Each month members of the Court of Master Sommeliers, an international association of wine experts, suggest wine pairings for menu items. Here, they offer up both premium and bargain wines that complement bold-flavored dishes such as shrimp stir-fry, pasta puttanesca and fish tacos. The sommeliers do not represent or have a financial interest in any of their recommendations.
NOVEMBER’S CULINARY INSPIRATION: BOLD FLAVORS
WAYNE BELDING, MS, consultant, Vintage Advantage, Boulder, Colo.
Premium wine: Falanghina dei Feudi di San Gregorio, Sannio, Italy, 2009
Grape variety: Falanghina
Taste profile: The ancient grape variety is grown on volcanic soils above Naples and offers an exotic combination of ripe peach and tropical fruit nuances with subtle herbs.
Pairngs: Full-flavored pasta and seafood dishes work well with a textured white like this. Consider the wealth of produce from the Mediterranean for inspiration. I recommend it with pasta puttanesca.
Average wholesale case price: $125-$150
Bargain wine: Man Vintners Chenin Blanc, Coastal Region, South Africa, 2010
Grape variety: Chenin Blanc
Taste profile: The old Chenin Blanc bush vines grown in the granitic soils near Paarl yield a profoundly appealing white wine with pure apple, pear, melon and citrus elements. It goes quickly because it’s so refreshing and gulpable.
Pairings: Try it with Asian-influenced menus. The fruit shines with exotic spices, such as a stir-fry of shrimp with soy sauce, snow peas, ginger and red and yellow peppers.
Average wholesale case price: $65-$75
DREW HENDRICKS , MS, corporate wine director, Pappas Restaurants Inc., Houston
Premium wine: RouteStock Cellars, Route 99W, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Ore.
Grape variety: Pinot Noir
Taste profile: Bright cherry, baking spice and floral aromas are highlighted by a trace of minerality. The palate is velvety and elegant with a long finish. Finding Oregon Pinot Noir this good at this price is rare.
Pairings: Salmon and tuna are always great choices with Pinot Noir. Many preparation methods work well, but seared rare with Moroccan spices is one of my favorites.
Average wholesale case price: $180
Bargain wine: Penfolds Thomas Hyland Riesling, Adelaide, Australia
Grape variety: Riesling
Taste profile: A classic expression of Australian Riesling. You will find bright notes of lime and a beautiful floral character on the nose. The palate is simultaneously rich and crisp due to extended lees contact.
Pairings: This wine is a slam-dunk with grilled white-flesh fish. It will also work well with Asian-influenced dishes such as grilled halibut with sesame ginger sauce.
Average wholesale case price: $120
KATHRYN MORGAN, MS, sommelier, Michel Richard Citronelle, Washington
Premium wine: Hirsch Grüner Veltliner, #1, Kamptal, Austria, 2008
Grape variety: Grüner Veltliner
Taste profile: This wine is crisp and vivid, but with a slick texture that delivers flavors of white peach, grapefruit, celery and white pepper.
Pairings: What doesn’t Grüner go with? This wine is friendly with everything from green salads to banh mi. Let Grüner Veltliner show off by succeeding where others fail — try a white bean salad with radishes, artichokes and asparagus.
Average wholesale case price: $132-$156
Bargain wine: Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2009
Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Taste profile: As is typical for the region, this wine is no wallflower. It positively bursts with ripe, fresh flavors of red grapefruit, passion fruit, lime zest and jalapeño.
Pairings: Sauvignon Blanc is at its best when paired with dishes that mirror its freshness and bracing acidity. The intense tropical fruit and green flavors of this wine really pop with fish tacos with mango salsa, lime and cilantro.
Average wholesale case price: $84-$120
Learn more: Meet the Master Sommeliers. Check out bios and photos.
