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Saturday, March 3, 2018

Curled up with a Good Book, a Comforting Bowl of Pasta and a Wonderful Glass of Aglianico #ItalianFWT

Today for Italian Food Wine & Travel, Jeff of Food Wine Click, invited us to visit Southern Italy and Aglianico Wines.  You can see his preview post here.

Aglianico is a dark grape variety grown mostly in the Campania and Bassilicata region of Italy.  The varietal is originally from Greece and was brought over to Italy by Greek settlers in Ancient Roman times.

The wine I found, a Rubrato Aglianico from De Feudi Di San Gregorio of the Campania region, was reasonably priced and found at a wine specialty shop.

This is a very heavy wine but not harsh in the least.  It is smooth and bright with lush ripe berries on the tongue.

I decided to make a quick pork ragu to serve over pasta to go along with this wine that screamed to be paired with a meat dish.  It was perfect with this ragu for a quick weeknight dinner.  This entire meal takes a mere 30 minutes from start to finish.

It is in a tomato sauce making it different from this pork ragu that I shared in this group a few months ago.



We are huge pasta lovers in this household, enjoying it at least once a week.  This gives me incentive to find different sauces to give our menu some variety.


I was particularly hungry for pasta and found myself short on time as I had lost myself in the second book of the Genevieve Lenard series, The Dante Connection.

Image result for genevieve lenard

In this novel, Genevive answers her door to find her friend, Francine, beaten to a pulp and barely hanging on.  Before Genevieve realizes what is going on, her apartment is over run with all the people that she had began to think of as friends until they suddenly dropped out of her life with no explanation six months ago. 

It is very difficult for someone who is non- neurotypical to develop relationships and to trust others. This story delves into not only another crime mystery but also how a person with autism handles learning to deal with relationships after years of closing herself off in protection against the very feelings that are now overwhelming her. 

Through it all, big, loveable Vinnie is cleaning and cooking his grandmother's recipes that always seem to include pasta of some sort.



Please make sure you stop by and see what the others are cooking up to serve with their Aglianico wines.  You will find links to their posts under my recipe.  

You can see what others are reading this month over at Foodies Read.

Pork Ragu II

1 lb ground pork
2 T. olive oil
1/2 Vidalia onion, diced
salt and pepper to taste
2 T. tomato paste
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 t. crushed red pepper
1 t. sugar
1/2 t. oregano
2 t. basil paste
3 T. balsamic vinegar
1 (28 oz) can tomatoes with juices
Parmesan cheese for garnish

Heat olive oil in large skillet over med high heat.  Add the ground pork and onions, season with salt and pepper.  Cook, breaking up the pork with a wooden spoon until browned and onion is translucent.  
Add the garlic, crushed red pepper, sugar, oregano and basil.  Cook and stir until coated and fragrant.  Add the balsamic vinegar and cook until absorbed.  Add the tomatoes, breaking them up with the wooden spoon.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes while you prepare pasta per package directions.  Serve over pasta, garnish with parmesan.   Print Recipe

Italian Food, Wine & Travel Group Explores Aglianico #ItalianFWT


Join the Italian Food, Wine & Travel Group as we dive deep into wines made from the Aglianico grape. This Saturday March 3, our posts will all be live and we'll be chatting about our discoveries. Join us on Twitter Saturday March 3 at 10am CST at #ItalianFWT.

Take a look at all the great ideas our group will be posting:




19 comments:

  1. Pure comfort food, perfect for a long winter's night. There's nothing better when it's cold and rainy/snowy, like it has been here. Thanks for another great idea to get me through the last few weeks before spring arrives!

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    1. Enjoy Lauren, I'm going to pick up another couple of bottles of Aglianico next time I'm in the City to help me make it through.

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  2. I found the same wine!!! Thanks for sharing this...and the book,too, Wendy. I'm on the hunt. I thoroughly enjoyed the Aglianico. Can't wait to locate a few more bottles. Cheers.

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  3. There is nothing better than a good book, great wine, and excellent food - bring it on!

    You’ve inspired me, Wendy!

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  4. Pasta lover here too! Thanks for sharing your ragù recipe for a quick weeknight dinner. Cheers!

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  5. We're big pasta fans too, although I don't make it as often as you, perhaps because the sauce concoctions end up on veggies, rice, polenta+++. Your ragu, liking the "quick" aspect!

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  6. Can't beat a good gravy! Sounds like an interesting book, Wendy.

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    1. I'm enjoying them so far. Took a break from the series to read our CTB selection now.

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  7. Looks like a perfect pairing for Aglianico!

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  8. It's been a little bit since I've had one, but I have definitely found the Feudi Di San Gregorio to be solid values as well. And I'm sure it was soooooo good with the pasta!

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  9. Great producer and we enjoy a weekly pasta dish as well ; )

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  10. The book sounds interesting, and the meal totally delicious. I might even be able to find that wine at our local wine shop. Hopefully.

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