Enjoy Our Recipes and Taste the Wines at the Fourth Annual Connecticut Wine Festival, Goshen Fairgrounds, July 28th and 29th
By Stephanie Baldelli
Few things in life go together as well as food and wine, and what better way to observe this than by cooking with delicious Connecticut wines. Don’t have a favorite Connecticut wine yet? You will soon, because Connecticut wines are growing in popularity and proudly taking their place among the best domestic wines on the shelves of your favorite stores. If you can’t wait to taste them, you can find them soon at the fourth annual Connecticut Wine Festival, Goshen Fairgrounds in Connecticut, Saturday and Sunday, July 28th and 29th. The Festival will feature live music, specialty food vendors, artisan crafts, and of course, the chance to taste many of the top, local wines as part of your admission price.
“The Connecticut Wine Festival is a great place to learn about our wines, while also supporting some of the best vineyards in the northeast” said George Motel, Festival Chairman and owner of Sunset Meadows Vineyards. “Last year, we had record numbers of visitors. They come from all around the Northeast to sample some of our award-winning wines, while enjoying the company of like-minded wine enthusiasts.”
Cooking With Wine - A Winning Combination
While the health benefits of drinking a glass of wine a day are well-known, wine can also make for a healthy, alternative ingredient in many recipes. You can substitute wine for high-fat oils, for example, while still retaining moisture and adding flavor. As a rule of thumb, one should never cook with a wine you wouldn’t drink, so taste to your heart’s desire to find the perfect wine to add to your kitchen.
Following are several great recipes featuring Connecticut wines. Be sure to ask participating vineyards at the Connecticut Wine Festival for a taste of their best wines to complete the recipes. Then buy a couple of bottles or even a case directly from the proud vintners themselves!
Red Wine Marinated Flank Steak with Rosemary and Honey
Serves 4
For recipes that include meat, wine makes for an excellent marinade as its acidic nature is the perfect tenderizer. This recipe calls for red wine in every griller’s summer favorite – flank steak.
1 ½ pound flank steak
¾ cup red wine
1 cup olive oil
½ cup red onion sliced
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon rosemary chopped
1 tablespoon honey
½ tsp black pepper
Whisk marinade ingredients together. Marinate flank steak in mixture over night. Preheat grill to high. Remove steak from marinade and dry off. Salt and pepper the steak and grill on high for 7-10 minutes first side. Turn steak over and grill for another 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest for 10 minutes, slice thinly across the grain and serve.
Chicken Savoy over Pasta
Serves 4
For chicken and pasta lovers, dry white wine is the not-so-secret ingredient in the following recipe that makes this classic chicken Savoy over pasta dish something special.
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into strips
¼ cup roasted red pepper strips
¼ cup marinated artichoke hearts
¼ cup chopped black olives
¼ cup grape tomatoes, halved
1 clove garlic minced
2 table spoons flour plus more for dusting
¾ cup dry white wine
1 lemon juiced
¾ cup water
2 tablespoons cold butter
¼ cup chopped parsley
salt and pepper
1 lb favorite pasta
Rub butter and 2 tablespoons of flour together until combined, set aside. Season flour with salt and pepper, dredge chicken pieces in seasoned flour. Lay chicken in cold sauté pan. Add next 5 ingredients into cold pan. Add wine, lemon juice and water to pan. Bring pan to simmer and gently simmer, uncovered for 12-15 minutes or until chicken is just cooked through. Add butter and flour mixture and whisk into sauce until bubbly and thick. Taste for salt and pepper and add according to taste. Add chopped parsley.
In the meantime cook a pound of your favorite pasta shape according to the package directions. Toss pasta with hot sauce and serve.
The Connecticut Wine Festival Returns
“Connecticut wines are gaining fans in the U.S. and around the world,” noted Sherrie Palmer, festival director and supervisor at Adams Hometown Market, platinum sponsor of the event. “Sponsored by the Connecticut Vineyard and Winery Association and presented by the CT Wine Trail, the festival provides a friendly environment to appreciate the wines of Connecticut.”
Daily admission to the CT Wine Festival is $25 in advance, available at any participating CVWA winery, Adams Hometown Market, online or by phone; $30 at the door. Guests under 21 and Designated Drivers can attend for a reduced admission price of $10. Photo ID with proof of age is required for the wine tasting. Hours for the Festival are 12:00 Noon to 7:00 PM, Saturday, July 28th; and 12:00 Noon to 6:00 PM Sunday, July 29th. More information, call 860-677-5467 or visit www.ctwine.com.
