Always Ravenous - Adventures in Food and Wine

Flavors of Provence Paired with Rhône Rasteau Wines

November 15, 2019 By Jane 12 Comments

This month the French Winophiles are shining the light on Rasteau wines from the Southern Rhône in France. Rasteau produces dry red, white, rosé, and sweet wines. 96% of the wines produced are red wines, and 4% are Vin Doux Naturels (sweet) red, white, and rosé. I received four samples of dry red wines from Rasteau AOC. These red, full-bodied wines must include a blend of 50% Grenache minimum and 20% Syrah and Mourvèdre. I found these wines to have a natural pairing affinity to the flavors of foods from Provence….

Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragù with Texas Montepulciano #WinePW

November 8, 2019 By Jane 15 Comments

Don’t. Mess. With. Texas. The wine industry in Texas is growing. According to the “San Antonio” magazine, Texas now ranks 4th, behind California, Oregon, and Washington, in the number of wineries per state. As of July 2019, there are 500 registered wineries with the Department of Treasury, which is up from 2009 when there were fewer than 300. Also, Texas ranks 5th in the U.S. for wine production and 7th for acres under vine in the U.S. with 5000 acres of vineyards.

This month the Wine Pairing Weekend group is exploring wines from Texas with food pairings. Thanks to Michelle of Rockin Red Blog for coordinating samples with Texas Fine Wine. You can read Michelle’s invitation post to the group here with background information on the Texas wine industry.

This was my first taste of Texas wines, and boy was I impressed! I sampled two wines from Duchman Family Vineyards and paired their 2016 Montepulciano with a slow cooker short rib ragù….

Traditional Italian Soup Paired with Chianti Classico

November 1, 2019 By Jane 6 Comments

Madeline Puckette of “Wine Folly,” captures the essences of Chianti with this quote;

Chianti smells and tastes like Italy.

The best examples of Chianti are a visceral tasting experience. Imagine the smells as you walk through an Italian grocery store: at the entrance there’s a bowl of preserved sour Amarena cherries. You walk under bunches of dried oregano, past a wall of dark, aromatic balsamic vinegar, then pass a counter where dry salami is being sliced. At the bar, dark espresso is dripping into a ceramic tazzo. A whisper of sweet tobacco wafts in the door from the pipe of the old man outside.

And then, of course, there is Italian cuisine. Who does not like a bowl of pasta, pizza, a hearty soup, or salami? Not to mention Italy’s extra virgin olive oil or balsamic vinegar. Italy delivers pure ingredients at their best. Not necessarily fancy, actually often humble, peasant-like, but the flavors and quality bring delight and comfort to the soul.

This month the Italian Food, Wine, & Travel group is exploring Tuscan Wines of Chianti, and Its’ Neighbors. Some of the group, including myself, received samples of Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione and a bottle of estate extra virgin oil olive. Join our Twitter chat November 2, 2019, at 11:00 AM ET using the hashtag #ItalianFWT to follow and join the conversation.…

Flavors of Fall Paired with Cahors Malbec

October 24, 2019 By Jane 4 Comments

It now seems like overnight, the temperatures have dropped, and a new season is upon us. I, for one, am ready for heartier meals with a dose of comfort and a glass of red wine. This month the French Winophiles are exploring Malbec from Cahors France, the birthplace of Malbec. Come along with me and discover the Malbec flavor profile, the difference between Malbec grown in Cahors versus Argentina, and food pairings, including pork tenderloin with prunes and a red wine sauce….

Food Pairings with Merlot #MerlotMe #WinePW

October 11, 2019 By Jane 10 Comments

Warm Shiitake Mushroom Dip paired with Merlot

Warm Shiitake Mushroom & Cheese Dip paired with Merlot

October is #MerlotMe month and the Wine Pairing Weekend group is celebrating with Merlot tastings and pairings. Thanks to our sponsors for generously supplying us with Merlot samples from California and Washington.

Merlot’s varietal characteristics of cherry, plum, cassis, blackberry, herbal, earth, and spice, in addition to medium tannins and acidity, make it a flexible food-friendly wine. Merlot is right at home with the October seasonal autumn flavors of roasted meats, stews, squashes, and mushrooms. Join the #MerlotMe celebration and discover a new Merlot to try alongside a tempting pairing….

Savoring & Pairing Two Washington Red Wines

Its been almost a year since I attended the Wine Bloggers Conference (now known as the Wine Media Conference) in Walla Walla, Washington. Since that conference and my in-depth introduction to Washington wines thanks to; speed tasting, wine dinners, and gracious producers, (previous posts here and here), I am a steadfast fan of the region’s wines. Washington…

It’s hard to let go of summer – the days of more flexible schedules, vacations, and farmers markets at their peak of glory. But by early September I am leaning into fall, dreaming of cooler days, while still relishing in summer produce like – PLUOTS. Pluot season starts in May but can stretch into October….

Sicilian Pasta Paired with French Basque Wine

The Sicilian pasta dish “Pasta alla Norma” is the comfort food you start to get hungry for in August. But the reality is, you still are in the grip of summer’s heat. My version of this Sicilian pasta dish incorporates the August harvest of eggplants, cherry tomatoes, and fresh oregano with some Italian sausage. The…

Arugula Salad with Tomatoes, Chickpeas, and Quinoa

I am one of those people who gets excited with the sight of beautiful food. Take the tomato. For as long as I can remember this vegetable (actually botanically a fruit, but considered a vegetable by nutritionists) has been a favorite. I can’t be sure, but I believe my tomato love affair began when I…

Flavors of Provence Paired with Rhône Rasteau Wines

Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragù with Texas Montepulciano #WinePW

Traditional Italian Soup Paired with Chianti Classico

Flavors of Fall Paired with Cahors Malbec

Food Pairings with Merlot #MerlotMe #WinePW

Savoring Two Washington Red Wines

Spiced Tea Bread with Pluots

French Basque Rosé Paired with Sicilian Pasta #winophiles

Arugula Salad with Tomatoes, Chickpeas, and Quinoa

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