Especially in winter, a warm bowl of pasta, cooked al dente of course, and a glass of wine make the evening about as comfortable as it can get. With the addition of a few friends, family, and lively conversation, I can’t think of a more heartwarming evening! Each week you’ll find me cooking a savory pasta dish and pouring wines from Italian varieties that, in many cases, are new discoveries. Last week, I found recipes for pasta which I knew would complement the two fascinating Italian wines that I had received, as samples, from Donnachiara.
Donnachiara
This beautiful winery is located in Montefalcione, the “heart of production” of the three Irpinian DOCG wines: Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo, and Taurasi. Those at the winery have preserved authenticity in viticultural techniques for five generations. The Petitto family continues to be “hands-on” in their efforts to follow the production process from the vineyards to bottling of the wines. Based on the two wines I tasted, the element of “high quality” is paramount in their endeavors.
The brand, Donnachiara, was established in 2005 on the family’s ancient property. Chiara Petitto’s dream was to dedicate the winery to her grandmother, Chiara, who had a real passion for nature and wines. With the help of her husband Umberto Petitto, a leader in the metalwork industry and a wine lover, Chiara gave life to their dream. Donnachiara Winery
Today the Petitto family continues to respect tradition, business acumen, financial strength, expertise, and innovation in order to produce premium wines from indigenous grapes. Their mission is to “preserve traditional grape varieties of the local territory and focus on environmental protection in the cultivation of the vineyards”. For more about this notable winery and native varieties cultivated on the estate, please enjoy the following video.
Pass the Pasta and Pour the Wines
Dinner that night? No one at our table was disappointed. Each rich and savory pasta dish was intended to be paired with either Donnachiara Fiano di Avellino DOCG-DOP 2017 or Donnachiara Taurasi DOCG 2013 Riserva. With full disclosure, however, there was a fair amount of “mix and match” during dinner! Hey, there are no strict rules when it comes to food and wine – we should always drink and eat what we love, right? My friends couldn’t get enough sips of these distinctive and versatile wines!
As Donnachiara Fiano di Avellino DOCG-DOP 2017 displayed its brilliant character, everyone considered it a sophisticated, yet easy-going complement, to the flavorful notes of the dish. The pasta and fresh shrimp were tossed with the simplest tomato cream sauce you’ll ever make and lovely aromas of garlic, shallots, and wine filled the kitchen. Clinks all around!
Balanced and elegant, each sip was a generous counterpoint to the pasta. Bursting with flavor, this meatless dish was rife with tastes of garlic, roasted red peppers, pine nuts, and onion… all ingredients I consider whenever I desire to make a recipe even more memorable. And with sips of Donnachiara Taurasi DOCG 2013 Riserva? Magnifico!
Cheers! ~ Cindy
