☰ Menu
Close

Mediterranean Diet: Wine is Included

Posted on: January 6th, 2011 by Tom Peiffer No Comments

Many people who follow the Mediterranean Diet do not realize that wine in small to moderate amounts is also part of the mix.  This is fortunate because many of the Med Diet dishes pair really well with wine.

Consider the fruit and cheese combination.  Because the Mediterranean Diet requires a low consumption of dairy products, the cheese you pick should be one that is quite tasty in little bites.  A great choice for this, and a wine pairing superstar, is Gorgonzola.  Basically, it’s the Italian version of blue cheese, except more on the mellow side.

When it comes to fruit, the Mediterranean diet has few restrictions and one of the best fruits to have along with Gorgonzola cheese is pear.  Combining generous pear slices (and even some green grapes) with bits of crumbled Gorgonzola cheese on an appetizer plate makes the Med Diet hardly even seem like a diet.

Combine this cheese and fruit plate with a glass of Pinot Grigio and you have the perfect Med Diet appetizer.  Although an Italian Pinot Grigio seems like a logical choice, the sweetness of the pears makes a New World wine a better match.  This works best with moderately acidic wines that have a slight hint of pears or melons in their bouquet.  This is not hard to find in California’s Sonoma County vintners.

Give the Clos du Bois Pinot Grigio a try.  It also complements the food best if it is not super chilled, so take it out of the fridge and open the bottle about ½ hour before serving with the appetizer.  You can pick it up at most wine shops for under $15.

Note that Pinot Grigio wine’s subtle flavors will probably not follow through well with the main course.  So switch to another varietal after the appetizer and continue to enjoy the diet.

Written by Tom Peiffer, Phoenix Wine Shopping Examiner at Examiner.com

View more of Tom’s articles on Examiner.com by visiting his writer’s page.


About the Author - Tom Peiffer

Tom has been an avid wine consumer and collector for over 20 years. This pastime has taken he and his family on many visits to wine growing regions, including Arizona. During these excursions, with the accompanying tastings and lectures, it became clear that there is no "magic bullet" wine. For each wine contains its own character, strong points, and weaknesses. Sharing these experiences to help anyone purchase locally available wines is his goal.

More Posts by  | Website

Related Posts

Westgate Brunch Guide

Westgate Brunch Guide: Find Your Perfect Weekend Spot

Posted on: April 18th, 2023

Weekends are the perfect time to catch up with friends and family. What better way to do that than over a great brunch? If you find yourself in need of... Read More
Cab Franc & Others: What the Barrel Can Do

Cab Franc & Others: What the Barrel Can Do

Posted on: March 1st, 2020

If you’ve ever wondered about all those grape varietals lining the “Alternative Reds” shelves, there is one in particular that provides an interesting charm, Cab Franc. Read More

Be the first to comment!

Leave a Reply

©2024 PhoenixBites | Site Designed by WeDoDev

All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Disclosure Policy | Sitemap