WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO
AND A MYSTERY WINE PAIRING!
A dear friend Ann-Sofie gave me a wonderful shelter-in-place surprise: a bag of dried Wild Funnel Chanterelles from her homeland - Sweden. So of course I had to have some fun with them, and suggest an unconventional wine pairing.
The Chanterelles became the star for a simple yet rich and earthy risotto.
The method is simple, but requires a bit of focus; you don’t want to burn, nor overcook the risotto. I simply followed standard risotto instructions and added the re-hydrated mushrooms with tarragon as the herb. I also added the diced baby bells for some added zing and color… food is always better when it looks vibrant.
The finished plate included sautéed rabe and grilled lamb loin chops.
WINE PAIRING
About the wine! I pulled out three options to keep add some intrigue.
3) California, Central Coast Pinot Noir.
It is a foregone conclusion that the Pinot Noir would be perfect with this dish, but isn’t it fun to think outside the wine-box sometimes?
Rather than going tried and true, I selected the California Chardonnay. Unlike the French Chablis, which is more austere and lean, probably not a good pairing for this dish, the California Chardonnay was perfection.
This 2018 Chardonnay from Lorenzi Estate Vineyards is still awaiting release, but I had the pleasure of getting a bottle to review. It is a big, round, balanced wine. Some California style Chardonnays can be very heavy in the oak department… a crowd pleaser for the camp that swears by them, but this one is more nuanced, less assertive. Spice is there, but not a baked apple pie kinda spice generally associated with the big buttery style.
The citrus notes, along with soft spices play a beautiful dance of subtle sophistication. This is a very clean, smooth wine. The mouthfeel is like velvet, but not felt lining the bottom of a cigar box. There are notes of butter, but very light, and not overpowering the lift the fruit gives. The finish is so seamless that it was hard to recall when the wine stopped giving flavor to the palate.
The earthiness of the risotto along with the creaminess thanks to slow cooking created a perfect platform to tame this wine, allowing the fruit to shine without any cloying sweetness. One of my goals as a wine educator first, and chef second, is to find harmony in the pairings! This was a harmonic symphony.
Lorenzi has been garnering more 90 plus scores than they can keep up with. This Chardonnay will probably be one for the records once other reviewers get their taste buds on it! I’m gonna jump in early with my predictions that this is a 94/95 scoring wine.
Check out Lorenzi at and discover the many amazing wines they offer.