It’s fall and what pairs better with the beautiful orange, yellow, and red leaves that shimmer all around Calaveras County than colorful dishes and fall-weather wines. So settle up, get out those soup pots and fall dinner napkins, and get cooking with our 3 fall favorite soup recipes.
Harvest Grain and Portobello Mushroom Soup
Ingredients to grab:
Onion
Garlic
Celery
Carrots
2 Large Portobello Mushrooms
Tomato
Barley
Vegetable Stock
Fresh Thyme
Though there are creamy mushroom soups, this soup that adds barley in a clear broth really allows the colors to pop and makes it a lighter dish; Necessary for this oddly warm November we’ve had here.
What to Drink:
Pair this light fall soup with a beautiful Tempranillo. The meaty portobello mushroom goes well with a meaty medium-bodied wine.
Featured: Hovey 2011 Tempranillo, Allegorie 2014 Tempranillo, Stevenot Reserve Tempranillo
Red Cabbage and Sausage Soup
Ingredients to Grab:
2 Cups black eyed peas 4 garlic cloves 2 leeks vegetable stock 1 lb red potatoes ½ lb pork sausages ½ lb red cabbage heavy cream
Sausage, potatoes, and cabbage seem to be cool weather staples. Something about overcast weather makes potatoes and sausage cooked in a broth sound really appealing. Fall colors abound in this hearty dish, it’s like Autumn in a bowl.
What to Drink:
Pair this hearty dish with an equally hearty wine; A beautiful Calaveras County Zinfandel would really spice up this soup with peppery notes, cumin, and allspice seasoning flavors to be found in both food and drink. We recommend:
Featured: Four Winds Cellars 2013 Zinfandel, Milliaire 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel, Newsome Harlow 2015 Zinfandel
Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili
Ingredients to grab:
Onion
Garlic
Carrot
Butternut Squash
Poblano Pepper
Chipotle Paste
Cherry Tomatoes
Apple Cider Vinegar
Black Beans
Vegetable Broth
Limes
Cilantro Tortilla Strips or Chips
Sour Cream
Squash season is upon us! Not only is butternut squash the main ingredient actually used in pumpkin pies (pumpkins don’t have as much meat!) but it goes well in all things savory. The chipotle seasoning in this recipe really compliments the natural sweetness of the squash and kicks up the spice in this unique chili. Though this is a vegetable dish, adding spicy ground sausage or ground beef could kick it up to the next level.
What to Drink:
Spicy, savory, and slightly sweet dishes always bring Sangiovese to mind, with a med-body and mild tartness, it compliments spicy food like a warm coffee on brisk Autumn morning. We recommend:
Featured: Val du Vino 2014 Sangiovese, Frog's Tooth 2009 Sangiovese, Ayrael Vieux 2010 Sangiovese.
So snuggle up with a warm bowl of soup and nice glass of Calaveras County wine, and prepare to feel like you've created the perfect Autumn evening!