Tag Archives: food pairing with Spanish wine

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Pairing Recipe for Ananoa White Blend

Catalan Shrimp with Paprika

catalan shrimp recipe photoINGREDIENTS:
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1/2 lbs ripe cherry tomatoes, halved
• 12 large, raw shrimp, peeled or not
• 1 tsp Paprika
• olive oil
• lemon
• salt & pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
• Add olive oil to sauté pan, on medium heat. Add tomatoes and stir for 1 minute. Add garlic cloves, paprika, salt and pepper to taste. Allow to simmer for 4 minutes. If pan is dry, add some white wine and lemon juice.
• Add shrimp and cover pan. Lower heat to medium-low. After 4 minutes, shrimp should be pink and cooked.
• Serve immediately with crusty bread.

Ananoa White Blend wine bottle imageSilky styleEncomienda de Cervera
Ananoa White Blend
Almagro, Spain

Established in 1758, Encomienda de Cervera takes great care of their vineyards, resulting in grapes of the best quality, without losing identity and tradition. Established at the turn of the 19th Century, the winery has been restored, expanded, and modernized, always respecting the environment, and improving the quality of their wines. In order to choose the best soil for each varietal, extensive edaphologic studies were performed on the soils to select among the best volcanic, clay-calcareous vineyards at the estate. The unique terroir and micro-climate makes this wine different and special. The volcanic soil contributes to the mineral expression and the refreshing acidity in the wine. This wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks, and aged for 6 months on its lees to obtain a higher complexity. Everything is blended in perfect balance and flavors.

Horten Espinosa winery owner“Medium straw yellow in color, floral note aroma with white fruit, like gooseberries and hints of aromatic herbs. Mineral palate, elegant and complex with a refreshing acidity and a long creamy finish.” – Horten Espinosa, owner

Style: Silky
Appellation: Campo de Calatrava, Almagro
IGP (Protected Geographic Indication): Vino de la Tierra de Castilla
Varietal Blend:  Chardonnay, Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc
Soil: Clay and stony soil with a smooth layer of volcanic origin
Analysis: 12.6% alcohol / volume
Critical Acclaim: Bronze Decanter, Silver in Mundus Vini and Bruxelles

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July Wine Club pairing recipe

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Spanish Roasted Chicken

  • Spanish Roasted ChickenINGREDIENTS:
  • 4 lb whole broiler chicken, preferably brined, rinsed and patted dry
  • 4 lemons
  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2-3 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and cut into bite size or diced
  • olive oil, to taste
  • salt & pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
• Preheat oven to 425 °F.
• Boil medium pot of water. Add potatoes and two lemons. Cook for 5 minutes and drain.
• Poke lemons with a knife. Insert lemons and crushed garlic into cavity of the chicken.
• Place chicken on a foiled baking tray. Surround the chicken with the potatoes. Sprinkle chicken and potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper to coat. Cook for 80 minutes until chicken has an internal thigh temperature of 165-175 °F. Remove chicken.
• Stir potatoes and return to oven for 10 more minutes to crisp.
• Cut chicken. Serve with fresh lemon wedges, potatoes and a salad.

Ananoa Syrah wine bottleBold wine Style logoEncomienda de Cervera
Ananoa Syrah
Almagro, Spain

Located in the heart of the Volcanic Massif of Calatrava Estate, Encomienda de Cervera was founded in 1758. Initially, the estate had 2,375 olive trees, an oil press, 10,000 black and white poplar trees and a country house. By the end of the 19th Century, the estate had a 22-hectare vineyard and a 200,000 liter winery. The volcanic black soil and red ochre gave the city of Almagro its name. Surrounding three river basins, its micro-climate of cool nights and hot days, provide the ideal growing conditions for this Syrah. All vineyards are in trellis, oriented to the North/South with controlled trickle irrigation systems and humidity sensors at different levels. The grapes are harvested during low-temperature hours, resulting in excellent quality and well-matured wines. The volcanic soil contributes to the mineral expression and the refreshing acidity in the wine.

Horten Espinosa winery owner“Picota cherry red in color, with intense aromas of red fruits with toffees from aging oak barrels. Volcanic soil enhances minerality. It’s fresh in the mouth feel, has a delicious structure and smooth tannins. Expansive and well-rounded.” – Horten Espinosa, owner

Appellation: Campo de Calatrava, Almagro, Spain
IGP (Protected Geographic Indication): Vino de la Tierra de Castilla
Soil: Clay and stony soil with smooth layer of volcanic origin
Varietal Blend:  Syrah
Analysis: 13.7% alcohol / volume
Critical Acclaim: Bronze Decanter, Gold Bruxelles

 

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July Wine Club pairing recipe

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Rich, juicy notes of strawberries are complimented by more savory notes of violets and licorice, which meld with the flavors from the pork and anise in the recipe. The smooth, medium/full body of Monasterio de las Viñas Rerserva Red from Cariñena Spain matches the mouthfeel of the meat.

pork-chops-shallotsPork Chops with Shallots

INGREDIENTS:
• Four 8-ounce bone-in pork rib chops
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• All-purpose flour, for dusting
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 4 large shallots, sliced (1 ¼ cups)
• ½ teaspoon anise seeds
• ¼ cup dry red wine
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons tomato paste

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper and dust with flour.

In a skillet, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the pork and cook over high heat for 1 minute. Add the butter, reduce the heat to moderately high and cook, turning once, until the chops are browned on both sides, 8 minutes. Transfer the chops to a baking sheet and bake in the oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted at the thickest point registers 145°F, about 7 minutes.

Meanwhile, add the shallots and anise to the skillet and cook over low heat, stirring, until softened, about 8 minutes. Add the wine and reduce over moderately high heat to ½ cup, about 2 minutes. Add the stock and reduce by half, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute longer. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the chops to plates and top with the sauce. Recipe courtesy of Food & Wine Magazine.

Bold_stickerMonaterio_Reserva_wineMonasterio de las Viñas
Reserva Red
Cariñena, Spain

In the 11th century, Cistercian monks built a monastery in the Sierra de Aguarón.  Today, this region is known for its superior quality wines. Monasterio de las Viñas celebrates the history of the land by using traditional varietals sourced entirely from Aguarón. Cariñena is one of the oldest protected growing regions in Europe, receiving D.O. status in 1932.  Vines grow in reddish-brown limestone over loose rock. A continental climate and a cold, northerly wind known as cierzo contribute to the characteristic intensity of the grapes.   Harvested from vines an average age of 30-years-old grown at an elevation of 1900-2600 feet, the grapes were aged for 12-16 months in French and American oak barrels and aged in bottle for 2 years. Pairs well with pork chops and shallots.

winemaker-marcelo-morales

Winemaker Marcelo Morales

“This wine is bright ruby-red with a garnet color change at the rim.  Aroma of strawberries, violets and licorice become ripe on the palate.  Additional notes of vanilla and wood create more complexity” – Marcelo Morales, winemaker

Winemaker: Marcelo Morales
Appellation: Cariñena, Spain
Varietal Blend:  50% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo, 25% Cariñena
Analysis: 13.5% alcohol / volume
Critical Acclaim: International Wine & Spirits Competition 2015, Bronze. Reviewed and approved by Doug Frost, Master Sommelier and Master of Wine