Greek Wine: Lamb with Agiorgitiko

Lamb is a staple of the European diet, especially countries like Italy, Greece, and France where it appears in various ways in many different recipes. In America it is slowly gaining favor, though not to the level of popularity it enjoys in the Old World. Pairing with wine is less of a challenge than some [...]

Cabernet with Lamb

It’s no accident that Cabernet Sauvignon is considered the king of red wines. Oh, sure, we love a silky Oregon Pinot Noir, an earthy Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, or a spicy Argentine Malbec, but somehow the compass needle continues to point toward the Cabs in the back rack of the wine cellar. The high temperatures [...]

Gascón Malbec and Asado

Asado is a style of cooking that is essential to the cuisine of Argentina, involving grilling different cuts of meat or roasting them over an open fire. Called churrasco in Brazil, asado emphasizes the pure flavors of the pork or beef, and yields some of the most succulent cuts of meat that any carnivore can [...]

Sommelier Mario Ortiz: En Route Pinot Noir

This week’s pick comes from Mario Ortiz, sommelier and wine director at The Firehouse in Sacramento, California.  Since their menu was available online, I chose an entrée and asked Mario to pair a wine with it.  My choice was the Lamb Loin Chop with herbs, serrano ham, pecorino polenta, in a minted lamb jus.  Mario [...]