Pinot Noir

As published in The Sun Naperville - September 3, 2008

By Bill and Karen Garlough Special to The Sun

Since the columnist: Since the joy of my wife Karen and I have to get our friends and family and our love of good food and wine, this column will be co-written by two of us. Karen will focus on revenue, and can slip in some entertainment tips, when I pair with wines that Karen has cooking.

Most summers, my wife Karen and I try to take in some concerts, somewhere, local venues, Ravinia and downtown Chicago. It's always fun to go with several other couples and although we usually dine near the concert hall, we also gather before the concert and the gate of a simple meal at home. It is comfortable, affordable and allows members of the group (not driving) to share a nice little wine with a healthy meal.

On one weekend last year, we went to Ravinia. Instead of the traditional picnic on the lawn, the group opted for dinner at our house, then travel to Highland Park. Karen asked me to choose wines for the occasion. We started with a variety of appetizers - shrimp crostini, caprese skewers and a single tray with brie, sliced apples, red grapes and a loaf of French bread slices.

The dinner menu included grilled salmon with a pinot noir marinade, mix of white and wild rice, dried cherries and sliced toasted almonds and grilled asparagus with crumbled blue cheese and balsamic vinaigrette.

base wine

When you receive a group, it is generally preferable to provide both a red and white wine. Wine Picnic Summer should be light, refreshing and easy to drink. They should also be served slightly chilled. Karen menu was easy for two on the side of red wine, wine Pinot Black is included in the marinade goes well with salmon and can be served slightly chilled with great results. I am a big fan of pinot noir, because it is a versatile wine that works well with a variety of foods. Its acidity balances the rich, bold nature of salmon, it is an excellent choice.

As for white wine, a light, crisp and refreshing wine is ideal. Italian whites are an excellent choice for the menu of Karen, but the acidity of the balsamic vinaigrette should be taken into account. While Pinot Grigio is Italy's most famous white and has a universal appeal, it is not the best game because of its acidity. One solution is to find a style wine blended from Pinot Grigio and another varietal that offers less acidity, resulting in a better match for a vinegar-based dressing. One of my recommendations is a mixture Masi Winery Pinot Gris and two Verduzzo, a pleasant wine with a fruity style. Another Italian varietal that is even and Trebbiano. This is a summer wine light and refreshing that goes well with a picnic.

So please a group and complete this particular menu, I recommend you offer both red and white wine, in this case, a pinot noir and pinot gris blend of wine or a white Trebbiano.

dish

Quick, easy and healthy - these are three perfect words we love to hear when you think about dinner. This marinade calls pinot noir, the perfect match with salmon. Then, open the bottle of pinot a little early and steal a cup of this delicious marinade. The recipe was adapted from Harvest restaurant where they pan the fish (rather than grill) and serve on a bed of mashed potatoes.

Grilled salmon with pinot noir marinade

2 salmon fillets, rinsed and drained
1 cup pinot noir
2 shallots, peeled and sliced
2 springs of fresh thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tsp tsp peppercorns
For two people.

Mix marinade ingredients in a large zipper bag or nonreactive dish covered. Add salmon and turn to coat. Refrigerate, turning several times, at least 30 minutes, but n.