By Barbara Seelig Brown
Summer is a wonderful time to entertain. It's a time for casual hors d'oeuvres and dinners on your deck or patio. If you are wondering what beverages to serve on a hot summer's day, why not try some of the new Rose Wines and Sparklers. I know, when you think Rose, you think White Zinfandel, but these Rose's are in no way reminiscent of what flooded the market several years ago known as white zinfandel. Roses are made from red grapes, generally with a short maceration period, which is what yields the pink color. It is the length of the time that the skins are in contact with the juice that determines hue. For instance, if a brilliant red grape such as Grenache is used, the maceration time can be as short as 6-12 hours. A lighter colored grape may need a day or so to give the desired color. The juice is drained from the skins when the color is satisfactory and fermentation begins as in white wine production.
Recently at the Food & Wine Magazine Classic at Aspen, I tasted Mionetto's Il Rose. Mionetto is known for their wonderfully delicious and affordable Prosecco from the Veneto. Their IL Rosé is a gentle-sparkling, unpretentious seasonal wine that complements the moods and foods of summer. The word IL, which means "the" in Italian, reinforces the brand concept of being "the" wine of choice for fun-loving and fashionable folks with good taste. The pink-hued IL Rosé is made from gently-pressed red grapes, including Raboso, Cabernet and Merlot and its delicate bouquet suggests roses, raspberries and marasca cherries. The wine is available in 375 ml and 750 ml bottles (suggested retail price of $6.99 and $10.99 respectively). "We are debuting IL Rosé this spring because it is a perfect treat for wine lovers who seek a refreshing and delightful wine. With only 10.50% alcohol, it goes perfectly with picnic foods and casual outdoor dining," said Enore Ceola, managing director of Mionetto USA. "Our IL Prosecco and IL Moscato wines have proven that U.S. consumers will embrace casual bubbly wines that make the everyday extraordinary. We are happy to expand the IL brand to red grape varietals with IL Rosé."
I am also very excited about The Piccolo Family 2003 Corte Gardoni Chiaretto Bardolino (12.5% alcohol) that I found at 56 Degree Wine in Bernardsville. Chiaretto means claret and refers to the color of the wine, which is a deep pink. This wine has all the appeal of a red but is light enough for summer drinking. I recently enjoyed this wine with Herb Roasted Chicken (recipe below) and it was a perfect pairing. On another evening we enjoyed this wine with grilled Rack of Lamb and Rosemary Roasted Potatoes. This wine comes from the charming village of Bardolino in the Lake Garda region, also in the Veneto. The natural farming method used produces a low yield which renders highly aromatic and generously fruity wines. The bouquet is that of summer berries. This wine is interesting because there is also great body with a hint of dryness. Red wine lovers find it quite satisfying. Look for Corte Gardoni Rose at approximately $13.00 and enjoy it with your next dinner al fresco.
The following recipes are perfect for summer al fresco dining.
Portobello Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze
1 loaf Italian bread, sliced 1 / 2 inch on the diagonal
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 cups onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 Portobello mushrooms, sliced 1 / 4 inch thick
Fine sea salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Crushed red pepper to taste (optional)
3 / 4 cup balsamic vinegar or a purchased Balsamic GlazeEquipment:
Pastry brush
10 - 12 inch sauté pan
Grill pan (optional)Bruschetta - Brush bread with olive oil and grill or broil until golden. Can be done a day ahead and placed in plastic bag.
Mushroom topping - Heat a sauté pan and thinly film with olive oil. Add onion, garlic and mushrooms. Cook until soft and onions are translucent. Add salt and pepper to taste and red pepper, if desired. Can also be done a day ahead and reheated or brought to room temperature before serving.
Balsamic Glaze - Heat balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan and reduce until syrupy. This will take approximately 20 minutes. Set aside.
Assembly - Spread mushroom mixture on grilled bread. Drizzle with reduced balsamic vinegar.
Can be served as an appetizer, hors d'oeuvre or light entrée with a mixed greed salad.
Cook's Tip: Prepare all components ahead but keep separate and assemble at serving time.
ãBarbara Seelig Brown
Herb Roast Chicken
4 - 5 pound roasting chicken
1 / 2 cup fresh basil leaves
1 / 4 cup fresh rosemary
1 / 2 cup fresh Italian parsley
5-6 fresh garlic cloves, sliced into rounds
Fine sea salt
Freshly ground mixed peppercorns
Equipment:Poultry shears or boning knife
Optional - Roasting pan & Parchment paperClean chicken. Cut alongside breastbone separating the chicken into one big flat bird.
Remove basil, rosemary and parsley from their stems. Mix with garlic slices.
Gently lift skin and tuck basil, parsley and garlic until skin.
Sprinkle the skin with salt and pepper.
To Grill - Preheat grill for at least ten minutes. Turn grill to medium and if using a Weber grill, turn center burner off. Place chicken in middle of grilling surface, skin side up. Grill with lid down approximately 40 minutes or until you reach an internal temperature of 165 deg. Time can vary depending on your grill.
To Oven Roast - Place skin side up on roasting pan lined with parchment and roast until golden and an internal temperature of 165 deg., as follows:
Regular bake - 400 deg. for 1 hour
Convection bake - 375 deg. for 45 minutesVariations:
* Split Cornish hens, which will cook in 45 minutes.
* Individual chicken pieces, which will only take 20-30 minutes to cook.
* Fresh or Preserved lemons can be used in addition to the herbs.ãBarbara Seelig Brown
You can also find more recipes like these in my cookbook Stress Free Cooking
By Barbara Seelig Brown
There is a new wave of great wines available - the Italian Whites. Yes, you are correct in
thinking that historically they weren't that interesting, now they are GREAT! At a recent wine tasting event held by the Italian Trade Commission in New York, I was fortunate enough to taste 20 Italian whites. Pinot Grigio is the #1 selling varietal in the US but there are many other varietals worth tasting.
Italian wines, as a rule do not see a lot of oak and therefore they are lighter, crisper, and very food friendly. As the saying goes, a beautiful wine is like a beautiful woman who doesn't need makeup (or oak). Italy has long been known for it's reds but in the 70's with the arrival of "Nouvelle Cuisine" or the desire for lighter meals, Italian wine makers began to re-invent their whites.
They created undemanding wines that are very clean, crisp and pleasant on the palette. Italian Trade Commissioner Roberto Luongo says "They're not going to replace the so-called Super Tuscan Red Wines. They'll complement the reds, for each has a place at the table or at leisure moments. It's not a matter of either, or.
Tasting them will show that the sector of whites is as exciting as that of the reds." And yes, it was! Here is a list of Italian Whites that are worth seeking out. Some names are familiar but many are quite new.
Frascati Superiore DOC 2003, producer Fontana Candida, region Latium, pale straw-yellow color, fruity bouquet with scents of almonds, apple, lemons and pears. Great aperitif. Suggested retail price $8
Soave Superiore DPCG "Sagramoso" 2002, producer Pasqua, region Veneto, straw-yellow with delicate yet intense aromas of ripe fruit, bananas, and golden apples, medium bodied, crisp and dry. SRP - N/A.
Lugana DOC "Argillaia" 2003, producer Fabiano, region Veneto, light green color with gold reflections, fruit, delicate bouquet, soft and harmonious with light butter undertones. SRP - $17
Orvieto Classico DOC 2000, producer Rocca della Macie, region Umbria, pale straw yellow color with green reflections, intense fruity bouquet, dry and fresh with almondy touch. SRP - $10
Verdicchio di Matelica DOC 2002, producer La Monacesca, region Marche, intense straw color, delicately fruity aroma with scents of golden plums, firm and persistent flavor. Great with Proscuitto and intense cheeses which is unusual for a white wine. SRP - $18
Alto Adige Pinot Grigio DOC 2002, producer Barone Fini, region Tentino-Alto Adige, golden straw color with green shadings, nose is delicate and fruit, flavor is full and dry with hints of ripe fruit and long finish with touches of apples and litche nuts. SRP - $15
Lison-Pramaggiore Pinot Grigio DOC 2001, producer Paladin Wineries, region The Veneto, single vineyard Pinot Grigio making it more complex, pale yellow with smoky tints, bouquet is characteristic of the grape in that it is intense and persistent with hints of acacia blossoms, creating a dry, fresh well structured wine. SRP - $14
Friuli Aquileia Sauvignon Blanc DOC 2002, producer Foffani, region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, golden yellow color, remarkable bouquet with aroma of peaches, mint, sweet peppers, exotic fruit, melons and sage, dry, soft body. SRP - $13
Sauvignon Blanc DOC "Serena" 2002, producer Castello Banfi, region Tuscany, lush straw yellow color scented with grapefruit, nectarine, tomato leaf and light aromas of vanilla and honey with lively acidity. Best with food rather than as an aperitif. SRP - $18
Chardonnay Trentino DOC "Virtuosa" 2001, producer Casa Girelli, region Trentino-Alto Adige, lively yellow with green tints and bouquet of ripe fruits, fresh melon and slight touch of oak, balanced acidity. This is the 3rd largest winery in Italy and is 110 years old. SRP- $20
Pomino Bianco 2001 DOC "Beneficial" 2001, producer Marchesi de Frescobaldi, region Tuscany, rich bright stray yellow color with greenish reflections, ripe apricot and pineapple aromas with delicate floral notes, flavor is smooth, elegant and complex. SRP - $27
Vintage Tuning Friuli IGT 2001, producer Jermann, Friuli Venezia Giulia, similar to white burgundy, one of few whites that can age. SRP - $49
Cervaro della Sala Umbria IGT 2000, producer Antinori, region Umbria, pale straw yellow with greenish reflections, extremely fruity a d complex with hints of vanilla and excellent varietal character, long creamy finish. SRP - $42
Monferrato Bianco DOC "Alteserre" 1999, producer Bava, region Piedmont, bright color, intriguing bouquet, fresh, exotic flavor, full bodies, elegant wine with personality that performs like a red. SRP - $26
Vermentino di Sardegna DOC "LaCala" 2002 , producer Sella & Mosca, region Sardinia, light yellow color, floral bouquet, hint of Mediterranean salinity, elegant and supple, single vineyard with full flavor and underlying acidity. One of the only DOCG wines from the south. SRP - $11
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG 2002, producer Castello Montauto, region Tuscany, luminous white with gold yellow highlights, refined bouquet with varietal characteristics and hints of dried fruit and almonds, well balanced with notes of ripe fruit and spices. SRP - $12
Roero Arneis DOC 2002 "Pradalupo", producer Fontanafredda, region Piedmont, intense straw yellow color with greenish reflections, bouquet has hints of exotic fruit, ripe pears, honey, and mouth feel is warm, velvety and sweet with touch of acidity for freshness. SRP - $18
Greco di Tufo DOC 2002, producer Caputo, region Campania, clean straw yellow color with intense and complex bouquet with scents of melons, pears, and honey and a full, dry, elegant flavor on the palate coming from the fourth generation of the winery. SRP - $14
Corvo Sicilia Bianco IGT 2002, producer Duca di Salaparuta, region Sicily, clean straw yellow color with brilliant greenish reflections, subtle bouquet with delicate fruity and fresh and lively flavor from the same grape (Inzolia) that produces Marsala. SRP - $10
Terra di Franciacorta Bianco DOC 2001, producer Contadi Castaldi, region Lombardy, bright straw yellow color with gold and olive green reflections, full, intense bouquet with great finesse, yet still a balanced fresh acidiulous delicate, dry and light flavor. SRP - $18
As you can see, there is so much to try in the way of Italian White Wines. It is worth seeking these out so that you can experience the evolution of Italian White Wines firsthand. These wines are just in time for the upcoming spring and summer season and the lighter foods that they bring with them.
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