Perfect weather, wines and simple life

By Bella for Country News and Hudson Valley Journal

Autumn is definitely a season now. Farmers Markets drowning in full sunshine under the clearest autumn bluest sky. The trees splashed with multiple shades of orange, red and yellow dropping rain of leaves here and there with each move of gentle wind. The local markets filled with pumpkins and squashes, gorgeous tomatoes, eggplants of a dark ink colors and smell of fresh apples is drunken! My car packed with season wealth and as I arrived home and unpack my vegetables and fruits all kind of autumn season changes recipes came to my mind. Autumn bounty brings wide choices of main courses.

This is the time of the year we all should stuck up on Beaujolais. This fruity with light acidity red wine matches with turkey and rabbit under mayonnaise! The fruity flavor of these wines is in a contrast with meaty flavors of roasted meats and cut through any meaty fats especially if the dish includes gravy or stuffing. Whether you are baking pumpkin or squash with a bit of butter, maple syrup or cinnamon, whether you sauteing the onions, mushrooms and chestnuts, Beaujolais is a perfect choice!

On the cool evening when a fragrant ham is baking in the oven, chill a bottle of California Riesling, better yet from Washington State. Ham is salty, and autumn side dishes can be sweet, so a crisp elegant Riesling with just a hint of sweetness is the perfect match. The Riesling, especially semi- dry style usually enhances both tastes, sweeter and salty. If the prime rib, roast beef, perhaps lamb at the center of your plate, reach for big fruity jamming Zinfandel.The flavor of the meats will be enhanced by the blackberry fruitiness of the wines. It will refresh your palate making you ready for another bite of beef. Go to the aisle where it says California’s Zinfandels!

With autumn desserts such as pumpkin pie, apple pie or pear tart with pecan sauce-Sauterne, naturally sweet white wine of Bordeaux would be a good choice. If you want to impress your company or go broke reach for the ultimate Sauturene, Chateau D’Yquem. Sauternes has the subtle sweetness to stand up to flavors of fall desserts, and it adds a fruity honey-layered flavor of its own. Sauternes will enhance the sweet, spicy earthy flavors and it will find the way to remind you that we are finally in the cool grip of autumn and its harvest of flavors.

As I am writing this column the fresh apples from today’s market in a fruit bawl in my dining room-it filled the room with an incredible aroma! Aroma of autumn sun and honey. I am going to peel one now ,slice it thin, drizzle a bit of honey on it, small piece of soft Greek feta cheese and of course a glass of Bubbly in order!

Life ,is a matter of taste!

Here are a few suggestions for your upcoming Thanksgiving dinner:

Concannon Pinot Noir
Francis Ford Coppola,Rosso
Cavit Pinot Noir,Red Truck,California Blend
Picket Fence Pinot Noir
Planeta,Semi-dry Rose,Sicilia-a phenomenal rose! Pairs well with almost anything on a table,or by itself.

This year Georges Duboeuf Nouveau-Generous notes of strawberry and black currant dominate the nose, with silky tannins that bring smoothness to the palate. The long finish has subtle touches of sweet Griottine cherry. Arrives into the most wine stores the week of Thanksgiving…must have it!

AUTUMN

Lord: it is time. The huge summer gone by
Now overlap the sundials with your shadows
And on the meadows let the wind go free.

Command the fruits to swell on trees and vines
Grant them a few more warm transparent days
Urge them on to fulfillment then, and press
The final sweetness into the heavy wine.
Whoever has no house now, will never has one
Whoever is alone will stay alone
Will sit, read,write long letters through the evening
And wander along the boulevards, up and down
Restlessly, while the dry leaves are blowing

Rainer Maria Rilke

Другие статьи в литературном дневнике:

• 20.11.2010. What is malt? What is blended?
• 18.11.2010. Perfect weather, wines and simple life