By Ray Spaziani
Wine Talk
Ray Spaziani
Red wines seem to match very well with grilled foods. Let’s look at some great reds as warmer weather approaches.
Pinot Noir is a difficult grape to grow. It matches very well with roasted chicken and soft cheeses. Salmon and mushroom dishes go well, also. The major growing regions are in New Zealand, Burgundy and the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Raspberry and cherry flavors are pronounced.
One of the most food friendly wines is Gamay. It is the major grape used in making Beaujolais. It produces wines that are floral and easy drinking. It matches well with lighter meats and just about anything else.
Merlot is a favorite red. It has flavors of black cherry and chocolate, with some hints of blackberry. It has aromas of black fruit, plum and black cherry. Lambchops and roasted duck are some of my favorites. Great regions include Bordeaux, the Napa Valley and Chile.
Sangiovese is the grape that makes the great Chianti wines. It has flavors of raspberry and cherry. The aromas include herbs, tomato and earth. It pairs well with grilled meats and pizza, as well as any dish with tomato sauce. The best comes from the Chianti region of Northern Italy.
Tempranillo is a big, earthy Spanish red wine grape. It has cherry and plum flavors. When aged, there is a leather flavor as well. The wine has a big berry nose with some vanilla and cedar. Rioja is the region and is great with grilled steaks and barbeque.
Cabernet Franc has flavors of red cherry, raspberry and plum. These make it a great wine to mix with other grapes. The aroma is of herbs and red berries. This is a food-friendly wine that is great with lamb and cheese dishes.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine that includes ripe black cherry flavors with a big tannin finish. It is called an Old World wine, with its blackcurrant and cedar flavors and big dry finish with lots of tannins. This is a big meat wine that works with steak. Choose wines from Napa, Bordeaux and Australia.
Zinfandel is another of my grill favorites. It has blackberry and cherry flavors with a raspberry jam that is great. It has aromas of dark fruit and black cherry with a nice vanilla finish. California is the place to get Zin – especially Napa, Lodi and Sonoma. The Italians make it in Puglia and they call it Primitivo. This is good too. It can go with pork and any big meat dishes.
Clean off the grill and try some of these great red wines. You will be glad you did.