KITCHEN TABLE DATES Slice of Romance BRING A HOME Between working, making time to exercise, and meeting family obligations, American adults juggle busy schedules – and, with the economy still on everyone’s mind, they are also looking to save money. But busy couples don’t have to let hectic schedules and budget concerns interfere with date night! Dr. Oetker Ristorante paired up with Richard Vayda, the Director of Wine & Beverage Studies at the Institute of Culinary Education, on wine pairing suggestions to elevate the date night experience at home. Pizza Vegetale Layered with generous helpings of tangy tomatoes, mouth-watering peppers, onions and chilies. Prosecco Chilean Sauvignon Blanc This light, bright wine brilliantly matches the crisp vegetables and vibrant flavors of this pizza. Take a close look at the label – Prosecco can be still to full sparkling, as well as dry to fairly sweet. A frizzante (fizzy) brut style makes a good choice, as the slightly sweet apple and peach edged fruit pair nicely with the mildly salty cheese. Selection: Veneto, Prosecco, Brut Mionetto, NV The fresh vegetable flavor of this pizza really perks up with a herby, bright and clean Sauvignon Blanc. Look for recent vintages for maximum freshness. Selection: Rapel, Sauvignon Blanc, ‘Casa’ Lapostolle 2010 Pizza Mozzarella Mozzarella cheese combined with tomatoes, Edam cheese and a delightful mixture of herbs. Lambrusco Chianti The cherry plum flavor of a Chianti Classico has food-friendly acidity and tannins, which love cheese, tomato and herb pizzas. For an extra treat, try a Chianti Classico Riserva. Selection: Chianti Classico, Le Fonti 2007 This sparkling red is delicious and fun. Look for Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro, which has plenty of vibrant, young berry fruit along with the fizz. Selection: Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro, ‘Toccacielo’, Carafoli 2010 Pizza Spinaci Layered with savory leaf spinach, cheese and mozzarella, perfected by a hearty garlic sauce. Côtes du Rhone Rouge Spanish Garnacha/ Tempranillo Rosé Some bright red fruit flavors give this wine a little more depth than most whites, but the wine still shows good crispness, as well as a little herb and mineral to match the pizza’s green vegetable. Selection: Navarra, Rosado, Artazuri 2011 From the south of France, red Côtes du Rhone has a good balance of red plum fruits, tannin and spice, but does not overwhelm. The touch of earthiness marries well with the spinach in this pizza. Selection: Côtes du Rhône Rouge, ‘Parralèle 45’ Jaboulet 2009 Pizza Funghi Aromatic mushrooms, fruity tomatoes, tasty Edam and fine mozzarella cheese. Oregon Pinot Noir Italian Primitivo The complexity of the mushroom on this pizza pairs nicely with the earthy herb flavors in an Oregon Pinot Noir. The delicate, young, red cherry and plum flavors don’t overpower with fruitiness, matching the tomato and cheese. Some of the best come from the Willamette region. Selection: Oregon, Pinot Noir, Erath 2009 Italy’s name for Zinfandel, Italian Primitivo offers a less fruity jammy flavor, with a little spicy earthiness that marries well with the cheeses in this pie. Most come from Apulia (Puglia), but look for wines from specific sub-districts for generally better quality. Selection: Salento IGT, Primitivo ‘Torcicoda’, Tormaresca 2008 Pizza Quattro Formaggi Blend of mozzarella, Edam, Emmental and blue cheese, complemented by a tantalizing basil seasoning. California Cabernet Sauvignon German Riesling The concentrated dark cassis fruit, prominent tannins and wood spiced edge make a cabernet a good match to this cheese blend. Sonoma and Napa make richer examples. Selection: Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon, Charles Krug 2008 The fresh acidity and apple fruits meld with the salty edged cheeses, but the off-dry taste contrasts well. Look for Kabinett level for a dryer, not too sweet style. Selection: Rheingau, Riesling Kabinett, Schloss Vollrads 2008 Pizza Speciale Pepperoni, cooked ham, Edam, mozzarella and spicy herbs. Australian Shiraz Sicilian Nero d’Avola Shiraz, Australia’s name for Syrah, is a spicy plum fruity wine perfect for this pepperoni and ham pizza. South Australian examples tend to be richer, but try to avoid the overproduced, widely distributed name brands, which tend to be high in sweet tasting fruits and low in food-friendly tannins. Selection: South Australia, Shiraz, Heartland 2009 The best examples come from the south of Sicily. Dark ruby red with a rich black cherry nose and overtones of fragrant spices, make this wine a good match to the richness of the meats and the flavor of the pepperoni. The bright acidity and mild tannins work well with the cheese, too. Selection: Sicilia (IGT), Nero d’Avola, Mirabile 2009 **All wine selections are in the $10- $25 price range - but will vary by market