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| Wines to pair
with pear and squash soup |
| Wow, by the looks
of my Zinfandel vines outside, this year's crush is well over
and that means -the holidays are just around the comer. What
a great time of year, when we actually celebrate tradition with
gobs of delectable food and of course my favorite beverage –
wine! So, as we gather 'round the dining room table with our
family and friends for a celebratory feast or just a weeknight
meal, that age-old question that many of us agonize over rears
its ugly head once again, "What wine do I serve with this
food?" The pressure is on as we stand in the wine aisle
of our neighborhood grocery store with that "deer in headlights"
gaze – too many labels and too little information to guide
you to just the perfect pairing of cuisine and this tasty "nectar
of the gods." And just try asking the person stocking green
beans one aisle over, which wine to match with your dinner tonight.
You're apt to get the same blank stare you had at the beginning
of your search. It's not that they're bad people, or that they
might not give it a valiant effort. It's just a fact, that with
rare exception, you won't be able to find the person who actually
tastes and buys the wine or is knowledgeable enough to make
recommendations in a chain grocery store. |
| So, what do you
do? Simply find a wine shop or independent grocer where the
wine buyer is on site and is available to the customer. Some
wine shops will actually have wines available for tasting and
some have ongoing food and wine pairings to help educate what
wines and foods best match up and why. After all, one of the
greatest and simplest pleasures in the world is good food and
wine that complement each other in a way that enhances both.
Finally, after all is said and done, the last rule of food and
wine pairing is that there are no rules. If you enjoy a particular
wine with a particular food, whether it's Martha Stewart chic
or not, that's all that really matters. |
In this edition
of the Sun,
I've been asked to make some
suggestions for wine that might best complement the awardwinning
recipe for Curried Pear and Delicata Squash Soup. |
| Since this delicious
fall classic is most often served as a first course or appetizer,
white wines of light to medium weight come to mind – whites
that are fruitforward, perhaps with a touch of acidity and little
or no oak. These varietals might include an Alsace Pinot Blanc,
an off-dry Gewurztraminer, a Pinot Gris from Oregon or a Chardonnay
that's not rich with butter and chunks of wood (oak). |
| Many of these
wines have pear and apple fruit flavors with a crisp finish
that would nicely balance or offset the spiciness of the soup.
You can find quality selections of most of these wines for under
$10, and all could be purchased within the $10 to $15 range.
So, enjoy this scrumptious soup and don't stress over finding
the perfect wine match, because whatever you choose will be
absolutely great! |
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