Pair these two red wines with summer staples grilled meat and cheese.
1/ Wine and Cheese
Wine: Siete Soles Carmenere
Variety: 60% Carmenere + 40% Syrah
Description: It’s no wonder carmenere was thought to be merlot when it was first planted in South America. With rich dark berry characteristics (think blackberry, and sour cherry) and subtle black peppercorn, this wine has medium, silky tannins that almost read on the palate as cocoa. Complimenting this flavour profile are the spicy anise notes from the syrah.
Region: Central Valley, Chile
Pair with: Strong cheese like feta and pepper jack, dark stews like chicken mole or carne asada and pizza with roasted vegetables, chili flakes and garlic.
2/Wine and Steak
Wine: Allegrini Corte Giara Ripasso Valpolicella D.O.C
Variety: Corvina Veronese 70%, Rondinella 30%
Description: This wine with deep ruby red is courtesy of the ‘ripasso’ wine making method where young wine is re-fermented with grapes that have been dried for two months, allowing for a more robust concentrated flavour. This velvety Valpolicella holds notes of cherry jam, dried herbs and fig.
Region: Valpolicella Ripasso D.O.C.
Pair with: Grilled meat (like steak pictured above), earthy mushrooms, mature cheese and lamb spare ribs.
This original article first appeared in the Summer 2017 issue of City Style and Living Magazine.
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