Some of our favorite food around here is Italian! It goes so well with wine and it is especially good when it’s homemade. Here is a recipe from August Ridge Vineyards that pairs with two of their most popular wines! This winery does winemaker dinners, catered lunches for wine-tasting groups and fabulous events for all of their wine club members. Just recently for Winefest they had an Italian feast and a wine blending party where you get to make your own wine blend and everyone blindly tastes it to find out the winner. The guests were able to bring one bottle home for themselves and drink the other with all of the guests and the fine food! Here is one of their top picks for you to try as a recipe & wine pairing:
Recipe Name: Pesto Torta
Wine Pairing: August Ridge Barbera
A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
4 pieces sun dried tomato
4 basil leaves
3 tubs (6oz) Boursin cheese (you can find in any market-you’ll recognize the packaging)
¼ cup sun dried tomato spread (see below)
¼ cup homemade pesto or store-bought
1 baguette, sliced
Pour a little olive oil in a small bowl and brush it around. Line the bowl with plastic wrap – the oil will hold it in place. Add another drizzle of olive oil on top of the plastic wrap and brush it all over. Arrange a pattern in the bottom of the dish using the whole pieces of sun dried tomatoes and basil – like a flower shape.
Add half of the cheese to the bowl and smooth the top, pressing it into the bowl firmly (but without messing up your pattern!) Next, layer the sun dried tomato spread, then add a layer of pesto. Carefully press the remainder of the cheese into place on top of the pesto and smooth. Refrigerate up to a day ahead.
To serve, pull up on the plastic wrap to loosen then invert onto your serving platter and arrange bread around.
Recipe Name: Sundried Tomato Spread
Wine Pairing: 2007 Sangiovese
1 cup sun dried tomatoes packed in oil
4 tablespoon fresh basil
8 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup pine nuts
1 cup parmesan
1/2 c. EVOO
Salt and Pepper – to taste
Blend tomatoes in food processor to chop – then add everything else and puree to blend. Salt and pepper to taste.
This freezes (and re-freezes really well).
August Ridge is located on the Creston Wine Loop and is located on top of a hill overlooking the beautiful hills and valleys that surround it. Here is their information:
www.geo.to/AugustRidgeVineyards