Wine Pairing with Parsley Pesto

• Mild lightly sweet herbal flavors of parsley make it a versatile addition to most recipes.
• Parsley has a light flavor weight that pairs nicely with white wines. (Eaten raw whites are better.)
• When you add stronger flavors like oregano or mint, it marries well with lighter red wines.
• Adding additional heavier earthy elements, such as mushrooms and bacon, create depth and richness and allow for pairings with heavier and more full-bodied wines.
• Different seasonings and spices can also be used in the dish with different flavor directions. Add garlic and onion for more savory flavors.
• Pesto Parsley works well with white and red wines. It has a mixture of herbs with different flavor weights plus both lemon juice and red wine vinegar.
• Add as a condiment to fish, chicken, pasta, rice, eggs or beef; use as a dip for bread or plantains; use as a spread.
• Recommended wines:
  • Artist Series Serenity White Blend (soft-dry white blend with Semillon and Pinot Blanc)
  • Private Reserve GSM (medium-bodied dry red with an elegant finish)
  • Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (heavy-full bodied red with muscular finish)

Merrill and Karen Bonarrigo, Wine and Food Pairing experts at Messina Hof Wine Cellars, Inc.