Nervous Hostess

[Inga]

I am having a client over for dinner and he has a wine cellar and an extensive collection. I am making Eggplant Lasagna in broiled tomato sauce, cesear salad and something appetizer like. What wine should I buy? I saw some recommendations for Chianti and Salice Salentino. Please help!?!

[Innkeeper]

Hi Inga, and welcome to the Wine Board. The recommendations you saw were good ones. Would add Barbera d'Asti as a third alternative.

[Inga]

Thanks! Any recommendation on a year for any of the three?

[Innkeeper]

'98 on the Chianti and Salice. '98 or '99 on the Barbera d'Asti. Barbera has the most acid, then the Chianti, and Salice only if it has Primitivo in the mix. The more tomatoes you use, the more acid you need. Wine has one strange quirk, acidic wine neutralizes acidic food, just as sweet wine goes with sweet food.

[barnesy]

I tend to go the other way than IK. I would put the Salice Salentino first, the Chianti second and the barbera last. Another option would be a Valpolicella. I usually serve this with tomato based stuff and my guests are always happy.

If you can find a Corte Sant'Alda Valpol., snap it up. Zenato makes a nice, readily available Valpol. as well.

As far as that goes, you may wish to pick up two different types and let your guests choose which they want with their dinner (pour it and have them try it with the first bites of food). You probably can get away with one bottle for 4 people, but if they really like it, you may run out. I usually go with one bottle for every three people.

Let us know how your party goes.

Barnesy

[Inga]

Hey Folks, you are life savers! The meal was a hit! I bought Chianti, (Ruffino 2000) and Wyndham Estate Cabernet Merlot 1998 and Trapiche Pinot Noir 1999. I let my guest choose. The Chianti was his selection.
On another note, almost every dish I made was a first time try, and they all turned out! Needless to say I am thrilled. And as for you guys.... you are my new heros! Thanks, and I will be back!

[Inga]

Oh and by the way, the Chianti was the only one of the recommended wines that they carried in our local "Government Controlled" Liquor store. Sigh, the back water towns of southern British Columbia!

[Innkeeper]

If I lived in Southern BC, I know where I'd get my wines. Heh, heh, heh.

[Inga]

Dear Mr. Innkeeper, the word Novice means "new and inexperienced" I have always bought wines by watching what sophisticated Innkeeper type people were choosing. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

[Innkeeper]

OK, will try to remove one foot from my mouth without sticking the other one in. I was not referring to your experiance level. Was referring to your geographical location. Like your provence, the state of Washington has many fine wineries. They also have excellent wine stores in Spokane, Seattle, and Bellingham. Last time I checked you were allowed to take back a bottle or two per adult person duty free. It is a good opportunity to pick up special occasion wine that you can't get in your provincial package store.

You might also visit your local wineries when you get a chance. The BC folks are the new stars in the wine world. Some of them make wine from the sangiovese grape which is the primary grape in Chianti. They also produce zinfandel which is same as primitivo, one of the ingrediants in Salice Salentino. Both of these go well with Italian dishes, especially the ones with tomatoes. You can buy wines directly from your wineries.

[cpurvis]

Inga, depending on where you are in southern BC, the govt. stores can have a good selection of international wines...varies from store to store...my experience is w/ Vancouver stores. The independent wine stores in Vancouver (& elsewhere) are even better & carry higher quality wines in general.

As IK suggested, don't forget the Okanagan! Some good, food-friendly wines being produced there by folks at Gheringer, Sumac Ridge & others. If you have opportunity, go for a weekend tour through the valley. A site I recently found (& briefly perused) may also be of help to you:
http://www.bcwine.com/

Cheers,
cp

cp