Say 'salut' with your next home meal
(BPT) - Whether you’re taking out, ordering delivery or creating a tasty homemade meal, you can enhance the flavor — and the occasion — by finding a delicious wine that perfectly complements your dinner. An effective way to support "brand Italy" right now is to choose one of the many outstanding Italian wines highlighted for you below.
Here is a handy guide for pairing Italian wines with all kinds of different meals that you can enjoy at home.
Spicy Asian takeout
As you set the table for your take-out Kung Pao Chicken or spicy Pad Thai, pop open a bottle of Nino Franco Prosecco Rustico. This bright, crisp and fruity prosecco balances spicy as well as fried foods. You can also enjoy this effervescent sparkling wine to add more zest to your fun movie night — along with salty snacks like potato chips, nuts and popcorn.
Classic Roast Chicken
When you’re making a classic roast chicken, you’ll want to look for a white wine that is great on its own, but that won’t overwhelm the simple flavors. Terlato Friuli Pinot Grigio is a full-bodied, fruity, creamy-textured wine with crisp acidity that can enhance any homemade meal.
Savory, herbaceous dinners
For those who love cooking with aromatics like garlic, herbs and lemon, Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina is the right choice for your next white wine. The vines are from a region near Mount Vesuvius, and its grapes provide a more delicate aroma, offering a taste of light almond and hints of spice. This white wine can be served with appetizers, fresh cheeses or vegetable and fish dishes.
Fire up the grill
If you're planning on enjoying a grilled steak for dinner, look for a robust red wine like Il Poggione Rosso, a smooth, well-structured red with long-lasting flavor. The Sangiovese grapes used to make this wine give it an intense ruby-red color, plus a fruity aroma with red berry notes which provides a delightful complement to grilled meats — and any pasta dish with meat sauce.
Dining Sicilian style
Sumptuous Italian cuisine deserves to be served with an outstanding Italian wine. If you’re enjoying pasta with marinara or Bolognese sauce, for example, a perfect pairing would be Alta Mora Rosso. The grapes used to make this vibrant, intense red wine are grown in the dark fertile soil on the slopes of the active volcano, Mount Etna, in Sicily. Its bold flavor will also taste wonderful with any spicy meat dish like well-seasoned steak, Mongolian or Szechuan beef, Korean-style barbecue or Mexican cuisine.
Hearty meals
Ca’Marcanda Promis is a fresh and juicy red blend that brings out the best in boldly seasoned lamb, beef or pork dinners, or charcuterie plates featuring hard cheeses. This blend of Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese grapes contains notes of red and black fruits like raspberry, strawberry and mulberry — plus a smoky and spicy character that can hold its own with stronger flavors like barbecue.
Rich meals
If you enjoy earthy flavors and rich textures such as those found in dishes like risotto with mushrooms, beef dishes and aged cheeses, you’ll want a fruity yet spicy red wine that can hold its own. GAJA Sito Moresco is a red blend combining Nebbiolo, Merlot, Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon to create a wine with smooth tannins and bright acidity that complements food with a depth of flavor. The pheasants featured on the label pay tribute to the beautiful birds inhabiting the forests adjacent to GAJA’s vineyards.
Choosing good-tasting wines to complement any kind of meal does not have to be complicated. There's a great Italian wine out there for whatever food you're enjoying at home tonight. Looking for these or other wine choices to order online? Visit Wine.com/DrinkItaly to explore all your options.