The Glamorous Gourmet: Wild Rock

I am happy to report, last night we kicked off the first event of our Second Annual "Art of Wine & Food" Summer Series at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale! Entitled "Just for the Grill of It," the evening featured wines that are perfect for pairing with Summer's mouth-watering grilled fare. The wines were complemented by delicious dishes created by the talented Chef Chris Golas of Hugh's Culinary.

When selecting the wines and envisioning my backyard full of friends and family for a day of poolside grilling, three criteria came to mind: (1) the wines had to be approachable and appeal to a variety of palates; (2) they had to be food-friendly and capable of standing up to the variety of fabulous flavors and (3) affordability - why pop the cork on that $50+ bottle of California Cab in blazing 95 degree heat and risk Uncle Bobby pouring half the bottle into his bright yellow Solo cup that still has a half inch of beer in it? Sometimes it's wise to not only pair the wine with the food but also the occasion - just sayin'!

The pairings for the evening included:
Wild Rock Elevation Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand 2009

This blend of 93% Sauvignon Blanc, 4% Riesling and 3% Viognier is pale, lemon yellow in color with a tinge of green. Aromas of fresh lime, grapefruit and white flowers are followed by flavors of lime, nectarine, grapefruit, and green apple. This wine has a bright, citrus acidity and finishes crisp, clean and dry. It is perfect for pairing with grilled fish, seafood and lighter meat dishes. Price: $16/bottle

Food Pairing: Grilled Mahi with Lemon Shallot Beurre Blanc

Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel, California 2009

This Zin has a lovely smoky purple color and aromas of ripe blackberry, plum and chocolate. On the palate, mouth-filling flavors of black cherry, blackberry and spice are accompanied by appreciable tannins and a noticeable “heat” from the alcohol which clocks in at 15%. Enjoy this wine paired with grilled meats, pork, blue cheese burgers and barbecued meats.

Price: $18/bottle

Food Pairing: Grilled Peaches with Honey Balsamic Glaze over Pork Medallions topped with Crumbled Blue Cheese

Robert Oatley Shiraz, Mudgee, Australia 2007
This 100% Shiraz has an opaque ruby color with just a tinge of brick/orange around the rim denoting it age. This wine had aromas of blackberry, leather and spice followed by flavors of blackberry jam, plum and spicy black pepper. This is a juicy, full-bodied red with well-integrated tannins and weighs in at 13.5% alcohol. Enjoy this wine paired with grilled pepper steak, burgers and barbequed dishes.
Price: $20/bottle

Food Pairing: Open Faced Tenderloin Slider with Cognac Peppercorn Sauce

Please join us next month at the Museum for "The Rosé Lifestyle of St. Tropez with Château D'Esclans" which will be held Thursday, July 28th. We are very excited to have guest speaker Paul Chevalier, National Fine Wine Director for Shaw-Ross International Importers joining us to take us on a sensory tour of these delightful rosés. I look forward to seeing you there!

Cheers,