For an upcoming weekend menu, I’m looking to pair some nice wines for three different meals picked by my companion. A different bottle for each is possible.

I’m aware we cook relatively non-standard but I’m trying to gain experience and see how wine can fit food. The meals are not necessarily eaten across the evenings in the order listed. Also my companion often makes changes to the recipes, e.g., we might not use an ingredient but we will use the title components.

The first is a Pork, Sweet Potato Wedges, Brussel Sprouts with Blueberry Balsamic Sauce, the sides will be made to accompany the pork+blueberry. Recipes: https://thegourmetgourmand.com/pork-tenderloin-with-blueberry-sauce/ and https://www.oatmealwithafork.com/healthy-baked-sweet-potato-wedges/#wprm-recipe-container-21430 https://www.thehoneyblonde.com/2017/01/make-brussels-sprouts-dont-suck/

The second is an Egg Eggplant Tomato Stew (Persian). Recipe: https://claudiacanu.com/healthy-recipe/mirza-ghasemi-eggplant-sauce/

The final one is a Mushroom Spinach Truffled in Crepes, the idea is basically saute of mushrooms, spinach, with truffle and combining that with some type of tortilla/crepe/pancake. Recipe: https://gourmandelle.com/savory-mushroom-rolls/

What would you recommend or which advice can you give for good pairings? What tastes to focus on, where to look for inspiration. Many and varied suggestions are welcome!

The wines at the bottom are part of my cellar that should be drunk sooner than later, where the first wines especially should go soon, so I prefer one of those if possible. I do have a large collection beyond those so feel free to propose any ideas that pop up.

My own thoughts were as follows:

The Pork with Blueberry might combine well with a softer Bordeaux, such as the Château de la Commanderie Lalande-de-Pomerol 2011.

The Egg Eggplant Tomato Stew is difficult though the Alta Pavina Pinot Noir – Tempranillo 2011 might work. Somebody mentioned “expression of the Pinot Noir and the sweetness of the Tempranillo in perfect harmony.” and a bit of earth and a bit of sweet with eggs and the spices in the dish might compliment each other.

The Mushroom Truffle dish could be interesting to combine with the Antonio & Raimondo Unico Langhe Rosso 2010 which is a blend of Nebbiolo (20%) Barbera (20%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), Merlot (40%), if I’m correct.

Finally, I also have a sweet wine, Château La Haute Borie Monbazillac Blanc. Might be crazy thinking this but it might perhaps be an option for either the Pork or the Egg. Though, I think the other bottles are a bit more pressing to drink.

What do you think?

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Château La Haute Borie Monbazillac Blanc 2010

~2019

Conde de Siruela Élite 2009 Ribera del Duero Spain Spanish Ribera Del Duero Red

Château de la Commanderie Lalande-de-Pomerol 2011 Lalande-de-Pomerol France Bordeaux Pomerol

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~2020

Feudi di San Gregorio Taurasi 2008 Taurasi Italy Southern Italy Red

Château Labégorce Château Labégorce-Zédé Margaux 2008 Margaux France Bordeaux Margaux

Le Palaie Bulizio 2009 Toscana Italy Tuscan Red

Magaña Barón de Magaña (Finca La Sarda Crianza) 2010 Navarra Spain Spanish Red

Château La Haute Borie Monbazillac Blanc 2010 Monbazillac France

Antonio & Raimondo Unico Langhe Rosso 2010 Langhe Italy Northern Italy Red

Château Vincens Origine Cahors 2011 Cahors France Southwest France Malbec

Château La Claymore Château Moulin de Fontmurée Lussac-Saint-Émilion 2011 Lussac-Saint-Émilion France Bordeaux Saint-Émilion

Château Goubau Bordeaux 2011 Bordeaux France Bordeaux Red

Alta Pavina Pinot Noir – Tempranillo 2011 Castilla y León Spain Spanish Red

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2012 Marlborough New Zealand New Zealand Pinot Noir

Gabriel Meffre Domaine de la Chapelle Gigondas 2012 Gigondas France Southern Rhône Red

Minkov Brothers Four Cycle Red Blend 2013 Thracian Valley Bulgaria

The Throne Pinot Noir High Altitude 2014 Marlborough New Zealand New Zealand Pinot Noir

Kus Van Thérèse Red Blend 2014

Trio Merlot (Carménère – Syrah) 2015 Rapel Valley Chile Chilean Merlot

Domaine de Petit Roubié Picpoul de Pinet 2017 Picpoul de Pinet France Languedoc-Roussillon White

Frati Bianchi Sparapani Salerna Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico 2013 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Italy Central Italy White

Dining and Cooking