3,360 People
Follow Ponte Winery on
Twitter. Join us!
Subscribe to our RSS Blog with one of these popular web-based RSS feed readers:
  • Subscribe to our RSS Blog with Google RSS Feed Reader
  • Subscribe to our RSS Blog with Yahoo! RSS Feed Reader
  • Subscribe to our RSS Blog with AOL RSS Feed Reader
  • Subscribe to our RSS Blog with NewsGator RSS Feed Reader
  • Subscribe to our RSS Blog with NetVibes RSS Feed Reader
  • Subscribe to our RSS Blog with Rojo RSS Feed Reader
  • Subscribe to our RSS Blog with Pageflakes RSS Feed Reader
  • Subscribe to our RSS Blog with Blog Lines RSS Feed Reader
Or... subscribe with your stand-alone RSS feed reader; copy & paste the following RSS feed URL into your reader:
Share this Article:

The Missing Ingredient

Category: Food and Drink  |  Permalink

Published: Wednesday, December 23, 2009

By Erica Martinez

When winter approaches and the weather starts to cool something triggers in our subconscious, making us want to hibernate; sleep late and eat warm, heavy comfort foods, preferably accompanied by dry, bold red wines...all for prepping our bodies and souls for a long, cold winter season. On a cold December night, walking home from work after a long day and buried under layers of knit, I had a different idea. Contemplating dinner, I knew comfort food was out. Too heavy, too much time. Thai might do the trick - spicy and quick.

I was right. It was spicy and quick...but something was missing. The green jasmine rice included cilantro, ginger, lime juice and garlic. The main tofu course included curry, chili flake, tomato and coconut milk - unsweetened. So lack of ingredients wasn't the problem. It seemed all the senses were being stimulated - sour, salty, spicy, even the elusive umami. But sweet? That was it. There was no sweetness in the dish at all. Perplexed that I might have overlooked an ingredient in the recipe list, I nonchalantly took a sip of my chosen wine, Riesling. And there it was: the missing ingredient in liquid form. Tart, fruity and pleasantly cooling against the bite of the red chili flake, the Riesling was a perfect match with my quick Thai dinner.

I am always amazed when wines I associate with a certain season shine at an unexpected moment. A crisp Riesling has forever reminded me of warm summer days the same way a bold Syrah belongs to winter. Much to my surprise, Riesling exceeded my expectations in 20 degree weather, just like Syrah blew my mind away when I drank it with barbecued ribs in July.

Lounging on the couch next to my electric space heater, eating up my dinner in between sips of Riesling, I might as well have been in Bangkok. Oh, the things that wine can do!

Be the first to share your Comments...

Post a Comment


Other Recent Articles

Do You Know What This Sunday Is?

Category: Soirees and Shindigs

Published: Friday, February 03, 2012

It's one of the best food days of the year. It's an excuse to throw all caution to the wind and eat as much as you want.

Read More



Ponte Pick Up Par-tay!

Category: Soirees and Shindigs

Published: Wednesday, February 01, 2012

If you haven't figured it out yet, we like to throw parties and in a couple of days, we are hosting another!

Read More



Valentine’s Day, Covered

Category: Soirees and Shindigs

Published: Monday, January 30, 2012

Just because Valentine's Day falls on a Tuesday this year doesn't mean it shouldn't be spectacular.

Read More



New Winter Menu at The Restaurant

Category: Food and Drink

Published: Friday, January 27, 2012

Read More



Wine Gadgets

Category: All Things Wine

Published: Wednesday, January 25, 2012

There are two types of people in this world: gadget people and non-gadget people.

Read More

© Copyright 2012, Ponte Family Estate. All rights reserved. - Sitemap Infinity Arts: SEO Management & CMS Web Hosting

Home  »  Ponte Family Estate Winery

About this Page: Nestled away in the heart of Temecula Wine Country, you will find the Ponte Family Estate Winery, Southern California’s premier winery destination. Through an exclusive winery market atmosphere, Ponte Winery offers its visitors wine tasting, fine wine country cuisine dining at the Smokehouse Restaurant, weddings set with a serene view of the Temecula, California Wine Country mountains, as well as an all inclusive Ponte Wine Club.