Pairing: Grilled Striped Bass Topped with a Watercress Sauce … Paired with a 2014 Felsina Chardonnay 

Food: As a boy, I fished for Striped Bass on Great South Bay and the ocean water off Fire Island, Long Island, NY. I have many fond memories of those fishing trips on my Uncle Lou’s boat battling these mighty fighters. Memories, not so fond, of the arduous task of cleaning and filleting the fish laid out on newspaper on the driveway. Of course eating my fish was almost as rewarding as landing them. Reminders of that day’s successful catch lasted throughout the rest of the year since this fish freezes beautifully.  The striped bass for this dish came from the Harbor Fish Market in Portland, Maine, our favorite market in one of our favorite cities.

The preparation here is a new one for us.  The fish are grilled, then topped with a simple sauce made of fresh watercress, onion, olive oil, and a little fish or vegetable stock.  Some of the sauce also flavors the side of pasta (gemelli here), and the meal is completed with fresh broccoli. If you prefer, just grill or broil the fresh fish, plate it and squeeze fresh lemon on it. Stripers have a wonderful flavor all of their own.

Wine:  The  Felsina winery is located in Tuscany, the region most often associated with the famed red wines of Italy … Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Less well known are the wonderful white wines produced in this beautiful countryside … Vernaccia di San Gimignano is perhaps the most widely known Tuscan white wine, but more and more producers are finding that the soils and climatic conditions are well suited for growing the Chardonnay grape. I Sistri is Felsina’s entry into the world of Chardonnay. The winery is located about 10 miles east of Siena near the border of the Chianti wine region.

Tasting Notes: A pretty light gold color with maybe a slight tint of green. Some peach and other stone fruit (apricot and plum) and vanilla on the nose. Layers of tropical fruit and apple combine on the palate with a delightful creamy mouth feel. Vanilla lingers on the finish. Nicely complements the fish and watercress.

Other Wines That Pair Well with Striped Bass:  White Burgundy (France), Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand), Viognier (France), Chardonnay (California)

Other Seafood That Pairs Well with Italian Chardonnay:  Crab, Shrimp, Scallops, Halibut, Arctic Char

View the Stunning Tuscany Region:  Tuscany

A Source:  www. klwines.com