Wine

June 3, 2023 1

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
Perle Blanche

When planning our recent trip to Morocco, none of our small group (which included PWZ’s Susan and Towny) had any idea there would be a winery owned by a man from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. But there we were and there he was. Charles Mélia moved to the small village of Ounara — just 20 minutes east of the seaside town of Essaouira — in 1994, and started Domaine du Val d’Argan.

Earlier in his life, he worked at his family’s vineyard, Château de la Font du Loup (in Châteauneuf-du-Pape) and, after exploring other wine growing areas (Argentina and New Zealand), he settled on Morocco. The climate was perfect for growing Rhône grapes such as Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Muscat, and Roussanne. Sadly, the... [...]

Photo of bottle of Clos Saint Michel CDP White

May 6, 2023 1

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
If At First You Don’t Succeed…

Let me start by saying that I did succeed the first time with the wine pairing. What didn’t go so well was the execution of the recipe. Don’t get me wrong — all the flavors blended perfectly to pair with this exquisite wine, but my sous vide wand failed and the halibut was severely overcooked! Technology… sigh.

That said, the recipe — which I made twice before and twice since “the disaster” — is probably one of my best creations inspired by... [...]

March 3, 2023 1

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
Upgraded Again

Very rarely in life do you come across a Côtes du Rhône Villages so incredible that it might as well be a Gigondas. Today’s wine is exactly this. A nice upgrade.
It is big and bold, rich and intense, and it paired perfectly with my recipe for Steak with Hatch Chile Cream and Tomato-Corn Salsa. There is some spice... [...]

February 4, 2023 3

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
Springing into Spring!

As we turn our thoughts to spring, there are foods and wines that come to mind immediately. On the food side of things, my mind turns to spring vegetables: asparagus, peas, fava beans. For wine, I find it time to leave the wintry red wines for a while and focus on the crisp, bright, floral whites. That isn’t to say I don’t enjoy a red with a... [...]

January 6, 2023 1

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
When, What to My Wondering Eyes Should Appear…

But Susan and Towny (sans the tiny reindeer)! They did, however, bring a few bottles of wine to enjoy!

Their short, last-minute, late-December visit to Arizona coincided perfectly with a couple of holiday... [...]

December 3, 2022 3

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
I Like Big Reds and I Cannot Lie

Big reds. I love them. Châteauneuf-du-Pape has been a favorite since I was young, even the time when my father mortifyingly embarrassed me at a fine restaurant while I was in college. He had ordered a Châteauneuf-du-Pape to go with our meal; I was sitting on the inside seat of a cozy booth. The sommelier was a stunningly beautiful... [...]

November 5, 2022 5

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
Timeless

In early December last year, Susan, Towny, Mark, and I descended upon Sue and Rodney Tipton at their winery, Acquiesce, located in Acampo, California, in the Lodi wine region. Sue and Rodney are the consummate hosts — they fed us, entertained us, and set up one of the most incredible days of wine tastings that I have ever... [...]

October 2, 2022 1

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
Meanwhile, Across the Pyrenees…

Between Valencia and Barcelona you can find the wine growing region of Terra Alta in the western part of the Province of Tarragona. It is only recently that wines from this region have come abroad for our pleasure… and today’s wine is indeed that — a pleasure. You may be wondering why... [...]

Photo of Clos Beylesse and pairing with scallops recipe

September 3, 2022 3

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
Rhapsody en Bleu

Five months ago, I wrote about a rosé bottled in green glass, and how that was — and still is — unusual for a rosé. Today’s wine, to take this one step further, is bottled in blue glass. The colored glass provides an ultraviolet filter to preserve the wine’s quality as long as possible. I’m glad for this blue glass, as the wine is quite... [...]

August 6, 2022 1

Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food
Le Pique-Nique

Picnic, anyone? Now is the time and, even if your temperatures don’t support being outdoors these days, today’s wine and food pairing is perfect for an indoor picnic. Just spread a blanket on the floor, put on a YouTube of forest sounds for background (hold the mosquitoes), add an oscillating fan for a light breeze, and you are... [...]

« 1 2 3 4 … 30 »