Months ago, my husband and I created a list of wines we had yet to try. With these wines in mind, we made 2 trips to 2 local wine shops and stocked up. Apparently I haven’t been doing well with my “weekly wine night” goal, because we still have a few bottles left to sample…

So on Monday evening, when, as I was about to start preparing dinner, my husband called and asked if I wanted to play tennis, I ditched my plans for early morning yoga on Tuesday and decided that a post-tennis, wine-pairing dinner was in order.

I have been churning around ideas for a good pairing for this Soave for a few weeks. I was developing a vision for a lemon and/or olive studded light fish. Something along the lines of this or maybe this. My last minute decision, however, meant that I had to go with what was on hand. This led to a somewhat imperfect pairing, though both the meal and the wine were enjoyable.

Still on my tofu kick, I sauteed tofu for me and beef for my husband in a bit of coconut oil.

His and Hers protein

I also steamed some broccoli, cooked up some quinoa, and whisked together an Asian-inspired sauce that included soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger juice, agave nectar, and Sriracha.

Tofu version of the meal

After about 2 bites, my husband declared this meal an A+! Sometimes, simple is the best way to go… I’m not sure what was different about the way I cooked this tofu, but OMG it was PERFECT! Flavorful, great texture, and all around yummy. I think I can now say that I am a fan!

As for the wine:

“This simple Italian table wine, popular in the Veneto region, is primarily made from Garganega grapes. Some winemakers also include Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and other grapes to lend more body.” (From Wine and Food)

The bottle we had, from La Cappuccina, included Chardonnay, Trebbiano and Pinot Blanc grapes in addition to the Garganega (70%).

This Soave had a tart, citrusy aroma, with a decent amount of grass and a touch of minerality. One sip revealed a crisp and effervescent wine, with light body, perfect for sipping on a warm summer day. There were hints of grapefruit, lemon, and steel, with green apple in the finish. It had a short finish, yielding a refreshing and well-balanced wine.

As I mentioned, the pairing was a bit off, as the slight spiciness of the meal was in no way off set by the crisp, tart wine.

Despite the imperfection of the pairing, it was a perfectly delightful meal, great for a warm summer evening.

-L