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 to be enjoyed with a variety of dishes. The sommeliers do not have a financial interest in any of their recommendations.
Steven Geddes, MS, chef and sommelier, Local 127, Cincinnati, Ohio
Bargain wine: Matua, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand 2010
Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Taste profile: Light green hue with racy acidity and herbal notes coated with ripe tropical guava, passion fruit and citrus flavors. Finishes clean with no oak and a nice lengthy finish.
Pairings: The citrus and herbal notes have me leaning toward hamachi served as nigiri sush dipped in a little ponzu.
Average wholesale case price: $107
Premium wine: Sandrone, Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy 2008
Grape variety: Dolcetto
Taste profile: Offering beautiful red berry and dark cherry notes, this medium-bodied red has great acidity and nice minerality. A well-balanced finish and nice freshness make this a great food wine.
Pairings: Pork, beef, lamb or goat simply grilled and served with chimichurri will make a wonderful marriage with this Dolcetto. Also try it with a creamy wild mushroom risotto with Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Average wholesale case price: $215
Andrew McNamara, MS, wine and spirits specialists manager, Premier Beverage Company, Miramar, Fla.
Bargain wine: Château Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, Washington 2009
Grape variety: Chardonnay
Taste profile: Clean and versatile, lemon peel, tangerine, orange and green apples jump out of the glass with just a hint of oak spice on the finish.
Pairings: Extremely versatile and easy to drink, it will pair well with anything from a burrito to fried rice. I like it with shrimp fried rice with just a little heat.
Average wholesale case price: $75
Premium wine: Vietti Barbera d’Asti “Tre Vigne,” Piemonte, Italy 2008
Grape varieties: 98 percent Barbera, 2 percent other
Taste profile: Red cherries, juicy black plums and a dash of black pepper with plenty of acidity.
Pairings: Great with just about any risotto, especially one with wild mushrooms and truffle.
Average wholesale case price: $140
James Tidwell, MS, beverage manager, Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, Dallas, Texas
Bargain wine: Poema Cava NV, Catalonia, Spain
Grape varieties: a proprietary blend of Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada
Taste profile: An easily accessible sparkling wine with green apple and pear flavors, hints of lime and a luscious texture.
Pairings: The bubbles make this a perfect foil for sushi, offsetting the richness of the fish and leaving the palate refreshed. As a bonus, the wine works with slightly sweet sushi rice.
Average wholesale case price: $117
Premium wine: Marques de Murrietta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2001, La Rioja, Spain
Grape varieties: A proprietary blend of Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Garnacha and Graciano
Taste profile: This is a classic Rioja with a smooth and velvety texture, ripe red fruit flavors, and earth notes. It has some age, which adds to its complexity.
Pairings: This wine has enough backbone to stand up to meat, the ripe fruit and earthiness to complement beans or other cooked vegetables, and dried herb aromas that work with many seasonings. I recommend a traditional Valencian Paella with green vegetables, meat, snails and beans.
Average wholesale case price: $480
Learn more: Meet the Master Sommeliers. Check out bios and photos.
