Continuing my virtual journey through Italy, I incorporated a little bit of Italian cuisine into our holiday meal. One of my favorite meals that my husband prepares is Chicken Spiedini, which hails from the Garozzo’s in Kansas City (and the Abruzzo region in Italy)
Spiedini basically means “skewered meat” and while it can be prepared many ways, my husband prepares it a la Garozzo with a lemon marinade, and serves it with a red sauce. Quite a tasty meal and what better to pair it with than with wine from that region: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
Why did I chose a red wine to go with chicken? My research all pointed to pairing the wine to go with the sauce. In this case, the chicken is covered in a red sauce, make a red wine a better choice.
I chose a 2011 Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. A lovely ruby-red wine with a nose of tart cherries and slight citrus (perfect for the chicken marinade). There were also hints of leather and warm plums. It was a medium bodied wine with a palette of tart cherries and mild spices. It paired nicely with my meal, playing off the marinade and the marinara sauce.
After celebrating Christmas with an Italian twist, I decided to ring in the New Year with something local and popped open a bottle of Treveri Cellars sparkling wine.
I chose the Blanc de Blanc Brut. The wine is made from primarily chardonnay grapes from the Columbia Valley, using the Methode Champenoise. The wine had a fruity almost lemon curd nose with a dry, tart palette. It was light and airy, the perfect mix of tart and fruit. Very refreshing and a great way to ring in the new year.
I have to say, 2013 included many great wines and great meals. I am looking forward to what I will discover in 2014.
The Splendid Grape 