Pizza Comfort

     It is always convenient to order a hot pizza from your favorite restaurant, but there is nothing like making your own homemade food. Shiraz wine can carry flavors of black cherry, bell peppers, cloves and pairs well with barbecue or grilled meats. Cabernet is a full-bodied red wine that taste great with sharp cheese and has blackberry, black pepper and tobacco flavors. A Shiraz-Cabernet blend is a great choice to pair with some of the best comfort foods. 


***Recipe for thought***  BBQ Chicken & Cheddar Pizza with Yellow Tail Shiraz-Cabernet


1 lb chicken cut into strips                                        1/2 tsp sage 
1/2 cup of barbecue sauce                                        1 tsp garlic powder 
1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese                    salt & pepper to taste
1 tsp onion powder                                                   refrigerated pizza dough 
1 tsp italian seasoning (optional)            

                                   


     Preheat oven for 415 degrees.  In a large skillet, sauté chicken and season with onion powder, sage, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste. Cook through until no longer pink. Roll out pizza dough on a dry pizza stone. Form a round crust by working from the middle and rolling to the outer edge of the pizza stone. Spread barbecue sauce on pizza and add a 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Add cooked chicken to pizza and top with the last of the shredded cheese. Garnish with italian seasoning if desired and bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 mins. Make sure to turn the pizza half-way through cooking time to crisp crust. Enjoy with a glass of Shiraz-Cabernet blend at about 20 degrees celsius. Via @winechateau 

Caribbean Spice

Spicy foods always need a balance to your palate. Wine can also pair well with a Caribbean dish aside from rum or beer. A great sweet element to cool the spice is a light white wine. A Riesling, preferably from Germany, is a great choice because the grapes are not as sweet but have great acidity.

***Recipe for Thought***  Jerk Spiced Chicken with Riesling Spatlese

1 tsp sea salt                                       1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground allspice                         ¼  tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp packed brown sugar                 ½  tsp black pepper

1 tsp onion powder                           ½  tsp cinnamon

1 tsp garlic powder                           1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp ground nutmeg                        1 whole chicken in pieces or 2 lb breast

½  cup olive oil (divided)

    Combine all the spices to make a jerk rub for your chicken. Make adjustments to the amount of your spices for your own flavor preference. Coat your chicken pieces with the spice mixture and ¼ cup of olive oil. Let chicken marinate for no less than 4 hours or overnight. Preheat the oven for 350 degrees and place the remaining ¼ cup olive oil in a 9x3 baking dish. Add marinated chicken to dish and bake for 1 hour or until chicken is no longer pink. Serve with garlic rice or peas and rice. Via @winechateau

Caviar & Spirits

     Great for parties, as a garnish and it creates a delicate spread for a snack. Caviar is the roe consisting of salt-cured fish-eggs from wild sturgeon. There are 4 main varieties of caviar and they can pair with champagnes, wine spirits, and even beer. 

***Recipe for Thought***  Beluga Caviar & Eggs with Brut Champagne 

1 can Beluga 

2 eggs

1 cup shredded cheddar 

1 pkg soda crackers 

1 tbsp margarine 

Heat a skillet on medium. Combine eggs and margarine in a bowl and scramble eggs until fluffy. Dress soda cracker with shredded cheddar, scrambled egg and a small amount of Beluga caviar respectively. Pour a chilled glass of brut champagne to enjoy with this delicacy in a social setting or as a appetizer before dinner. If wine is more to your liking, they can be found in a variety of sparkling flavors. Cheers!  @winechateau

Wine & Sweets!

     There are a variety of wines and beer that pair very well with milk chocolate, dark chocolate and creamy white chocolate. If you are looking for a flavorful dessert with amazing ingredients, give cakes with a conscience a try. Enjoy brownies, cakes, tarts and more. 

***Ideas for Pairings***

- Pair milk chocolate with Merlots, Ports and Pinot Noir. 

- Stout beer match well with chocolate because most have chocolate and espresso flavors. A Chocolate Milk Stout Cake is a great option for dessert. 

- If your in the mood for dark chocolate, try a Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon or a cold IPA. 

- Chocolate with berries or caramel have a great combination with sparkling wines. 

Great Wine & Dinner for Two

     Enjoy your Summer with the great taste of White Bordeaux wine. This combination of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion gives a crisp taste with honey and lemon flavors. White Bordeaux can be paired well with fish flavors like salmon, shellfish and meals with a rich sauce.


***Recipe for Thought***  Marinade Ginger Salmon with White Bordeaux 


1 pound salmon fillets                                      1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar, divided                         2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp of lemon pepper, divided                      1 piece of fresh ginger root, minced 
1 tsp crushed garlic                                        1 tsp onion powder


     Season salmon filets with lemon pepper and onion powder on each side. Combine the brown sugar, crushed garlic, soy sauce, olive oil and ginger root in a small bowl. Arrange seasoned salmon filets in a ziploc bag and add marinade to coat. Refrigerate overnight but for no less than 3 hours. Preheat broiler and place salmon on a foil lined cookie sheet; reserve marinade. Broil fish for 2 minutes, turn over and baste with marinade; then cook for another 2 to 3 minutes or until fish flakes with a fork. Remove from oven and serve over brown rice or along side vegetables. The White Bordeaux may be chilled or served cool.