May 13, 2006

Wine News: Cooking With Rocco: Red Wine

"Real men drink red (with fish): Well, it's not always true, but it's catchy.

Another catchy writer, William Shakespeare, wrote in Othello: "Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used."

You know what I say? Good red wine is a good familiar creature if it doesn't blow away your taste buds, obliterate the flavor of the dish, is relatively low in alcohol and lets you pay your mortgage that month.

Just like with white wine, finding a red that fits my description of a good familiar creature is tricky.

It's all too easy to end up with expensive, high-alcohol oak bombs that are more style than substance.

Red wines by nature can overwhelm the flavor of many dishes simply because we really don't eat the kinds of food we used to. Ironically, as we now eat lighter and healthier, big reds are becoming more popular."

Includes recipe for:

Seared Salmon With Scallions and Rhubarb

Full article here.