Wine & Football

     Nothing says football like great food and drinks. If your looking to do a little something different this year for the super bowl, try some wine pairing with some game-day favorites. There are so many approachable reds out there for those new to wine. Villa Neri Montepulciano D’Abruzzo is a great, simple Red wine with an amazing taste. Originating in Italy, this dry red wine is consumed at a young age and gentle on the palate. Carrying irresistible flavors like, concord grape, soft blackberries and even strawberries. .

    Celebrate your winning team with great food and wine. Villa Neri Montepulciano D’Abruzzo wine can pair well with steak and grilled poultry .

***Recipe for thought***       BBQ Kabobs with Villa Neri Montepulciano D’Abruzzo


1 pound cubed chicken breast                                  ½ tsp garlic powder
1 pound cubed beef sirloin                                        ½ tsp ground ginger
1 large sweet onion cut into 2 inch pieces                1 ½ cup bourbon bbq sauce
1 large red pepper cut into 2 inch pieces                  pinch black pepper
Skewers                                                                    1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce

    In a large bowl, combine bourbon BBQ sauce, garlic powder, ground ginger, black pepper and soy sauce. In a large resealable plastic bag, add about ¼ cup of marinade with chicken, beef, onions and red peppers. Seal bag and turn to coat meat and veggies, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight; cover and store remaining marinade. Drain marinade and thread meat and veggies randomly onto skewers. Grill skewers on medium to high heat or broil in oven for about 8 to 10 minutes on each side or until meats are to your preferred doneness.
    Bast skewers with remaining marinade as they cook. If your using wood skewers, make sure that you soak them in water for about 30 minutes to 1 hour so they will not burn while your kabobs are cooking. Villa Neri Montepulciano D’Abruzzo will be great served at room temperature or slightly chilled with your kabobs. Serve with bread, basmati rice or just with your wine.

****Valentine's Tips****

If you need some ideas for Valentine's Day, here are some ways for you to get creative. 

1. Searching for a little romance?
Wine & Chocolate! Enough said! There is nothing like a milk chocolate mousse or turtle cheesecake with  a light-bodied Merlot or a Sparkling Wine with milk chocolate dipped strawberries. A Port will create a great balance with dark chocolate. 

2. Gifts for Family or Friends!
Wine certificates or wine gift baskets are great gifts. You can even create your own gift baskets with wine, chocolates & cheese. And for those friends who are not familiar with wine, tasting kits are also available with a Chardonnay. 

3.  Thinking of throwing a party?
Fortified wines can be really good for parties. These wines have a little more alcohol added during fermentation. They can be sweet or dry. Examples would be Port, Sherry or Marsala. These wines are good for appetizers or desserts. Good foods can be cheeses, nuts or chocolate desserts. 

Getting Cozy

     There is nothing like having a cozy winter evening inside with a movie and a glass of wine. Something bold with a hint of spice can warm up any night. Shiraz wine, also pronounced Syrah, is a very bold red wine and is very popular in Australia. The Shiraz grape is a deep-purple in color and it is also grown in France and South Africa. The tannins in Shiraz wines are firm and have flavors of blackberry and plums to black pepper and bell peppers.
    Foods to pair with Shiraz can be rich red meats, grilled meats, and grilled vegetables. When it comes to authentic dishes, Indian and Mexican will match very well.

***Recipe for thought***            Homemade Meat Lover’s Pizza with Shiraz

1 pound lean ground beef                                 ½ tsp garlic powder
4-5 slices of cooked bacon crumbled                1 cup pizza sauce
1 pkg sliced pepperoni                                     2 cups mozzarella cheese
½ tsp Italian seasoning                                    1 package of pizza dough (or ready made crust)
½ tsp dried oregano                                         1 tsp of olive oil or 1 tbsp flour

    Preheat oven for 390 degrees F and in a large skillet, brown ground beef until there is no more pink. Spread out pizza dough as directed using olive oil or flour to help shape the crust. Add pizza sauce to shaped pizza dough then sprinkle with oregano and garlic powder. Layer pizza with ground beef, pepperoni, cheese and crumbled bacon. Last, top with Italian seasoning. Cook pizza in preheated oven for about 15 - 20 mins or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted.
    Shiraz wine can also be paired with wild game dishes and beef stews. So depending on your mood, this hearty and spicy red wine can sooth your evening.