The Tomato Theme Continues

We're lounging on the deck or patio with a large tomato salad sitting center stage on the table. All we need now is a chilled glass of wine.

When we think of pairing wine with tomatoes we usually think of the traditional hot dishes made with tomatoes such as spaghetti sauce or a cacciatore style dish and others like these associated with an Italian meal. Of course this food and wine pairing is not too difficult since we would pair the foods from a specific region to be paired with a wine from the same region. Thus a Chianti from Tuscany to pair with our spaghetti sauce is perfect.

Pairing wine with uncooked tomatoes is not always as cut and dry. The fresh garden tomatoes can have a raw vegetal taste along with some acidity, flavors that can be challenging with wine.

By keeping the fresh tomato as the star of the dish we should look for a wine to match the acidity of the tomatoes and possibly the vinaigrette style dressing. A crisp and acidic white wine like a Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or a dry crisp rose are all very food friendly wines and can be the wine of choice for many of your summer salads with tomatoes or even without them.


You can find these wine varietals in your local wine store and if you need assistance just ask the salesperson who will be able to help you select the perfect wine for your dish.

Keep an extra bottle or two on hand -- there's still plenty of summer left.









Salute!
Winelady Cooks