AOP

Photo of Mas de Cadenet wine and a plate of Braised Pork Ragoût

February 6, 2026 7

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... [...]

December 6, 2025 7

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
Taking Chances

Several years ago, at Susan’s suggestion, I started getting Garagiste’s emails and offers. I have found many great wines through their website and I enjoy the process of buying a couple of bottles here, a couple there, and then getting my shipments when the weather is cool enough so as not to damage the wine. It’s like Christmas when the cases arrive — dozens of wonderful surprises and, for the most part, many winemakers with which I was unfamiliar. Sure, I know what wines I generally like but... [...]

November 1, 2025 5

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
The Other Châteauneuf

Just north of Avignon and its famous “pont,” is the viniculturally famous town of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. To the east of Avignon is a much less famous town — though not necessarily less important: Châteauneuf-de-Gadagne. And it is from this “other” Châteauneuf that the grapes for today’s wine come. Wine merchant Kermit Lynch works with growers and producers in the region to bring us some of the best wines showcasing the terroir of the Southern Rhône. While the grapes for the wine come from ... [...]

August 1, 2025 5

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
C’est Si Bon!

«C’est si bon!» — French for, “It’s so good!” — is the perfect saying for this homophonous vineyard, Clos Cibonne. The wines they produce are quite wonderful, and today I was tempted by their cuvée, Tentations. (See what I did there?) I was looking for a rosé to pair with my Sweet Potato and Scallop Napoleons, and this particular wine seemed promising. You can get the recipe for the Napoleons on... [...]

June 6, 2025 5

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... [...]

May 3, 2025 5

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... [...]

April 4, 2025 8

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
Never Have I Ever

I did something new and different this month. I actually followed someone else’s recipe to the “T.” Crazy, right? It is Pork Belly, Radicchio & Hazelnuts from Polpo by Russell Norman. You can find the recipe on Cocoa & Lavender. I could tell just from looking at the recipe that the dish would be fantastic, so I went out seeking a nice red wine that would pair well with this simple yet flavor-filled and unctuous... [...]

January 4, 2025 5

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
A Decade of Wining and Dining

Today is the celebration of 10 years of monthly wine and food pairings I have written for the Provence WineZine. I do hope you have enjoyed this journey and I invite you to reach out if you have any requests for future posts.

When I created these pairings over the past decade, I did my best to give you choices that worked. I used my knowledge of wine to create a meal that would pair well. [...]

December 6, 2024 4

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
A Red for the Holidays

For the month of December, I created a fusion dish featuring Mexican, Dutch, Western Chinese, and Moroccan flavors — my Lamb Quesadilla. While obviously not an authentic dish, it is truly delicious and was actually the product of a dream I had. I have discovered that if I go to sleep thinking of what I might want to make for dinner, my subconscious keeps working after I nod off until it comes up with something marvelous. To get the recipe, visit Cocoa & Lavender. (Happily, my subconscious seems to have good taste!)... [...]

September 7, 2024 4

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
Feeling Guilty

Today’s wine is outstanding. It is nothing that I expected and yet everything I wanted. And I feel a little bit guilty because it’s a truly fine wine and I served it with a cod cake. Yes, a cod cake. But do trust me that it’s not a “lowly” cod cake; it’s a really wonderful cod cake. In fact, I called them Oh My Cod [Cakes]. You can get the recipe on... [...]

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