Vino Di More

I simply adore wine. All wines, really. Wine is more than just an alcoholic beverage for me. It’s another way that I can experience the world around me. I have such a relationship with wine that it has a standing reservation every night at my dinner table. I love the way wine can balance out a meal or enhance it to add another layer of flavor on my pallet.

I was introduced to wineries in college. My friends and I thought we were so sophisticated by sampling wines to pair with the treasures in our charcuterie basket. My pallet was softer then and I especially enjoyed the way the flavors of Blackberry wine danced on my tongue. Those beautiful memories always flood my thoughts around this time of year.

Now that we moved to Missouri, I’ve been looking forward to taking Curtis to some of my favorite haunts (wineries) near my alma mater as well as exploring a few wineries closer to us. I’m hoping to find some delicious new favorites and also that Blackberry wine. After much waiting for the world to re-open, we began our first wine adventure in the quaint little town of St. Genevieve. We had so much fun exploring this historic French colony.

We happened to stumble upon a gift shop/wine store. All the wines were from surrounding wineries including a few that I used to visit in my younger days. I quickly became transported back to my youth as I read the labels on each bottle. Then, my eyes landed on a particular wine that I just had to share with my husband.

The bottle of nectar that I held in my hands was the dark, sweet wine by Adam Puchta, ‘Berry Black.’ We were able to sample it. Curtis isn’t a sweet wine lover, but the ‘Berry Black’ wine won him over. Blackberry wine is traditionally a dessert wine. However, I was having some ideas of how to add this next layer of flavor into our everyday life.

We chatted with the sommelier about what foods we can pair with ‘Berry Black’ instead of desserts, and she gave us a few suggestions. Sweet wines offer an acidity and depth that can be deliciously paired with savory foods. And it also tames spicy foods to create an exceptional culinary experience.

So I thought about the foods Curtis and I really love and made the bold choice of taking Blackberry wine out of the dessert category. I’ve learned savory foods that are considered “full-bodied flavors” like salmon, duck and braised pork actually pair well with sweet sauces like those made with Blackberry wine. But, I think that I’ve landed on a particular favorite to surprise my hubby with for a relaxing afternoon on our deck.

I’m lucky that Curtis grew up in an Italian family, just like me. We share the same love and appreciation for wine… and food! (Lots of smiles there.) Now that we found the perfect companion to a few of our favorite dishes, we can enjoy both food and wine on another level.

Thanks for reading about our journey to Missouri wine country, rediscovering Blackberry wine, taking a little trip down memory lane and finding a new flavor to enhance our family menu. I hope that your taste buds are inspired to include Blackberry wine into your recipes as well. I raise my glass to you!

Life is too short. Enjoy all the Best in life…responsibly.

Cheers! Amy