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Dear Kelly,
Happy October! I would like to welcome my new
subscribers, and say welcome back to my loyal
readers. I took a bit of time off last month, so I didn't
send out a September newsletter. But this month's
edition of Kelly's Grape Times is packed with wine
and food tips for fall!
You'll find wines choices for cooler weather, links to
my latest articles, a delicious new nutty liqueur to
sip on cool October evenings, and a wine and food
pairing geared towards one of the season's popular
ingredients.
While I love summer, I also love it when the
leaves change color, the breeze blows cooler, and you
can dine outside without the bothersome
mosquitoes...
Grab a glass of wine, read on, and enjoy the harvest
season, with its pleasant weather and great food and
drink options.
Cheers--
Kelly
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What to Drink Now
Great Bottles for Cooler Weather
Looking for bottles for cooler weather? Here are some
suggestions:
* Gewurztraminer: What makes Gewurz
perfect for fall cuisine? It's all in the name, which
literally means "spicy grape" in German. Lots of
comfort food dishes contain spices like cinnamon,
nutmeg and cardamom, and the spiciness in a glass
of Gewurztraminer pairs perfectly with these foods. Try
Washington
Hills Gewurztraminer from Washington State. It's
crisp and off-dry, with just a hint of sweetness, along
with spice and honeysuckle. Sip a glass all by itself,
or enjoy it with butternut squash risotto flavored with
nutmeg.
* Sonoma Chardonnay: When the weather
turns cooler, I can think of no better way to spend a
chilly evening than in front of the fire with a bottle of
wine. And cozy fall fires remind me of the oaky
flavors apparent in Chardonnays that are barrel-
fermented and/or aged. Rodney Strong Chalk Hill
Sonoma Chardonnay is both creamy and crisp,
with nice toasty oak flavors that aren't over the top. If
you continue to grill during the cooler weather (like
me), then put some oak chips in a smoker box, grill a
whole chicken rubbed with seasalt and rosemary, and
open up a bottle of this beauty.
* South African Cabernet Sauvignon: Finding
a decent
bottle of Cabernet for under $20 can be a challenge.
If you want a red with character that won't
deplete your wallet, look for Excelsior Estate
Cabernet
Sauvignon Robertson. Although South Africa is
more
known for other reds like Merlot and Pinotage, this
Cab is surprisingly complex for the price, with black
currant and plum flavors and soft, approachable
tannins. And at under $10 a bottle, you can buy a case
and use it as one of your house wines this fall. Drink it
with roasted beef tenderloin in a red wine reduction
(use some of the wine for the sauce).
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Fall Food and Wine Pairing
Fennel and Verdicchio
I love cooking with fennel during the fall season. This
fragrant ingredient is also called anise, and is full of
the distinctive aroma and flavor of licorice. I like to
roast fennel and pair it with sauteed-yet-still-crisp
haricots verts; or, saute it with pork loin chops,
shallots, garlic and white wine. When you include it in
recipes, remember to use only the white "bulb" part,
not the stalks, as well as the fronds (good for
garnishing.)
One wine that pairs really well with fennel-based
dishes is Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi. Made
in the
Marche region of Italy from Verdicchio grapes, it's crisp
and light, with lemon and fennel notes, a bit
of "slatiness," and a slightly bitter finish. It goes
especially well with the pork chop dish I like to make,
and would pair equally well with a salad topped with
thinly sliced raw fennel and a lemon vinaigrette, or
with any light delicate white fish, like cod or
skate topped with capers and a lemon sauce.
You'll recognize Verdicchio on the wine store shelf by
its (typically green) amphora-shaped bottle. Look for
producers Santa Barbara, Colonnara and Fazi
Battaglia at your local wine store.
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If you are planning a special event, whether it is a
wedding shower, birthday party, get-together with
friends, or a business promotional event, consider
Kelly Magyarics Wine Consulting to make your event
complete. Our interactive, educational wine tastings
and classes
are a memorable option for your next gathering. Kelly
holds an Advanced Certificate in Wine and Spirits from
the WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust), and she
has been offering wine tastings for private and
corporate events in the DC area for over six years. Just
see what our clients are saying about us.
Check
out www.trywine.net
for more information, email us
at trywine@gmail.com, or call us at
703.203.9463.
Feel free to pass this along to
other wine lovers you know!
And don't forget about Kelly's other services. She is
available for freelance writing, wine list creation and
management, and wine and food pairing consultation.
Cheers, and happy sipping!
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