Each month members of the Court of Master Sommeliers, an international association of wine experts, suggest wine pairings for popular menu items. Here, they offer up both premium and bargain wines that complement such dishes as shrimp stir-fry, pasta puttanesca and fish tacos. The sommeliers do not represent or have a financial interest in any of their recommendations.
WAYNE BELDING, MS, consultant, Vintage Advantage, Boulder, Colo.
Premium wine: 2008 Franz Künstler Hochheimer Kirchenstuck Riesling Spatlese
Grape variety: Riesling
Taste profile: What an incredible array of flavors – red apple, apricot, Meyer lemon, guava, pineapple, honey, flowers, ginger, Rainier cherries and more. It unfolds to reveal brilliant complexity on the palate.
Pairings: The bounteous flavors of the autumn harvest – such as sage-rubbed turkey with roasted winter vegetables – will dance with this Riesling enchantress.
Average wholesale case price: $250-$280
Bargain wine: Les Deux Rives Corbières, 2008
Grape varieties: 40 percent Grenache, 30 percent Syrah, 20 percent Mourvèdre, 10 percent Carignan
Taste profile: This wine combines juicy blackberry and raspberry fruits with an exotic range of sun-baked herb and spice tones.
Pairings: Match your Mediterranean menu with this classic southern French red. Bring on the onion, tomato, garlic, pepper and herbs. Try it with a marinated and grilled lean London broil with grilled vegetables and mushrooms.
Average wholesale case price: $60-$70
DREW HENDRICKS, MS, corporate wine director, Pappas Restaurants, Inc., Houston
Premium wine: Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Les Sinards, Perrin et Fils
Grape varieties: 75 percent Grenache Blanc, 25 percent Clairette
Taste profile: A classic but often overlooked wine. This is a great example from the masters of the appellation that shows baked peaches, floral and honey notes on the nose and a dense and rich palate.
Pairings: It has an incredible affinity with roasted or grilled pork dishes, such as roast pork loin stuffed with dried apricots, walnuts and bleu cheese served with couscous.
Average wholesale case price: $312
Bargain wine: Crios de Susana Balbo Malbec Mendoza, Argentina
Grape variety: Malbec
Taste profile: A rich and delicious Malbec with deep blackberry and blueberry flavors. This wine is intense on the palate and definitely over-delivers.
Pairings: Lean red meats such as flank steak, tenderloin and tri-tip will work well with this wine. I love it with a medium rare bacon-wrapped grilled filet with garlic mashed potatoes.
Average wholesale case price: $120
KATHRYN MORGAN, MS, sommelier, Michel Richard Citronelle, Washington
Premium wine: La Spinetta Barbera d’Asti, Ca’ Di Pian, Italy, 2007
Grape variety: Barbera
Taste profile: It has bright cherry and blackberry fruit and an earthy undertone that is beautiful with truffles and mushrooms. This is a high quality Barbera from one of the best producers in the Piedmont region.
Pairings: I call Barbera the sommelier’s secret weapon; its low tannin and high acidity make it a versatile enough for meats, pasta, pizza – even fish. Try it with grilled tuna steaks with shiitake mushrooms and red wine sauce.
Average wholesale case price: $204-$228
Bargain wine: Bodegas Borsao, Tinto, Campo de Borja, Spain, 2009
Grape variety: 75 percent Garnacha (Grenache), 25 percent Tempranillo
Taste profile: This wine represents the softer side of Grenache. It is juicy and spicy, expressing bright raspberry flavors accented with licorice, white pepper and a hint of herbs.
Pairings: It makes a great partner for poultry and lighter dishes. Pair this velvety wine with a healthy interpretation of a hearty stew: white beans with chicken sausage and fennel.
Average wholesale case price: $72-$84
Learn more: Meet the Master Sommeliers. Check out bios and photos.
