Thursday, January 8, 2009

Wine Pairings 101 - Chardonnay

Our wine for today is...

Chardonnay: rich and complex white

With complex fruit flavors and often a rich, creamy texture; the most popular white wine in the U.S. to date.


Swirl and taste: Green apple, pear, melon, creamy lemon, and sometimes pineapple, rounded out with butterscotch and vanilla.

Pair with:
Sweet shellfish
White-fleshed fish ― halibut, black cod (sablefish), sturgeon, mahimahi, tilapia
Chicken and turkey
Pork
Veal
Legumes
Winter squash
Corn
Nuts
Risotto and pasta
Cream and butter sauces
Mild Caribbean dishes with tropical fruit flavors

Find your style: California winemakers have traditionally made Chardonnay in a rich, buttery style by fermenting and aging it in oak barrels. Too much oak can cover up the fruit, so some winemakers are starting to substitute stainless-steel tanks for a leaner, crisper style.

Perfect recipe pairings
For oaked style
s

Mendo Crab Cakes

Golden Squash with Sautéed shrimp

Caramelized Fall Fruit Salad with Chicken

Lemon-Oregano Chicken

Roast Hens with Golden Vegetable Hash

For unoaked styles

Chicken Fettuccine with Mushroom Brie


Dungeness Crab and Winter Citrus Salad


Mango-Shrimp Tostadas

Tequila-Marinated Chicken Fajitas

Caesar Salad with Fried Ginger

Source: Sunset

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