Wine Education, Wine Grapes Jacqueline Mitchell Wine Education, Wine Grapes Jacqueline Mitchell

The Joy of Discovering a ‘New’ Wine Grape

For a wine enthusiast, stumbling upon a wine made by a grape you never had before is like finding a treasure in a treasure hunt. It’s the “hook” that catches, and delights, wine explorers, from wine loving consumers to wine professionals.

Branch out from the same old same old: get onto the unbeaten path and experience the thrill of trying a wine grape you never had. Plus we’re here to tell you the rich, and real, stories behind them. Start your treasure hunt with this article.

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You Can’t Put a Label on This Wine

Moscato has become quite the trending wine in the US over the past 10 years. Many people are drawn to it because they like sweet wine. Moscato is an aromatic grape, giving Moscato wine more facets to appreciate, yet, the popularity of the wine has made it a victim of its own success, with a plethora of just average (or below average) picks which are neither balanced or expressive.

But, did you know that there are tricks to make a really good Moscato wine? Whether it’s the traditional Moscato d’Asti or an orange wine made from moscato grapes, many Moscato wines should not be shunned or looked down upon. It’s like finding a pearl in the rough. And we make it easier for you. Beware: your opinion of Moscato wine is about to change.

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The Versatile (and Yummy) Eggplant

Straight from an authentic Italian restaurant is this delicious eggplant recipe. It is a baked eggplant parmesan that woman winemaker and chef, Jacqueline Mitchell of Ojai Pacific View has wowed her family and friends with while taking vacations back home in the US from her “real job” as chef at a local favorite trattoria in the Langhe Italy. Not suprisingly, the wine and food pairing with her own California Dolcetto is out of this world.

Make your own parmigiana con melanzane with this eggplant recipe baked inside.

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The Makings of a Great Woman Winemaker

Hilde Petrussa, inheriting a generations-long legacy of winemaking in Friuli, Italy, carries the torch with passion and respect. From her grandfather's farm to her mother's pioneering spirit, Hilde honors tradition while embracing sustainability. Witness her meticulous care for the vines, her dedication to Schioppettino, and her innovative use of air-dried grapes. Discover her love for Richenza and Schioppettino di Prepotto, and get a glimpse into the future of Vigna Petrussa – a commitment to green practices and crafting wines that express the unique terroir. Dive deeper and savor the taste of her story.

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Recipes, Wine Grapes Jacqueline Mitchell Recipes, Wine Grapes Jacqueline Mitchell

Twists on Burgundy

Saint Laurent is not just in the fashion world: do you know that it is a wine grape too?

Learn fun facts about this grape which could become your next go-to red wine, like:

  • Saint Laurent is the number one most planted red wine grape variety in the Czech Republic;

  • its closest relative is one of the most famous red wine grapes in the world.

Plus, as a bonus in this article, we have a recipe for Beef Bourguignon, or Beef Burgundy, with a twist. What is it? Find out inside!

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Who’s Hungry for Polpette?

Let's spill the beans on the whole spaghetti and meatballs gig – turns out, it's more Italian American than straight up Italian. Say hello to authentic meatballs, or polpette, the real deal in Italy, where meatballs is the main character, and pasta isn't their sidekick. Learn many ways to serve and make homemade meatballs, and the secret to making a really good polpetta. Get an authentic recipe, that is both easy and versatile for meatballs, spice it up with some traditional Italian wine and food pairings. Get ready to cook, crunch, and sip your way through authentic Italian vibes.

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Not Your Boar-ing Pasta Sauce

It may be a discounted animal… but in many parts of the world the Wild Boar is an important part of life and the kitchen! Explore the world of wild boars, recipes, wine pairings and more traveling through Italy, the Czech Republic, and even the Americas. Stick around to the end for an authentic recipe for Pappardelle con Cinghiale or Pappardelle Pasta with a Wild Boar Ragu sauce including pairing foods of wild wines with wild boar.

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Wines that are 'Just Right'

Are you planning a party ? Are you going to one?  Needing a gift but not sure what wine to select?

Hosting a  party or finding a great gift for a wine lover just got easier with our tips on finding crowd-pleasing, drinkable wine that caters to diverse tastes, while also finding wines that are unique and stand out.

We have an approach to finding crowd pleaser wines in our latest blog article. We liken it to Goldilocks - remember her? But now we've moved up, from porridge to wine.

Read on for expert tips and find your own Goldilocks wine!

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Wine Education, Pairings Jacqueline Mitchell Wine Education, Pairings Jacqueline Mitchell

Learn the Art & Science of Wine and Food Pairing

Wine and food pairing can seem like a daunting task, yet, once you get down the basic principles, there is almost no right or wrong. It can turn into a life long skill that you can practice all the time, while alone or in groups, while at home or out and about. Start with this article which lays out an easy to follow approach to pairing foods. Then you’ll be on your way to doing fun and tasty food and wine pairings with others.

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A Spanish Take on Brunch & Breakfast

Who doesn’t love home brunch ideas? Why not for your next brunch, choose a brunch recipe that is steeped in tradition. So much so that its name Duelos y Quebrantos could possibly have influenced the origin of the word “breakfast”.

Try a delicious and easy eggs and chorizo recipe, direct from the windmills in Spain and a Spanish amporae winery. Inside find out what Duelos y Quebrantos is, its historical importance in Spain and even influencing our culture. Then make this breakfast recipe casserole and try pairing it with a natural wine.

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The Secret Sauce of Midsummer

Nothing quite says summer like a big basket of juicy tomatoes, ready to be cooked down into a fresh tomato sauce or sugo. But that can be labor intensive and take ages… sometimes we need a pasta sauce quick to put on the table and enjoy! Enter the cherry tomato. These small ruby rounds have their own flavors and deliciousness to share. So come inside to find our Italian Vero Chef’s favorite recipe for a cherry tomatoes pasta and our suggested wine pairings.

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Your Go-To Guide For the Best Wine and Cheese Pairings

Now that you have at your fingertips these 5 Tips for Pairing Cheese and Wine let’s put your knowledge to practice with some of the best cheese and wine pairing suggestions. In this guide we break down wine and cheeses by category including favorite wine and cheese pairings by some Vero producers. Pairing cheese and wine allows for a lot of fun experimentation, making get-togethera more engaging and interactive. Use this guide as a “go-to” when seeking out the best cheese and wine pairing to have at your next party.

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Wine Education, Pairings Jacqueline Mitchell Wine Education, Pairings Jacqueline Mitchell

5 Tips for Wine and Cheese Pairings

It may seem like a daunting task: pick out and pair wine and cheeses. But when done right, it is so worth it! It is also not quite as hard as it may seem to pair wine and cheese together. Inside we have 5 tips and tricks to help you learn what wine goes with cheese! So get your local cheese monger on speed dial, open up a new tab with the VeroShop, and get ready to enjoy a delectable article!

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Dine Like a Local Romagnolo

In the countryside of Romagna, Italy, capretto al forno, or oven roasted goat, is a popular recipe, especially when drizzled with a really good Italian olive oil. We have an authentic recipe to share straight from the local trattorias of Romagna, thanks to the Braschi Boys sharing their passions of food, not only wine. In fact, Braschi’s recommended pairing wine with food with this goat recipe is a full bodied red wine: their riserva sangiovese wine. Check it out!

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A Patchwork Quilt of Pasta

Straight from the land of pasta, comes a journey exploring a traditional filled pasta. While it is not the more well known tortellini, it is just as delicious and versatile. It is tortelli pasta from Romagna, the eastern half of the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. Learn all about tortelli in this article, including pairing wine with food, and find an original homemade pasta recipe from one of the Braschi boys, Romagna natives who run the traditional Romagna winery Braschi.

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Broaden Your White Wine Horizons with Albana

Discover a new, yet old, Italian white wine grape, Albana. It was the first white wine to get the highest quality designation in Italy, DOCG, yet many people have yet to hear of this Italian white wine. We’ve uncovered the history, tradition, taste, and versatility of the Albana grape from Romagna, including perspectives from a local winery owner, in this article.

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Put Some Primavera in Your Pasta

We’ve heard the dish Pasta Primavera before, right? Do you know why it’s called primavera?… Spoiler alert, it means spring in Italian, but what does the word primavera come from? Find out in the article and get yourself an authentic trattoria recipe from Italy to make your own sugo for vegetables with pasta, great for pairing with Sauvignon Blanc.

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Making Fresh Pasta with Wild Plants

We might think of nettles as a nasty weed, but it actually has loads of benefits, from to curing ailments, to being a tasty and nutritional food. Find the inner forager in you as we continue to explore backyard-to-table cuisine in this article with a fresh homemade pasta recipe that uses this wild food plant, making it flavorful and healthy. Check out this article to discover nettles tea benefits, get the nettles pasta recipe, find out what sugo to serve it with, as well as natural wine to pair along.

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Become a Master of Sugo

What is sugo? It’s become a trending culinary topic in the US as of late. Get on board with this authentic sugo recipe from an Italian restaurant in the heart of the Langhe, Italy that is a local favorite eating spot in Italy’s mecca of culinary delights, plus it is Nonna approved and tested. Get the full recipe inside and have a bottle of barbera d alba to fully recreate an authentic Langhe experience at home.

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A Recipe from the Streets of Venice

Straight from the winding canals of Venice, Italy, is a cod recipe easy to pull together even last minute. A creamy spread, put this baccala mantecato on toast to make cicchetti, or bite-sized appetizer ready to pair with Italian wine. Get this authentic trattoria recipe inside. And, Veneto native, winemaker Sandro de Bruno’s favorite food pairing for a wine tasting would be this baccalà with an Italian sparkling wine from the Veneto area, like his classic method Durello.

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