MARINADE  INGREDIENTS:
•  4 large garlic cloves, thickly sliced
• 3 large stalks of fresh lemongrass, tender inner white bulb only, sliced crosswise
•  2 large shallots, thickly sliced
•  1 ¼ tablespoon sugar
•  3 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
•  2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
•  3 tablespoons vegetable oil
•  2 tablespoons soy sauce
•  1 ¼ pounds boneless pork loin, sliced ½ inch thick

VERMICELLI SALAD INGREDIENTS:
• ¼ pound rice vermicelli noodles
•  4 medium garlic cloves, quartered
•  3 tablespoons sugar
•  3 Thai chiles or 1 large jalapeño, thickly sliced
•  ½ cup Asian fish sauce
•  ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro
•  ¼ cup finely chopped mint
•  ½ cup fresh lime juice
•  1/3 cup water
•  2 large cucumbers, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded and thinly sliced crosswise
•  carrot and daikon pickles, for serving

DIRECTIONS:
In a food processor, finely chop the garlic, lemongrass and shallots.  Add the sugar, fish sauce, lime juice, vegetable oil and soy sauce and process to a paste.  In a large shallow dish, coat the pork with marinade.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

In a large bowl, cover the rice vermicelli with cold water and let soak until pliable, about 20 minutes.

In a mortar, using a pestle, pound the garlic cloves to a paste with the chilies and sugar.  Stir in the fish sauce, cilantro, mint, lime juice and water.

Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Drain the rice vermicelli and add it to the boiling water.  Cook, stirring, until barely tender, about 1 minute.  Drain the vermicelli.  Rinse the vermicelli in cold water and drain thoroughly.  Transfer the vermicelli to a large bowl, add the cilantro-and-mint dressing and toss well. Scatter the sliced cucumbers over the rice-vermicelli salad.

Light a barbecue or grill and cook the pork until nicely charred, about 2 minutes per side.  Transfer the pork to plates and serve with the rice-vermicelli salad and carrot and daikon pickles.   Recipe courtesy of Marcia Kiesel of Food and Wine.

Jim Barry
Watervale Riesling
Clare Valley, South Australia

Jim Barry Wines is a family winery based in the Clare Valley of South Australia. Jim Barry was the 17th qualified winemaker in Australia and founded the company in 1959 with his wife Nancy. The company is now owned and managed by Peter Barry, a second generation family winemaker. Following  the legacy of his father and grandfather, Tom Barry was named ‘Young Winemaker of the Year’ in 2013. The tiny village of Watervale (population 246), nestled in South Australia’s Clare Valley, is renowned for the quality of its Riesling.  The grapes for the Riesling are picked from a special part of the Florita vineyard in Watervale.  This famous Riesling vineyard usually achieves full ripeness, with high natural acid levels.

Tom Barry, winemaker

“This wine is brilliant pale yellow in appearance.  On the nose is creaming soda, musk, fresh honeydew melon, lemon tart and bath salts.  The palate delivers ginger, mouth-watering juiciness, crisp granny smith apple like acidity. Generous lime fruit and a touch of fine talc phenolics which lifts the creaminess.”” –  Tom Barry, winemaker

Winemaker: Tom Barry
Appellation: Clare Valley, South Australia
Varietal Blend:  100% Riesling
Analysis: 12.5% alcohol / volume, 3.0 pH / 7.4 TA g/L
Critical Acclaim: SILVER status by Doug Frost, Master Sommelier and Master of Wine