Teatotaller needs wine advice. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Lockjaw · 10-08-2004, 06:20 AM

Ok in about a week or so I'm making that "special"(you guys know what I'm talkin about) dinner for my girl. I'm making an Italian menu and I want to compliment it with a nice wine or adult beverage. I don't drink but she likes a little bit of something every now and again so I figured I would go all out and get a little bit of alcohol to round out the night.
So anybody have any suggestions?

This is what I plan on serving....

First course
Ceasar salad and minestrone

Main course
Lasagne(beef pork ricotta, and mushrooms the typical fair)
Bruscetta topped with sliced tomatoes drizzled in olive oil

Dessert
chocolate or Berry tiramisu(haven't decided which yet...thinking about berry not sure if she likes chocolate stuff all that much)

Price really isn't that big of a problem but I don't want to spend a ton if there is a less expensive alternative as the remainder likely will be given away after she leaves.

maleficent · 10-08-2004, 04:26 PM

If you are cooking Italian -- go for a nice Chianti Classico - it works well with the heavy tomato sauces with lasagne (the Chianti's that have the straw bottles aren't necessarily good - just funky bottles) Would also go well with the minestrone -- though with the Cesear Salad, a Red Zinfandel wouldn't be bad -- especially with fresh parmesan

I honestly don't have a favorite in them -- this article is from Wine Spectator and might give you some suggestions,
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Wi...0,1489,00.html

if you have a local wine store (liquor store) ask for a bottle of Chianti Classico- -Riuinite is garbage --

Dessert, I'd probably serve Amaretto with coffee - it's sweet without being overly sweet - or Sambuca - which is an aquired taste, but if you've got the lights low, it makes a pretty blue flame if you light it.

Sounds like a great menu -- what a sweetie you are -- hope she's suitably appreciative (wink wink)

Tympanic · 10-08-2004, 05:01 PM

I agree with the chianti for the main course, but I would think a nice white would go better with the salad. Perhaps a good pinot grigio would work well. The northern Italian versions are very similar to a French pinot gris (same grapes, even).

chef001_2003 · 10-08-2004, 09:09 PM

pinot grigio with salad and soup
pinot noir, chianti with lasagna

hell ask her what she likes
"is there any type of wine you like or would like to try"

Lockjaw · 10-08-2004, 09:23 PM

Sweet thanks for the advice I'll be heading to the upscale wine seller tomorrow to see what I can find. And thanks for the Sambuca tip maleficent that should be a wonderful top off. Time to put my culinary skills to the work of evil....ummmm....good yeah nice innocent good no food enduced seduction going on here...

EDIT:
And I thought about asking her what her favorite wines are but since I don't drink I kind of wanted it to be a surprise for her. I figure if she isn't impressed with the from scratch meal I cooked she might be pushed over the edge with my wine selection and it sounds like what you guys have suggested will fit the bill nicely. Thanks again.

maleficent · 10-09-2004, 04:55 AM

WIth the sambuca -- get some whole coffee beans-- tradition says that a glass of sambuca should be served with three coffee beans in it-- for luck, love, and happiness. (I've heard different variations of that though)

Chocolate covered coffee beans might be a nice twist

Glorp · 10-11-2004, 02:28 PM

If you're still reading this, and haven't bought your wine yet, a real winner for the second course would be something called "Vino Nobile di Montepulciano". It is like a Brunello, but more inclined towards pasta dishes as opposed to strictly meat based ones, and a little easier on the pocketbook. For the Caesar salad, if you're using a "real" Caesar dressing, then why not go with a relatively grapefruity Sauvignon blanc. New Zealand makes some very good ones, also in the "easy on the pocketbook" category. You could also do something like a Bordeaux Blanc for the first course. The Sambuca is a good idea, though if you don't want to spring for name brand stuff, Anisette is the same thing in generic form. Expect to pay 15 for the Vino Nobile, and about 11 for the white. Good luck and happy dining!

10-08-2004, 06:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
Lockjaw Junkie	Teatotaller needs wine advice. Ok in about a week or so I'm making that "special"(you guys know what I'm talkin about) dinner for my girl. I'm making an Italian menu and I want to compliment it with a nice wine or adult beverage. I don't drink but she likes a little bit of something every now and again so I figured I would go all out and get a little bit of alcohol to round out the night. So anybody have any suggestions? This is what I plan on serving.... First course Ceasar salad and minestrone Main course Lasagne(beef pork ricotta, and mushrooms the typical fair) Bruscetta topped with sliced tomatoes drizzled in olive oil Dessert chocolate or Berry tiramisu(haven't decided which yet...thinking about berry not sure if she likes chocolate stuff all that much) Price really isn't that big of a problem but I don't want to spend a ton if there is a less expensive alternative as the remainder likely will be given away after she leaves.

10-08-2004, 04:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	If you are cooking Italian -- go for a nice Chianti Classico - it works well with the heavy tomato sauces with lasagne (the Chianti's that have the straw bottles aren't necessarily good - just funky bottles) Would also go well with the minestrone -- though with the Cesear Salad, a Red Zinfandel wouldn't be bad -- especially with fresh parmesan I honestly don't have a favorite in them -- this article is from Wine Spectator and might give you some suggestions, http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Wi...0,1489,00.html if you have a local wine store (liquor store) ask for a bottle of Chianti Classico- -Riuinite is garbage -- Dessert, I'd probably serve Amaretto with coffee - it's sweet without being overly sweet - or Sambuca - which is an aquired taste, but if you've got the lights low, it makes a pretty blue flame if you light it. Sounds like a great menu -- what a sweetie you are -- hope she's suitably appreciative (wink wink) __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

10-08-2004, 05:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tympanic Upright	I agree with the chianti for the main course, but I would think a nice white would go better with the salad. Perhaps a good pinot grigio would work well. The northern Italian versions are very similar to a French pinot gris (same grapes, even). __________________ "Memo to myself, do the dumb things I gotta do. Touch the puppet head." -TMBG

10-08-2004, 09:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lockjaw Junkie	Sweet thanks for the advice I'll be heading to the upscale wine seller tomorrow to see what I can find. And thanks for the Sambuca tip maleficent that should be a wonderful top off. Time to put my culinary skills to the work of evil....ummmm....good yeah nice innocent good no food enduced seduction going on here... EDIT: And I thought about asking her what her favorite wines are but since I don't drink I kind of wanted it to be a surprise for her. I figure if she isn't impressed with the from scratch meal I cooked she might be pushed over the edge with my wine selection and it sounds like what you guys have suggested will fit the bill nicely. Thanks again. Last edited by Lockjaw; 10-08-2004 at 09:28 PM..

10-09-2004, 04:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	WIth the sambuca -- get some whole coffee beans-- tradition says that a glass of sambuca should be served with three coffee beans in it-- for luck, love, and happiness. (I've heard different variations of that though) Chocolate covered coffee beans might be a nice twist __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

10-08-2004, 09:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
chef001_2003 Upright Location: nebraska	pinot grigio with salad and soup pinot noir, chianti with lasagna hell ask her what she likes "is there any type of wine you like or would like to try"

10-11-2004, 02:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
Glorp Upright	If you're still reading this, and haven't bought your wine yet, a real winner for the second course would be something called "Vino Nobile di Montepulciano". It is like a Brunello, but more inclined towards pasta dishes as opposed to strictly meat based ones, and a little easier on the pocketbook. For the Caesar salad, if you're using a "real" Caesar dressing, then why not go with a relatively grapefruity Sauvignon blanc. New Zealand makes some very good ones, also in the "easy on the pocketbook" category. You could also do something like a Bordeaux Blanc for the first course. The Sambuca is a good idea, though if you don't want to spring for name brand stuff, Anisette is the same thing in generic form. Expect to pay 15 for the Vino Nobile, and about 11 for the white. Good luck and happy dining!