Salon.com > Surprise Pairings

Cotes du Rhone: The perfect pizza wine, the anti-Cabernet

Thu, 20 May 2010 01:01:00 +0000

There's no doubt that "Rhône-style" wines are having a bit of a moment, capturing the attention of wine growers and drinkers all over the world. They've had a great global ambassador in the hearty, heady, crowd-pleasing Syrah grape (also known as Shiraz), and they're an important part of the wine countries of California and especially Australia. Back in France, Syrah is the only grape legally grown in the northern Rhône Valley. But in the southern part of that valley, Syrah is just part of the much larger story of the Côtes du Rhône.

According to French wine law, Côtes du Rhône is a wine that can be made of a blend of up to 23 grapes; that is usually red but can also be white -- the reds can be blended with the juice of white grapes and the whites can be blended with the juice of skinless red grapes (did you catch that?). But this is what you really should know: Côtes du Rhône is a wine that is a great value, that is food friendly, that is earthy and delicious without ever upstaging the moment.

A wine geek’s guide to some great bourbons

Wed, 05 May 2010 19:01:00 +0000

The 136th Kentucky Derby may have come and gone, but the spirit of Kentucky -- bourbon -- lives on.

A small glass of bourbon with a glass of water on the side is a delightful meditation, a magical drink: sweet honey, maple and vanilla tempered by the earthy bitterness of alcohol, tied up in fruits and spices. Try bourbon with smoked salmon, smoked chicken, Prosciutto di Parma or Jamón Serrano hams, and especially with a dark chocolate truffle for an unexpectedly near-erotic match, one that brings out the smoky, sweet flavors of these foods.

There are laws governing many aspects of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (the spirit's true moniker), including the grains used in the recipe, called a "mash bill" (must be at least 51 percent "Indian Corn"), aging (which must be done only in new oak barrels, giving it dramatic flavor and color), and how much alcohol the finished product may contain (between 80 and 160 proof, meaning 40- 80 percent alcohol).

Surprise pairings: Turkey Day drinks for the bold

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:01:00 +0000

While traditional thinkers suggest a nice bottle of wine to go along with your turkey and mashed potatoes, we see no reason to limit yourself -- why not give thanks by trying something unexpected this year?

We asked some of our favorite food and drinks experts -- and the members of Salon's new Kitchen Cabinet -- for their most untraditional Thanksgiving drink suggestions. They came up with a deliciously eccentric list that ranges from cocktails to champagne to a delicious apple cider. We hope you'll give one (or two, or maybe four) a try.

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Grant Achatz

Chef-owner of Alinea in Chicago

My first thought is a rosé champagne cocktail with cranberry juice, sloe gin and grapefruit. This pleases everyone while providing a seasonal yet wide-ranging profile to fit within the boundaries of the meal. The wine drinkers can skip the additives and go for straight champagne, and being a rosé, it will work with the turkey and the meatier gravy. The more adventurous will enjoy the cocktail and appreciate its complexity, and the drinkers will hit their glass hard with the gin for that extra kick.