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Jessica Nguyen’s red wine and pasta pairing guide

Posted 19 Oct 2022

By
Mitch Parker

The homecook and pasta queen shares her favourite recipes to match with unexpected red wines.

While every season is pasta season, there’s nothing quite like a big bowl of warming pasta served alongside a glass of delicious red wine when the weather cools down. Homecook and pasta queen Jessica Nguyen knows this better than anyone. Her accessible, step-by-step cooking videos, in particular her pasta recipes, have been inspiring fans on Instagram for some time now. 

“Pasta is universally loved. I don’t trust anyone who says they don’t like pasta,” laughs Jessica. “Really it’s a lot like wine, there’s a range and breadth that you can explore at any level. Whether it’s a simple pasta recipe that comes together in 10 minutes or a complex one that’s slowly made over hours — pasta is always exciting.” 

With that in mind we invited Jessica to share some of her favourite pasta recipes and a few surprising red wine pairings that will match them perfectly. “I love exploring different wines, so I’ve recommended some classic Italian pairings but I’ve also mixed it up with some Spanish and French options.”

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1. El Cuicador Organic Tempranillo with Pasta Alla Vodka

“Pasta Alla Vodka isn’t a traditional Italian pasta, it’s more Italian-American. It’s a very eighties recipe that had a moment last year when Gigi Hadid made it cool again. I think the appeal is that it comes together in 15 minutes from mostly pantry staples, and it's just delicious. For a twist I’ve matched it with El Cuicador Organic Tempranillo, which is a Spanish red wine. The light to medium body makes it great for anyone who usually drinks pinot noir but is feeling more adventurous. Together with the pasta it’s a great combination for a weeknight — or any night, really.”

2. Maretti Sangiovese with Lamb Ragu Pappardelle

“This is a really traditional combination. If you ever travel to Tuscany they do a lot of ragu served with pappardelle, which is a wider fettuccine-style pasta. In Tuscany they’d normally make it with wild boar but here I’ve made it with lamb to celebrate Australia’s abundance of beautiful lamb. For the wine I’ve gone with the Maretti Sangiovese. Maretti makes some of my favourite Italian wines for around $20 — it’s my number one pick for anytime you need an Italian wine. Sangiovese is the wine of the Tuscan region so this is a very classic pairing. The lamb ragu recipe is a four hour slow cook so it’s great to start cooking in the morning and serve as a warming Sunday night meal with family or friends.”

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3. Mockingbird Hill Clare Valley Dr Bain Malbec with Spaghetti and Meatballs

“Spaghetti and Meatballs is another very Italian-American recipe, so it’s not traditional but it is so delicious. I would normally pair this with tempranillo, but for a twist I recommend serving it with Mockingbird Hill Clare Valley Dr Bain Malbec, which is a French-style varietal. Malbecs tend to be more full-bodied and rich, which goes really well with the meaty, saucey spaghetti. Whenever you make meatballs you need a mix of proteins to get that flavour and richness, so this recipe is a pork and beef combination. Another secret is to always use stale bread to make your breadcrumbs because that’s going to give your meatballs that perfect tender texture.”

4. L'Artisan Le Pinot Noir with Burnt Butter and Sage Gnocchi

“I came across this pairing last year during lockdown, it’s inspired by the Yarra Valley. The sauce is a burnt butter, sage, and lemon sauce, which is one of my favourite go-to simple sauces when I can get my hands on fresh sage as well as my favourite butter. Because gnocchi is a really comforting wintry dish it really does pair nicely with a red wine. Never judge a wine by its colour, it’s really about the flavour profile. I find that the slight acidity of the L'Artisan Le Pinot Noir helps cut through the richness of the butter and potato.”

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Shop related products
El CuidadorOrganic Tempranillo
Organic Tempranillo
$19.99 each
 
MarettiTuscany Sangiovese
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Tuscany Sangiovese
$23.99 each
 
Mockingbird HillClare Valley Dr Bain Malbec
Clare Valley Dr Bain Malbec
$25.99 each
 
L'ArtisanLe Pinot Noir
Le Pinot Noir
$10 each
 
Authour image
Mitch Parker Mitch Parker is Melbourne-based writer, editor and advocate for always sitting at the bar.
Tags
LearnTempranilloMalbecWineSangioveseRed WineFood pairingsEntertainingPinot Noir
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