I am a longtime fan of California’s Simi Winery, which dates all the way back to 1876 when Italian immigrants Giuseppe and brother Pietro Simi produced the first wine under the Simi name. It is thought by some to be the oldest continuously operating California winery since it didn’t shutter its doors during Prohibition.
History aside, Simi today makes outstanding wines that range from Sonoma County Sparkling Brut, Merlot, and Chardonnay, to Alexander Valley Cabernet, Malbec, Zinfandel, and much more.
A wine that I enjoy very much but don’t get to drink often enough is Simi Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2019 ($45). It’s an elegant and opulent Pinot made from 100 percent Pinot Noir grapes sourced from Dutton, Estate Silk Ranch, and La Petite Etoile vineyards in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley.
Aromas of plum and strawberry grab your attention upon opening a bottle of Simi Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, and on the palate are cherry and plum notes with some spicy oak. I recently enjoyed this fine wine with a plate of duck confit “carbonara” at Fenice restaurant (we brought our own bottle in) and it was a very, very good pairing. The chef at Simi Winery recommends pairing this Pinot Noir with roast pork with herbs and fennel, porcini risotto with Parmigiano-Reggiano, or rabbit cacciatore with polenta.
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THIS CONTENT IS FROM UTAH BITES NEWSLETTER.
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Originally trained as an anthropologist, Ted Scheffler is a seasoned food, wine & travel writer based in Utah. He loves cooking, skiing, and spends an inordinate amount of time tending to his ever-growing herd of guitars and amplifiers.
