Wine Question For Italian Night

[Sass Muffin]

Ten friends and myself are going to have a "just us girls" dinner and movie night on Wednesday.
The plan is that we all bring an Italian dish to share.

I'll be making a veggie lasagna in a bechamel type sauce.
There will be ravioli florentine, spaghetti and meatballs and pizza too, so far as I know.
We were all asked to bring a good wine as well.

I could Google wine suggestions, but I'd rather know what you all use to accompany specific themed dinners, such as this.
Thanks in advance.

[luvs]

i drink valpolicella, usually.

[VeraBlue]

Get a nice chianti at the very least. If you have the opportunity to chose by region, go with the Puglia region.

But absolutely, since this is an italian themed evening, get a wine from italy.

[buzzard767]

Barolo, the king of wines and the wine of kings is made of 100% Nebbiolo grapes. So is Barberesco, both from the Piedmont region in northern Italy. You should be able to find a decent generic Nebbiolo at a good wine shop. It's a dry red like Cabernet Sauvignon but has a totally different taste. Try it. You'll like it. :)

[QSis]

Sounds like a blast!

What's the movie, Sass?

Lee

[Sass Muffin]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.
Don't know what movie(s) the hostess has selected as yet Lee.
That's the fun part for the rest of us! lol

[VeraBlue]

Buzz, I couldn't agree more about the barolo or barbaresco....but since this is a pot luck kind of dinner, in my opinion, I wouldn't serve those. The propensity for the creamy vegetable lasagna or the ravioli florentine to clash is great..and barolo's are $$$.
I'd save that for a meal when you have more control over the courses.

[buzzard767]

Buzz, I couldn't agree more about the barolo or barbaresco....but since this is a pot luck kind of dinner, in my opinion, I wouldn't serve those. The propensity for the creamy vegetable lasagna or the ravioli florentine to clash is great..and barolo's are $$$.
I'd save that for a meal when you have more control over the courses.

I didn't say buy a Barolo. There are bottles labeled Nebbiolo, generic stuff, and not nearly as heavy as Barolo. As to the price of Barolos, yeah, I know. I used to bring back six bottles every trip to Rome because, one, I could obtain exactly the ones I wanted, and two, if you could find them in the US they cost three times as much (and that's a lot). :shock:

[Sass Muffin]

Thanks again.
I'll let you know what I've purchased. Notes taken and much appreciated.

[loboloco]

Sass, wine is as individual as fingerprints. Personally, I go for the other than grape wines. A good scuppernong blush is sweet without being too sweet or a muskiedine wine. I think these are considered more dessert wines, but I like them.

[Sass Muffin]

Thank you Jeff!
I'll be hitting the stores tomorrow afternoon in search.

[VeraBlue]

Sass, wine is as individual as fingerprints. Personally, I go for the other than grape wines. A good scuppernong blush is sweet without being too sweet or a muskiedine wine. I think these are considered more dessert wines, but I like them.

But would you serve this with an italian meal?

[loboloco]

But would you serve this with an italian meal?
Damfino. Food is food, wine is wine. All I can say is try it. Don't eat italian myself.

[VeraBlue]

Agreed...but the question was to suggest a wine to compliment an italian meal:)

[loboloco]

Agreed...but the question was to suggest a wine to compliment an italian meal:)
Just threw in my two cents worth. Free advice, it's worth what you pay for it.

[Sass Muffin]

Well a chianti seems to be the most sensible at the moment.
After all, doesn't it go well with creamy/white based sauce recipes, as well as red sauced ones, and even pizzas?
I don't know much at all about pairing wines with whatever dish other than the very basics.

[loboloco]

Good luck Sass. Hope it turns out well.

[Sass Muffin]

Thank ya dear!

[VeraBlue]

Serve the chianti with the reds, and a pinot grigio with the cream sauces. This way you can actually have pairings/tastings. An asti or proseco would be nice with dessert.

[Sass Muffin]

okee dokee!
Good advice Vera, and everyone else.
I really appreciate this. ;)

[Sass Muffin]

The Italian night is called off for now :(
2 coming down with colds, one having MAN problems (gosh go figure! lol), another having munchkin problems adjusting to school scariness, so we have agreed to another date in mid October.
Hurray.