Always Ravenous

Adventures in Food and Wine

Why Not Rosé on Turkey Day!

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French Rosé Wines

Whether your Thanksgiving table will be a traditional feast or a modern table of favorites, and if you choose to serve just one type of wine or a collection of different varieties, Rosé should be on your Thanksgiving table, and here is why.

Why Rosé pairs well with the Thanksgiving Table

  1. The light to medium body of rosé complements the range of different dishes on the Thanksgiving table.
  2. The red fruit flavors highlight the cranberry flavors and spices such as clove, cinnamon, and allspice.
  3. Refreshing acidity in the wine cleanses the palate
  4. The wines are generally low in tannins and therefore don’t overwhelm the flavors in the food.
  5. The fruity and savory characteristics in rosé balance the sweet notes found inside dishes like yams.
  6. Rosé is a crowd-pleaser for its easy-drinking qualities.
  7. They are affordable wines, usually ranging in price from $15-30.

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Golden Sweet Bordeaux Wines: Tasting and Pairings

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Golden Sweet Bordeaux Wines

If you haven’t discovered the world of Golden Sweet Bordeaux wines, I urge you to try them for a sensory delight that will have you sipping them as an aperitif and pairing them with your main course, cheese course, and dessert. Sweet Bordeaux wines can be “moelleux” – medium sweet or “liquoreux” – very sweet. They are made from primarily three grape varieties; Sémillon brings color, finesse, and richness, Sauvignon Blanc adds fresh aromatic richness and acidity, and Muscadelle provides powerful floral aromas, low acidity, and roundness. The sensory thrill of sipping these wines comes from the balance between sweetness and fresh acidity….

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Tasting Italy: Le Marche Wines and Pairings

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La Marche Wines

Le Marche (lay mar-kay) is referred to as Italy’s hidden gem and the next Tuscany.  Located east of Tuscany and Umbria, on the other side of the Apennines Mountains, Le Marche’s entire eastern border is on the Adriatic Sea, lined with magnificent beaches. In addition to the  mountains and coastline, Le Marche is a top wine region. Discover this lesser-known but growing region as I taste my way through a sampling of Le Marche wines from Velenosi Wines….

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Beef Rouladen Paired with Merlot

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Beef Rouladen is a German specialty of thin slices of beef, rolled, and stuffed with onions, bacon, mustard, herbs, and cornichons. The rolls are seared and then simmered in a rich gravy until they are fork-tender. My German mother-in-law made beef rouladen for me when I first moved to Germany. The dish was a feast for my senses and soul. I could barely speak German, but the language of food cut through any lack of communication. Having long moved back to the United States with my German husband, beef rouladen is a nostalgic dish I make for the holidays, usually Christmas day. While it is not Christmas, I am  celebrating #MerlotMe month, and beef rouladen makes for a great pairing with Peju Merlot….

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Merlot Pairing: Baked Pasta with Sausage Ragù

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Merlot Pairing:Baked Pasta with Sausage Ragù

October is #MerlotMe month! This celebration of Merlot happens to coincide with a seasonal shift in the kitchen. Fewer daylight hours and more time indoors translates to comfort foods that simmer longer on the stove or in the oven, developing layers of flavors. I made a baked pasta with sausage ragù adapted from “Open Kitchen” by Susan Spungen and paired it with a sampling of Washington and California Merlot wines.

Join the Wine Pairing Weekend group Saturday, October 10th, at 11:00 AM ET on Twitter for our annual celebration of #MerlotMe month (follow hashtag #winepw). Don’t miss more articles from the group and discover some new favorite Merlot wines and food pairings at the end of this post.…

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Lamb Meatballs Paired with Côtes du Rhône

Lamb Meatballs paired with Côtes du Rhône

Who isn’t looking for that easy go-to wine, especially during the week? The answer just may be found with a bottle of Côtes du Rhône wine. They are easy-drinking wines upon release, come in a variety of styles, and a great value. Another plus for Côtes du Rhône wines, they pair well with comfort foods…

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Fall Harvest Dinner with Wine Pairings

Fig and Goat Cheese Salad

And just like that, there is a change in the air. The mornings and evenings are cooler and the days shorter. In the vineyards, the grapes have started to change color, vérasion, and harvest begins. At the farmers’ markets, tomatoes, corn, and berries give way to fall produce like figs, apples, hearty greens, and root…

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Savory Cheese Crostata Paired with Moldovan Wines #WinePW

Savory Cheese Crostata Paired with Moldovan Wines

Wine Adventure anyone? Ever hear of Moldova? Moldova is located between Romania and Ukraine in Eastern Europe. The country has a rich and long wine history, the first known grapevines dating back to 7000 BC and winemaking around 3000 BC. It has the highest density of vineyards globally, with plantings of international and indigenous grape…

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Picnic Fare Paired with Finger Lakes Wines #WinePW

Finger Lakes Wines

This month the Wine Pairing Weekend group is taking a virtual trip to the Finger Lakes wine region in Upstate New York. The eleven finger like lakes were formed by glaciers back in the ice age. Iroquois tribe legend believes the Finger Lakes to be those of the Great Spirit.  While the region has a…

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