Fettucini Alfredo is almost as ubiquitous in American casual dining as the hamburger. Since the mid-80's it seems every casual dining restaurant offers some alfredo sauce dish. With this in mind, we asked our panel of experts for their recommendations on what wine to match with rich, buttery, creamy, cheesy alfredo sauce pasta dishes:
Pasta Alfredo. To me that brings up thoughts of northern Italy. I am a believer in matching foods to their regions if possible. There are some great wines made in northern Italy. I think for fare like this though, there is no need to break the bank on an expensive Barolo or Amarone (although if you feel inclined I am sure they would be lovely). I am going to recommend Barbera. This grape is grown in the Piedmont region of Italy. In the last few years, Buy Vietti Barbera D'Asti Tre Vigne Barbera has been rediscovered and many different styles are being made ranging from thin and acidic to oak driven fruit bombs. I prefer them somewhere in between. I am going to recommend the 2006 (although the 2004 and 2005 are perhaps even better) Vietti Barbera D’Asti Tre Vigne. This should cost around $20 or less on the retail shelves. It has an abundance of fruit and great acidity to cut thru the cream sauce. It is one of the better food wines and a great match for a cream sauce. If you really want to indulge, add a few shaved truffles on the top for a great meal. - Loren Sonkin, IntoWine.com Featured Contributor and the Founder/Winemaker at Sonkin Cellars.
Buy the Louis Guntrum Blue Bottle Riesling A touch of sweetness is required here, perhaps an off dry Vouvray or a Riesling. I’ll play it safe and say Riesling because off dry Vouvray would be just too hard to find. It has to be a slightly off dry Riesling. Try any of the German Riesling that come in blue bottles. Perhaps the finest is the Guntrum blue bottle Riesling produced by Louis Guntrum. This winery, which is run by the 14th generation of the Guntrum family, has been around since the 14th Century. They were the first winery in the world to bottle wine in a blue bottle. It can be found in many countries around the world, certainly in just about every State. I don’t see the point of serving ultra fine wine with Alfredo sauce because the flavors of Alfredo sauce would not enhance the purposes of serving fine wine. - Bartholomew Broadbent, CEO, Broadbent Selections, San Francisco
Buy Ermacora Pinot BiancoWith this rich and creamy classic “American/Italian” inspired dish I suggest a medium bodied but vibrant white with modest amounts of fruit and no oak influence whatsoever. Good underlying acidity here is key, as pasta Alfredo (at least as it is generally prepared in the states) contains copious amounts of cream, cheese and butter. A zippy Italian white will help cut through this richness, cleans the palate, and prepare it for the next bite. I really like the 2006 Ermacora Pinot Bianco $15.99 (Colli Orientali del Friuli), or the 2007 Massarossa Frascati $13.99 (Lazio). - Mulan Chan, Rhône and French Regional Buyer, K&L Wine Merchants
Buy Hanna Russian River ChardonnayChardonnay. Specifically the 2006 Hanna Russian River Valley Chardonnay. One of the best things about Alfredo Sauce is the simplicity of its richness – a stick of butter, a quart of crème, salt and pepper, reduce, combine with pasta and voila ! Chardonnay is the perfect partner. Known the world over as the white wine, Chardonnay also has its nuances. It is a wine that is abundantly supple and very easily influenced by terroir and winemaking tomfoolery. Hanna’s Chardonnay is simple, delicate, and clean. There is no showboating here, just a few things that go very well together: a cool climate, established vines, talented and light-handed winemaking … and your Alfredo Sauce. (About $18) – Ben Spencer is a diploma student with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and an IntoWine Featured Writer.
There is currently a raging debate as to the validity of what an “influencer” is. Who are the most influential wine people in the United States, and how exactly do you define ‘influential?’ Does an influential mean a person who moves markets, impacts consumers, inspires winemakers, forms policy,...
People love lists; they can be a great source of education and discussion. But making a list such as this is not an easy process. Who are the most influential wine people in the U.S., and how exactly do you define ‘influential?’ Does influential mean people who move markets, impact consumers, inspire winemakers, and create debate? In a word, yes. These 100 people, from winemakers to law makers, bankers to bloggers, and sommeliers to celebrities are definitely people who influence wine; how it is made, marketed, perceived, sold, shipped, purchased and shared.
Our 2013 iteration of this list is intended as a source of education and discussion. The making of this list is never an easy process. Who are the most influential wine people in the United States, and how exactly do you define ‘influential?’ Does influential mean people who move markets, impact consumers, inspire winemakers, form policy, and create debate? Yes. Though some decry the consolidation of the wine industry (and that is an issue worth considering) we are not trying to suggest who is “good” or “bad” within America’s wine industry. We merely define the Top 100 people, from winemakers to law makers, bankers to bloggers, and sommeliers to celebrities who influence wine; how it is made, marketed, perceived, sold, shipped, purchased, shared and consumed. As was true in 2012, we sought help to assemble this list people from a diverse group of people and we are grateful for their input. And we chose to release it today, January 29th, as it was on this day in 1919 when the pathetic policy of Prohibition was ratified; the effects of this lunatic legislation still evident in our country’s inability to ship and sell wine across state lines. We honor winemakers, wine drinkers and wine lovers of every conceivable demographic. Use this list, comment on it, share it with everyone, learn from it, and continue your joy of being IntoWine.
Ah the ubiquitous list. Everywhere you turn these days there is a top 10, the best 50, or some iteration of a who’s who list. So we can’t resist, besides, our Top 100 Most Influential Wine Industry list scored a lot of buzz, created a lot of chatter and even made a few enemies. This list is all about winemakers, those currently making wine here in America – not the great ones who have come before, but folks who make wines you can find now. There are some 7,000 bonded wineries in the U.S., and there’s a lot of forgettable wine being made. And in a world of homogenization of wine styles and a sense that our domestic wine industry is not legitimate without a French or Italian flare, we desire to promote regional flavor profiles of all American wine craftspeople. There are names here you’ll know and recognize, and names you never heard of but everyone on this list is influencing the public, fellow winemakers and the media in large and small ways. Use this list to learn about wines, varieties and regions you may not have considered; comment on it, share it with everyone, but above all continue your joy of being IntoWine.
BEST OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH NAPA TASTING ROOMS After having visited numerous renowned wineries, many of us are looking for the hidden gems within the Napa Valley. Good wines are certainly valued, but the entire experience a winery provides leaves guests wanting to return and telling their friends and family to visit. Each winery listed in this article has some special draw, whether it’s art, architecture, ambiance, gardens or compelling history.
