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Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food

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For many years now, pale rosés have been the fashion; summer in a bottle, refreshing, and, like white shoes, not to be seen after Labor Day. This year, though, the trend is to seek the darker rosés — gastronomic rosés — that will age well and can be served year round, even on the odd snowy afternoon. We, at the Provence WineZine have never simply followed a trend; we have written about several of the darker rosés and even discussed aging them. We have always averred that rosé is not just for summer, thought it is nice and refreshing and we have been known to serve it with something hot off the grill.

Like today, for example. I grilled a stuffed pork chop and served it with a Gigondas rosé. While not as dark as some, it does have have a lovely deep color. When Susan and Towny were here last Christmas, we opened a bottle of this same wine and enjoyed it thoroughly with a chicken b’stila … yes, midwinter. But back to my Grilled Chop with Mountain Herbs. This is definitely a sunny, summery dish and the Gigondas paired beautifully with the grilled meat and intense... [...]

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food

Throw Me a Beaune

What to you do when confronted with an exquisite bottle of wine for pairing with food? Do you go as fancy as you can? That is usually my thought. However, Susan and Towny had another idea; go with a simple, peasant dish. And that is what we did on Christmas Eve. Towny and I pulled together a recipe (from looking at several videos online) for Œufs en Meurette or, simply, Eggs in Meurette Sauce. For the recipe... [...]

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food

A Birthday Gift

What a birthday gift for Hortense! Her parents, Château Barbebelle winemaker Madeleine Premmereur and her husband Valentin, named their new Blanc de Noirs cuvée for their daughter when she was born. Hortense is the first of the 5th generation at Château Barbebelle. Such a shame she isn’t old enough to enjoy this wine... [...]

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food

A Grand Vin

How can it possibly be February and I’m just now writing about the wine we enjoyed for Christmas? Today’s winery is a favorite of Susan & Towny, and it’s easy to see why when you taste their products. We paired this Grande Garde Rouge with a very simple Braised Pork Ragoût, which had been cooking all afternoon, tempting our taste buds every time we turned the corner. We could hardly wait to pop the cork on this wine and get to the table. You can get the recipe, as always, on... [...]

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food

Seeking Simplicity

I make a lot of complicated food; I enjoy the challenge. However, every once in a while, I need to kick back and make something simple. And that is just what I did this week — seared Elk Medallions with Sautéed Mushrooms. Admittedly, I complicated it a bit by adding a red wine sauce. Did I have a choice? In the words of Nathan Lane... [...]

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food

The Blue Oak

I picked up a bottle of Chêne Bleu Aliot recently. I have known about the experience of Chêne Bleu Winery — the wine, the food, the hospitality — for a long time but have never had the opportunity to take part. At least until now. While I am not sitting beneath their eponymous blue oak, I can happily imagine it. I called Towny, my culinary copain, to ask his thoughts on a pairing for this wine. The two of us went right to... [...]

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food

Never Have I Ever

If any of you are familiar with Garagiste, you know that sometimes they offer mystery wine purchases. They give a general description, but no real idea of what the varietals are or where it’s from. If the price is right, I enjoy playing the mystery game. I think of it as my wine-centered version of "never have I ever."... [...]

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food

1958: It Was a Very Good Year

It’s not often that I’m able to consider bottles from a “big box” wine store for this column. With the exception of a few quality rosés I have gotten (and written about) from such stores, their selection of rosé wines is generally geared towards the Carries and Mirandas. Pretty bottles/labels, intense pink colors, low price points, high sugar content, and a devil-may-care... [...]
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