bottling line is up and running.

We are very saddened by the loss, especially the loss of irreplaceable trophies, including the Governor's Cup, family photos, and historic wines. We are eager to rebuild and hope to see you this season.

Sincerely,
Frederick Frank
President

Dr. Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars
9749 Middle Road
Hammondsport, NY 14840

Fred Frank was nice enough to tell me about his Rkatsiteli wine for this Youtube video, which was shot in the recently destroyed building.

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

How to Learn about Sherry - Sherry and food pairing tips

2009-04-24T09:57:00.002-04:00

Sherry is so much more than the cream sherry that your grandmother used to drink. Learn about this food friendly beverage from Spain in the Sommelier Journal article, "SPECIAL REPORT Sherry."

Tips for pairing include serving Amontillado sherry with smoked salmon, ham and cheese.

Amontillado and Oloroso sherry can be matched with fried eggs and wild game.

Palo Cortado can be enjoyed alone or served with roast almonds and walnuts.

Pedro Ximénez sherry is a good pairing with chocolate desserts and Moscatel can be matched with a custard or bread pudding.

I love smoked salmon, so I look forward to trying Amontillado sherry with a few slices.

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Choosing a wine pairing for Kosher meals

2009-04-20T10:47:00.000-04:00

In their tastings column for the Wall Street Journal,Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher recall that their overall favorite Kosher wine has been Riesling. In 'A Consistent Kosher Joy: Riesling,' Gaiter and Brecher offer their picks for Passover appropriate kosher Rieslings and offer the advice to wait until Passover is only a few days away to purchase Kosher wine, to increase the odds that the wine is fresh.

Kosher wine is not just for Passover, though!

I was very grateful to finally finish straightening my teeth with Invisalign a few years ago. I wanted to get a great thank you gift for my dentist, who is an Orthodox Jew. Dr. Lieberman seemed especially grateful for my gift when I explained that the bottle of wine I chose was a kosher wine that he could enjoy with his family!

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Free wine and food pairing tool for your computer

2009-04-17T12:00:00.001-04:00

Sommelier Natalie MacLean has created a new Drinks Matcher widget, a compact, portable version of her NatDecants web site's existing food-and-wine pairing tool.

You can get your own copy of the free Drinks Matcher widget for your computer desktop, web site, blog or social media page like Facebook, MySpace or iGoogle here:

www.nataliemaclean.com/matcher

MacLean says that her food and wine matcher is a handy desktop tool that food and wine lovers can use to plan dinners and parties.

Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Brie cheese and beer pairings

2009-04-13T10:04:00.001-04:00

I recently had the opportunity to taste a delicious wheel of brie from Ile de France cheese.

Brie is a wonderful cheese for social gatherings because it will please most party guests, including the beer drinkers.

Ile de France recommends pairing their Brie well with lagers, pilsners, pale ales, porters, fruit ale and even a crisp, hard apple or pear cider.

Have you ever paired beer and cheese?

Related articles:

How to serve cheese with sweet and red wines
http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-serve-cheese-with-sweet-and-red.html

How to serve Brie cheese
http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-to-serve-brie-and-other-cheese-at.html

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Food pairings for Joseph Carr wines

2009-04-06T10:43:00.000-04:00

I had the chance to sample a few delicious wine and food pairings from dp at the Romancing the Grape wine tasting at Proctors in Schenectady.

Yono Purnomo and son Dominick paired the following:

A dish of Tuna with fruit salsa paired well with the Joseph Carr Chardonnay, a french style white wine that was specifically made to match well with seafood.

A salad with sesame ginger dressing paired well with the Joseph Carr Chardonnay.

Steak with a port wine sauce was paired with Joseph Carr Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a traditional Bordeaux style blend.

Babi Kecap Singa Raja was paired with a delicious Joseph Carr Pinot Noir from the Sonoma coast.

I also had the chance to meet Mr. Carr, who was pouring his wines at the grand tasting. His wonderful wines are available in several wine friendly restaurants, including dp and Vin Santo in Latham. Carr, a former wine director for the Sagamore Hotel in Bolton Landing, is surely on his way to being the Capital Region's favorite California winemaker!

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Applewood Winery Rieslings

2009-04-02T09:56:00.000-04:00

Applewood Winery located in Warwick, New York is launching the first New York Riesling Experience – A celebration of New York’s finest grape.

The event will take place May 2 & 3, 2009 at the winery located on 82 Four Corners Road in Warwick, New York from 11pm to 5pm each day.

The New York Riesling Experience features Riesling tastings, Riesling food and wine pairings, Chef Demonstrations, Winemaker discussions, free recipes, comparative Riesling tastings and live entertainment.

Admission to the event is $12 if purchased before April 30th or $15 at the door. Admission also includes admission to the Applewood tasting room with over a dozen different Applewood wines to taste.

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May is Riesling Month!

2009-04-02T09:54:00.002-04:00

“May is Riesling Month” is coming to the Finger Lakes.

May 15th is the annual Rendezvous with Riesling at the NY Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua. There will be an older vintage Riesling tasting as well as a larger walk-around tasting. This event is for the public but there will be media and trade in attendance as well.

Find out more information here: http://www.nywcc.com/

May 30th is The Golden Nose Awards held at The Corning Museum of Glass. The event will have a special focus on Riesling and award a Golden Nose to the best Finger Lakes Riesling.

The entire month of May will feature special Riesling promotions and tastings at wineries available during regular business hours.

What is your favorite Finger Lakes Riesling?

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World Tour of Food and Wine

2009-03-30T10:53:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite Finger Lakes wineries, Dr. Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars in Hammondsport, NY, is participating in the World Tour of Food and Wine on Saturday, April 4 & Sunday, April 5, 2009

According to the folks at the Keuka Lake wine trail, participating wineries will each offer dish from a different country or region paired with one of their delicious wines.

This sounds like a great opportunity to increase your understanding of why different ethnic foods pair with specific styles of wine.

Tickets are $25 per person in advance. $30 per person at the door. $19 per person Sunday Special in advance. Purchase your tickets now by calling 800-440-4898 or visit www.keukawinetrail.com. Tickets are also available at Wegmans.

The festival will be open from 10am to 5pm Saturday and from Noon to 5pm Sunday.

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Pairing Red Burgundy and Sea Scallops

2009-03-27T12:48:00.000-04:00

This Wine Spectator video illustrates the elements to consider when choosing a wine and food pairing. Chef Daniel Boulud and Wine Director Daniel Johnnes sample Sea Scallops and Porcini and a glass of red wine from Burgundy.

The video is here:
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Free/Video/0,4258,716696097_1133451444_16734869001,00.html

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How to cook with that extra glass of red wine

2009-03-27T12:46:00.001-04:00

In the article 'Thrifty Table' for the Globe and Mail, Bonny Reichert collects recipes for leftover scraps of food from local chefs, including three techniques for using that last glass of red wine.

Scroll to the bottom of the article for a simple recipe for pan sauce for steak, a braising liquid for brisket, short ribs or other slow-cooking meats, and not one but two recipes for dessert! Left over White wine can also be used as a steaming liquid for mussels.

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How to find out which wines you will like

2009-03-23T12:15:00.001-04:00

Sampling wines at a wine tasting is a great way for newbie wine drinkers to get a sense of which types of wines they enjoy.

All Star Wine and Spirits is having a free tasting of 30 wines on Sunday March 29th from 1 - 5 pm. The list of wines to be sampled is here.

In store wine tastings are an excellent opportunity to try new wines.

All Star Wine & Spirits is located at 579 Troy-Schenectady Road in Latham.

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How to learn about wine and food pairing

2009-03-23T12:05:00.001-04:00

Gretchen Roberts from the Everyday Wine blog has a great idea for beginning wine drinkers in her post, 'A match made in heaven.'

Her idea is simple and brilliant - get the hang of wine and food pairing my sampling a few tried and true pairings!

Her classic pairings include:

Champagne and caviar
Sauternes and foie gras
Sauvignon Blanc and goat cheese
Cabernet Sauvignon and steak
Bordeaux and lamb
Sherry and lobster bisque
Port and chocolate

I strongly agree with the Sauvignon Blanc and goat cheese, the Sherry and lobster bisque and Port and chocolate. I would add Pinot Noir and salmon and oaky California Chardonnay with grilled seafood.

The key is to put a bite of food in your mouth, then a sip of wine and see if the two together taste more delicious than each one would by itself.

What are your classic pairings?

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Free Wine and Food Pairing advice via Cell Phone Text Message

2009-03-20T09:40:00.000-04:00

The SpringWise newsletter recently profiled a great wine and food pairing tool - HelloVino.

According to the newsletter, "Users in search of wine advice merely visit Hello Vino online or text the word HELLOVINO to 368266. The tool then guides them through a simple question-and-answer process, asking first if the wine they seek is for with a meal, for an occasion, of a specific taste or style or from a particular region."

I tried HelloVino recently, seeking a match for pizza. The service returned a recommendation of Nero D'Avola for my specific pizza toppings.

I then asked for a suggestion for sushi, and was pointed to a fruity Chardonnay for my salmon roll.

I like the mobile aspect of this service - it is a simple tool that a wine drinker can use to make a simple wine choice from a limited wine list in a restaurant or as a guide to finding a wine while shopping for a wine to accompany takeout or a home made meal.

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Winter wine and food pairings

2009-03-16T10:00:00.001-04:00

I enjoyed reading this recent wine column by my fellow CSW Holly Howell on FingerLakesWine.com. "Pair aged wines with wintertime food for a match made in heaven," features Howell's suggestions for some fun weekday evening wine and food pairings.

I love her suggestion of aged cheddar cheese and aged Cabernet Sauvignon and I'm excited to try truffled popcorn!

I am also interested in her pairing of Sauternes wine and Girl Scout Lemon Chalet Cremes in front of a fire and a snowy window.

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Seafood recipe videos - excellent pairing with that bottle of white wine in your cellar!

2009-03-16T09:57:00.001-04:00

The Alaskan Seafood Marketing Institute has teamed up with the Culinary Institute of America to provide online classes in seafood preparation. I really enjoyed watching several of the cooking videos.

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How to learn about Bordeaux wine

2009-03-13T10:23:00.000-04:00

How to learn about Bordeaux wine

Dave McIntyre of the Washington Post shares great news for wine drinkers that are eager to learn more about Bordeaux in the article, "Aim for These Bordeaux, and You Can't Miss."

McIntyre tasted several 2005 Bordeaux wines, all under $20 a bottle, and found some great values. More importantly, he didn't taste a bad wine in the bunch. Now is a great time for a newer wine drinker in search of wine education to pull the cork on one of these bottles to get a taste for this classic style of red wine.

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How to pair food with an Acidic Wine

2009-03-13T10:21:00.001-04:00

In the LA Times article, "A splash of seasoning can be better than a shake," Russ Parsons explains how and why chefs use salt and acidity to season food.

As you read the article, think of how an acidic wine would mimic the usefulness of other acidic seasonings like lemon or vinegar.

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Learn about wine and food pairing during your NYC Vacation!

2009-03-13T10:14:00.003-04:00

Wine teacher Wendy Crispell will teach you about wine aboard the Yacht Manhattan.
Find out more information at http://www.wendycrispellwine.com/wine.html

Here is the class list for 2009:

1. Demystifying Wine- Wine 101- The Art of Tasting and Evaluating, April 6th–

Learn about aroma techniques, the difference between steel and barrel aged wines, noble varieties of the world, and how to evaluate the body, length, and finish of wine. A tasting wheel will be provided to help each student on their own wine journey.

2. It Ain't easy being Green Wine Tasting, April 20th-

Learn the differences in methods of production. Just what is an organic wine? What is the difference between organically grown and biodynamic wines? Is wine vegan? All this and more will be discussed in this interactive tasting as we sail by our own green lady the fabulous Liberty!

3. The Wines of Northern Italy, May 4th-

Italy home of more than 1,000 varieties of grapes is one of the most diverse and wonderful wine regions in the world. Sit back and relax as we learn about the grapes, soils, and tastes of these Italian treasures.

4. The Wines of Southern Italy and Sicily, May 18th-

With earthy reds, herbal whites, and everything in between these regions are full of some surprises! Learn about differences in styles, innovations, and hot topics in Italian wine.

5. The Wines of France- French Wine Academy Workshop, June 8th-

It's time to take the mystery out of French wine! Learn how to know what's in your glass by region. Label by label, grape by grape, and what terrior really is will be discussed in this tasting including the regions of Alsace, the Loire, and Burgundy.

6. The Wines of France- French Wine Academy Workshop Part 2, June 22nd-

In this tasting we will explore the wines of the Rhone Valley, Southern France, and Bordeaux. Learn the grapes, soils, traditions, laws, and find out about the true value wines from these amazing regions.

7. The Great Wines of America! East meets West!, July 6th-

Show your pride and appreciation for our great land of wine! In this tasting we will explore the difference between the same grape grown in different climates. Does climate really change things that drastically? Where is the oldest region in the US? Is America breaking ground in other countries? Is it really all about the oak? All these questions and more will be discussed as we sip, sail, and savoir our way around the harbor.

8. America vs. the Rest of the World-Sparkling Wines, July 20th-

America produces some of the tastiest sparklers from the most unexpected places! Learn about methods of production, aging, basic flavor components, and see if place really makes a difference! It's up to you to decide. When it comes to sparkling just who wins?

9. Wonderful, Wacky, Refreshing Wines of Eastern Europe, August 3rd-

With some of the most undiscovered gems in the wine world places like Hungary, Slovenia, and countries in the Far East are making a name for themselves. Learn why! You may not be able to pronounce these babies but they sure are tasty!

10. The Wines of Greece, August 17th-

Greece is the word! Learn about the styles of wines, food pairings, grapes, traditions, and age old culture of Greek wines. Rustic stinky reds, fruity dry rose, and crisp dry whites hail from this beautiful ancient region. You may be making some trips to Astoria to find more of these insanely delicious wines after this unique interactive tasting!

11. Aromatic Wines of the World with Exotic Flavors, September 14th–

Discover the world of aromatic wines from all over the world! Delicious, full bodied, and bursting with flavor, aroma, and complexity! These are anything but wimpy wines! Learn how to pair these flavors with spicy dishes from India & Asia. Experience smell-o-vision boot camp and learn the background of these great grapes!

12. One Grape, Six Wines, For the Love of Pinot Noir, September 25th-

In this comparative tasting we will focus on the many different styles of Pinot Noir. Learn just what makes one grape taste so different and unique depending on climate, soil, winemaking techniques, and oak treatment. Sip, swirl, and savor the night away as we learn about one of the noblest grapes in the world!

13. Discovering Germany & Austria, October 9th-

Explore the many diverse styles of wines from these two countries with the craziest classifications in wine. Learn the difference in style between Spatlese, Auslese, BA, & TBA wines. Just what is all that info on the label? These questions and more will be answered in this tasting to celebrate October Fest!

14. Australia 101, October 23rd-

Australia is full of diversity in the world of wine! Learn about the regions, laws, creative innovations, and grapes of this vast interesting contributor to style and market trends in wine. From luscious red fruit bombs to seductive sparklers indulge your palate and senses with the wonders from down under.

15. The Wines of Portugal, November 6th-

It not just all about Port anymore. Some of the best values in the world of wine can be found in this beautiful country rich in tradition yet bursting onto the scene with new finds. Discover the grapes, styles, regions, and earthy flavors that set Portugal apart from the rest.

16. Sexy Spanish Wines, November 20th-

Learn the history of this red hot region full of sultry, sinful wines! Taste the soul of the rich rustic reds, tickle your senses with the sparkle of Cava, and top of the tasting with a lusciously indulgent PX! Regions, grapes, methods of production and more will be discussed in this interactive tasting.

17. Wine & Cheese Pairing 101-

Kicking up the Classics for the Holidays, December 4th- What really is the perfect wine and cheese pairing? What wines pair best with a wide variety of cheeses? How can you add other flavors to take your pairing to the next level? Get stinky with it as we learn about pairing the flavors and discovering the great marriages of these 2 great culinary delights.

18. Best of the Best Red, White, and Bubbly all over, December 18th-

In this last class of the series we will be revisiting wines from all over the globe! Voted by you as best in red, white, bubbly and sweet. Favorite food pairings, tips for holiday entertaining, and best recipes from the tapas pairings will be discussed and shared with you in this interactive festive holiday event! Sit back relax and enjoy the breathtaking city lights and sites as we sail the isle of Manhattan one last time!

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Wine matches for a french dinner

2009-03-09T11:03:00.002-04:00

U.K. wine merchant Yapp Brothers has a wine and food matching tool on their website that can be used for planning a French themed wine dinner.

Choose from a list of 23 food options and Yapp delivers a list of matching French wines. http://www.yapp.co.uk/Wine-List/

Wine lovers studying for the Certified Specialist of Wine Exam can use Yapp's interactive wine map of France as a tool for learning about the wine regions of France.

Related articles:
Recipes and Wine Pairings for a 'hands-on' pasta party!
http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2008/08/recipes-and-wine-pairings-for-hands-on.html

How to Serve an Italian Style Dinner
http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2008/02/how-to-serve-italian-style-dinner.html

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How to Host a Blind Tasting Wine Party

2009-03-09T10:59:00.001-04:00

Wine writer Gretchen Roberts provides a five step how to guide for hosting a wine tasting party in her Everyday Wine blog post 'How to do a blind tasting.'

Roberts has some great advice for making sure that the hostess can participate in the tasting, too! She achieves this by having the hostess bag all the wines and pull the corks, then asking a guest to number the bags while she looks away! I love doing wine tasting parties at my home, and this is trick will ensure that I get to have as much fun as my guests at a blind tasting party!

My friends Alex and Cati throw a wine tasting benefit for charity. See a copy of their invitation, 'awards' and scoring sheet for ideas. http://www.alexandcati.com/?p=751

Related Article:
Eight Tips for Planning a Valentine's Day Wine and Food Pairing Party http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2009/01/following-is-question-received-from-one.html

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Adair Vineyards at the Albany Farmer's Market!

2009-03-06T08:22:00.000-05:00

I love visiting the Farmers Market for fresh produce and cheeses. What a pleasant surprise to see New York State wineries selling their delicious wines side by side with our local farmers!

Adair Vineyards wines are for sale on Wednesdays at the Empire State Plaza Farmers' Market. Adair offers the following suggested pairings for their wines on the Adair Vineyard website:

Vidal matches with grilled seafood and grilled poultry.

Cayuga White and Mountain White both pair with Asian, Indian, and other spicy cuisines.

Peche or Black Currant dessert wines could be drizzled over a fruit salad.

Solitary Oak matches with seafood.

Dutch Barn White pairs with pork and fowl with sturdy sauces.

Adair Vineyards is located at 52 Allhusen Road in New Paltz on the Shawangunk Wine Trail.

Related Article:

Farmers Market Recipes, Wine and Food Pairings
http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2008/08/eat-local-diet-vegetable-and-wine.html

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Riesling and Food Pairings

2009-03-06T08:08:00.000-05:00

I ran into my friend Dominick Purnomo and his fiancee at last weekend's Romancing the Grape wine festival at Proctor's in Schenectady. I asked him if he still believed that Reisling could be paired with most any dish, and he agreed.

If you are not convinced, visit dp and ask him for a pairing suggestion with your favorite dish, or try one of the recipes from DrinkRiesling.com below.

DrinkRiesling.com offers food pairings with Riesling, including recipes for

Bluefish Tacos
Fettucine Fruita de Mar
Fly Creek Cider
Mill Zesty Cheese Pot
Ginger Apple Stir Fry
Ginger Bold Apple Strudel
Grilled Java Rubbed Boneless Pork Loin
Heirloom Squash Risotto with Apple Salad
Lake Trout Quesadillas
Long Island Steamed Mussels
Pork Chops with Carmelized Apples
Riesling Braised Cabbage and Hartmanns Bratwurst
Roast Loin of Pork
Roasted Cauliflower with Curry
Golden Raisins and Cashews
Sage Pork Tenderloin with Brown Sugar Apples
Sea Scallops Stir Fry and
Sweet Potato Casserole

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Beer and Asian food pairings

2009-03-02T11:47:00.002-05:00

Albany Times Union reporter Steve Barnes recently blogged on a beer and asian food pairing dinner over at his Table Hopping Blog.

The Saratoga Rose Inn & Restaurant in Hadley is offering a five course beer dinner featuring Asian noodle dishes, including:

The meal will start off with a Thai clam pot made with whole baby clams, garlic-rice wine broth, buckwheat noodles and Thai holy basil paired with Brooklyn Lager from New York.

The seafood entree is Hot and sour shrimp lo mein made with Ginger-marinated shrimp, water chestnuts, Chinese egg noodles and matched with Ommegang Hennepin Saison Farmhouse Ale from nearby Cooperstown, New York.

The poultry entree is Seared black bean chicken on crispy noodles made with red onions and snow peas paired with Duvel Belgian Golden Ale from Belgium.

The pork entree is Singapore curried noodles with barbecued pork made with Chinese wine-cured sausage, leeks and red peppers matched with Fin du Monde from Québec.

For dessert, the Saratoga Rose is serving Orange mousse with chocolate noodle cookies paired with Otter Creek Stovepipe Porter from Vermont.

The Saratoga Rose has several pairing dinners throughout the year, visit their website for the latest offering:
http://saratogarose.com/restaurant_special_events.asp

Last year I visited Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY and chatted with the brewmaster Phil Leinhart about possible food pairings with their Belgian-style beers. His pairing suggestions are here: http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2008/05/food-and-beer-pairings-from-brewery.html

Related Article:
How to pair red wine with Asian dishes and Chinese takeout
http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-pair-red-wine-with-asian-dishes.html

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Zinfandel and cheese, tomato, bbq recipe pairings

2009-03-02T11:41:00.004-05:00

Lynne Char Bennett of the San Francisco Chronicle offers a tried and true pairing suggestion for Zinfandel wine in the article, 'Dry Creek Zinfandel makes a penne-wise partner.'

Bennett writes that, "Zinfandel's fruity character, with its hints of spice, pepper and moderate tannins, is especially complementary to barbecue and other tomato-based sauces."

She recommends pairing Zinfandels from Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley with recipes featuring cheddar and provolone, as well as pasta dishes with tomato sauce.

The article features a Zinfandel friendly recipe for BakedPenne with Meat & Mushroom Sauce, featuring mild Italian sausage, ground beef, cremini mushrooms, brandy or Amontillado sherry, oregano, marjoram, onion, garlic and Gruyere cheese.

Like Bennett, Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel was one of the first wines I drank in college.

Related article:
18 Meaty Zinfandel Pairings http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2008/03/venison-antelope-grouse-quail-and-duck.html

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March Madness wine pairings - cheeseburgers and guacamole

2009-02-27T10:07:00.003-05:00

Jen Murphy of Food and Wine magazine quizzed Gary Vaynerchuk of WineLibrary TV on his recommendations for great Superbowl snack and wine pairings for the article, 'Tailgating Wines: Best Bottles for Pairing - How to go the extra yard at parking-lot parties.'

The Superbowl has passed, but March Madness is about to begin, so these are great tips for adding wine to your basketball snacks!

Vaynerchuk recommends a fruity Syrah for Cheeseburgers and an Albarino for guacamole.

The strong flavors of the Syrah will match the strong tastes in the cheesy burger and the zingy acidity of the Albarino will clean the fat of the guacamole off of your tongue and prep you for the next bite!

Related article: Pairing Wines with Superbowl Snacks - http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2008/01/pairing-wines-with-superbowl-snacks.html

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March Madness Wine and Buffalo Wing Pairings

2009-02-27T10:01:00.003-05:00

My favorite Long Island wine blogger Lenn Thompson recently posted an interview with my favorite Hudson Valley winemaker - Benmarl's Kristop Brown.
Read the interview here:
http://lennthompson.typepad.com/lenndevours/2009/01/quick-qa-with-kristop-brown-winemaker-benmarl-winery.html

Check out my Youtube interview of Benmarl's Wendy Crispell, who offers tips on wine and cheese pairing here:
http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/search?q=kristop

Wendy offered several game day wine and food pairings at a class last year, including:

Buffalo chicken wings with Sesame, Soy and Ginger sauces paired with Riesling; Spicy BBQ wings with a Zinfandel; and, the most dangerous pairing to my tongue - Wasabi wings with a Traminette!

Wendy also paired a white bean chili with an Austrian red wine and nachos with some spicy red wines.

These pairings were geared to a Superbowl party, but can easily be used at your March Madness parties.

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The REAL Health Benefits of Wine

2009-02-23T15:08:00.000-05:00

Kudos to Gourmet magazine for printing Laura Shapiro's advice to American Wine drinkers in the piece 'Mondavi + America's Wine Problem.'

Shapiro bemoans the fact that though America is the world's largest wine market, the money spent on this delicious beverage is only enjoyed by a few - 17 percent of the population drinks 92 percent of the wine!

Why? Because Americans just don't get it - wine is more than a cancer prevention beverage, it is a tool for relaxation, enjoyment and living the good life.

My favorite part is Shapiro's closing thoughts:

"There really are health benefits associated with wine, but a laboratory can't replicate them. They have to do with slowing down for a meal, tasting what we eat and drink, spending time with people we care about, and bringing back the art of conversation."

Do you enjoy a meal more if you are drinking a glass of wine?

Related Articles:

How to Drink One Glass a Day (and not waste bottles of wine)http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-drink-one-glass-of-wine-day.html

Wine and Fish Pairing Guide - How to Match Wine and Fish
http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2008/01/wine-and-fish-pairing-guide-how-to.html

Did you like this article? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Why buy special wine glasses?

2009-02-23T15:04:00.003-05:00

Rick Kushman from the Sacramento Bee writes about the why serving wine in the correct wine glass is important in the article 'The Good Life: Clearly, glass affects taste.'

A wine's 'tasting notes' are more accurately described as 'smelling notes' - the majority of our enjoyment of food and wine is through our sense of smell.

Kushman interviewed wine drinkers that taste tested a wine in both an inexpensive wine glass and a Riedel glass. He believes that a good wine tastes better in a glass with a larger bowl and a thinner rim because the construction of the wine glass impacts the amount of evaporated wine that enters the nose.

I offer tips on choosing the right wine glass for a wine dinner in this Youtube video:

How to Choose the Correct Red and White Wine Glass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSVMX73Td68

Related Article:
How many wine glasses for a wine dinner and a decanting primerhttp://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-many-wine-glasses-for-wine-dinner.html

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How to Learn More About Wine

2009-02-19T12:44:00.002-05:00

Rodolphe Boulanger, President of The Wine Messenger and a diploma student at the WSET in London, provides an overview of wine courses and classes available for wine lovers.

First, the big three:

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust offers three levels of wine and spirit courses: Intermediate Certificate, Advanced Certificate and Diploma in Wines and Spirits (DWS).
William Roach of Putnam Market in Saratoga Springs is the closest instructor to Albany. Alyssa Hooper from the New York Wine and Culinary Center offers instruction in Canandaigua, NY.

The Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the CIA offers two levels of certification: the Certified Wine Professional (CWP) and Advanced Certified Wine Professional (ACWP).

Society of Wine Educators offers exams for the titles of Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and Certified Wine Educator (CWE).

I am a Certified Specialist of Wine. My tips about how to study for the CSW exam are here:
Certified Specialist of Wine Exam - How I Studied for the Society of Wine Educators CSW exam
http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2007/12/certified-specialist-of-wine-exam-how-i.html

Additional wine education organizations Boulanger profiles include the International Wine Guild, the Wine School of Philadelphia, Napa Valley College and the Professional Culinary Institute.

He also provides links to several organizations offering courses and or certifications for Sommeliers, including the Court of Master Sommeliers, American Sommelier Association, Sommelier Society of America and the International Sommelier Guild.

Did you like this article? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.

Indian style Spicy Shrimp and wine pairing

2009-02-19T12:40:00.001-05:00

Lynne Char Bennett shares a spicy shrimp recipe in her 'Spicy Shrimp for Racy Riesling' Pairings column for the SF Gate. "Spiced Shrimp & Orange Cauliflower" features shrimp, smoked paprika, coriander and cumin, as well as a side of cauliflower seasoned with curry powder, garlic, yellow onion and mustard seed. The dish is full of complex Indian cuisine flavors, but is not really 'hot and spicy.'

Because it does not need a sweeter wine to balance any 'heat,' it can be paired with a flavorful Dry Riesling.

Bennett explains that, to her, smoked paprika complements the mineral notes in the Riesling and coriander and cumin interact with the wine's fruity notes wine's fruit. One of the best experiences for me in wine pairing is tasting when a food and wine match becomes more than the sum of its parts. Each person's palate is different, so don't be disappointed if these spice and flavor note pairings do not have the same appeal to your taste buds.

Related Articles:
Dry Riesling and Cheese Pairings
http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2008/08/dry-riesling-and-cheese-pairings.html

White Wine Pairings for Soft Shell Crab
http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2008/07/white-wine-pairings-with-soft-shell.html

Did you like this article? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.