Pairing:  Shrimp Arrabbiata Paired with 2012 Monasesca Verdicchio di Materica Riserva

Food:  This recipe is adapted from Artist’s Arrabbiata with the addition of shrimp to this light, but spicy, tomato pasta. Arrabbiata means “angry” in Italian, or spicy when describing this dish. Pancetta, garlic, red pepper flakes, and Romano cheese … all classic ingredients that contribute to the spiciness. But, the shrimp cools down the heat a bit.

Wine:  Red or white? This is often a relatively easy question to answer when selecting a wine to pair with a meal. Most seafood or vegetable dishes pair best with a white wine, while meat or pasta in a rich tomato sauce go nicely with a red wine. And some foods (eg., roast chicken or pork) go well with either a red or a white. Obviously, there are many exceptions to these generalizations, but you usually can’t go wrong with these pairings. However … what do you do with a dish like this shrimp arrabbiata that combines delicately flavored shrimp and a more assertive tomato sauce with pasta? One could overpower the shrimp with a red wine or overwhelm a white wine with a rich tomato sauce. This was my dilemma when considering a food/wine pairing for this dish. The tomato sauce is not really made with a long, slow cooking that would intensify the tomato flavor. Rather this recipe calls for a low simmer for only about 15 minutes. This results in a lighter, fresher tomato taste which suits both the delicate shrimp and a pairing with a crisp, flavorful Italian white … Verdicchio. Perfecto!

Tasting Notes:  Ah … the wonderful fragrance of honeysuckle in full bloom … light and sweet smelling. Along with the intoxicating aroma of fresh, ripe cantaloupe. That sweet cantaloupe taste fills your mouth with a wonderful counterpoint to the spicy tomato sauce as well as a lovely complement to the shrimp. There’s even a hint of clementine on the finish. A delightful wine and a nice pairing for this shrimp arrabbiata.

Other Foods That Pair Well with Verdicchio:  Grilled Seafood, Pasta with a Creamy Sauce, White Fish, Scallops

Other Wines That Pair Well with Shrimp:  Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand), Chardonnay (Italian), Chablis, Dry Riesling (Alsace)

Read About:  http://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-verdicchio+di+matelica

A Source:   www.klwines.com