Deep ruby red in color, with intense aromas of blackberries, cassis, licorice, pepper, and meaty undertones, this Syrah is from the brilliant wine maker Randall Grahm. The rich flavor of dark fruits and persistent tannins pair well with the fleshiness of flank steak, and the wine’s surprisingly tart and lively finish accents the tart fruit in Greg’s dish. Both Greg’s recipe and the wine are very successful in striking a balance between rich, bold flavors and bright acidity-which in my opinion, is as important for wine as it is for food.
Once known collectively as California’s “Rhone Rangers”, more and more winemaker’s are producing wines made from the grape varietals grown in France’s Rhone Valley. These grapes include Syrah, Grenach, Mourvedre, Cinsaut, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier to name but a few. In my opinion, some of the most interesting wines being made in California emulate the Rhone Valley Styles. Look for wines from Saxum, Sine Qua Non, Tablas Creek, and Bonny Doon. GRANT
Pairs With Spinach Salad with Roast Pears & Winter Friendly Flank Steak Too
Price $15
Also pairs well with beef, cheese, duck, grilled meats, lamb, mushrooms, sausage, venison.
- Category Red Wine
- Varietal Syrah
- Region Central Coast CA
I guess it all starts with social awareness. I am relatively new to fair trade and just took interest in it a few months ago. I hadn’t really paid attention to it and (embarrassed) thought it was just another version of eating local.
Very interesting and informative Greg. I haven’t watched the videos yet, but I will. I agree, it’s important to see all aspects of how food is grown, harvested and how it gets to the farm to your own table.
We currently stock these beans at the cafe I manage in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Props for giving them a well-deserved shout out. Them are some good quality beans that everyone should feel good about buying!
Thanks Greg for bringing this to us.
Thank you, Greg, for bringing this important point to the fore with this inspiring story. We must consider the welfare of the workers in all our purchases. One of the reasons I insist on organic is concern for the workers. I don’t like to think of anyone having to handle the poisonous ag chemicals or work in the fields that have been treated. I’m not a coffee drinker, but if I were I would insist on organic fair trade coffee. I read years ago about children picking coffee beans and having horrible health problems from the heavily treated plants. Even those of us here who are not quite so affluent as others are so much more so than the people producing the goods we buy, and we must be willing to look after their interests.
We need more people like John Darch to start changing the world. This is a truly inspirational and very informative story. I will never look at coffee the same way again.
Looking forward to learning more about Aka people and the company.
P.S. I am sure you know, but Brooke of Foodwolfe is doing a similar story on chocolate and fair trade.
Thanks for reporting on this. I was just looking for some chocolate today for a recipe and wouldn’t allow myself to buy it at Trader Joe’s when I was there because it wasn’t fair trade. Then I got to wondering where you could even get fair trade chocolate other than Whole Foods. Sometimes it’s too much to think about all these issues when you’re in a hurry, but I think we need to train ourselves to consider them even when we don’t feel like it.