Together, beautifully: Recipes to enjoy with Georgia wines

We asked three restaurants to share recipes and their Georgia wine recommendations. Here are the suggestions from Justin Amick, general manager and wine buyer of Parish, Kevin Gillespie and Nicolas Quinones from Woodfire Grill and Paul White, general manager of M Vineyards at Montaluce in Dahlonega.

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Rob McDonald/AJC Special

Acorn squash ravioli with sage butter from Chef Steve Hewins at Montaluce’s Ristorante Le Vigne in Dahlonega.

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Allen Sullivan/aesullivan@ajc.com

Woodfire Grill executive chef Kevin Gillespie stacks sirloin steak slices on top of duck-fat roasted potatoes and creamed arugula

Georgia Wines with Dinner
• Story: Georgia's vineyards strive for wider acceptance
• Wine tips: A guide to Georgia wines
• Recipes: Three Atlanta restaurants share recipes to enjoy with a Georgia wine


Related links
• Calendar: Wine events
• Georgia vineyard makes strides in sweet science of sparkling wine
• Travel: Wine is the new gold in Dahlonega | Photo gallery
• More wine articles by Gil Kulers

Pan-seared Diver Scallops, Baby Beets and Greens With Truffle Honey Vinaigrette

3 servings

Hands on: 20 minutes |Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Justin Amick, general manager and wine buyer of Parish, pairs 2006 Persimmon Creek Vineyards Riesling with executive chef Tim Magee’s Pan-seared Diver Scallops, Baby Beets and Greens With Truffle Honey Vinaigrette.

“This dish is excellent with this off-dry- style riesling because the sweetness and minerality will cut the flabbiness of the scallops while enhancing the earthiness of the beets. Lastly, the vinaigrette is a seamless pairing with the honeysuckle-like flavors of the wine.”

This dish makes a great fall appetizer or a light lunch, or with a couple of more scallops, a healthy dinner. Magee tops the beet and assertive greens with a vinaigrette that balances the sweetness of the honey with a sharp dose of black pepper. Truffle oil can also be found at specialty markets and Whole Foods. It adds flavor and aroma to the beet salad.

The recipe | Persimmon Creek Vineyards

Acorn Squash Ravioli With Sage Butter 6 servings (about 36 2-inch raviolis)

Hands on: 1 hour | Total time: 3 hours

Paul White, general manager of M Vineyards at Montaluce, pairs a 2006 Wolf Mountain Vineyards Instinct blend with chef Steve Hewins’ Acorn Squash Ravioli With Sage Butter. Hewins runs the kitchen at Montaluce’s Ristorante Le Vigne in Dahlonega. “Essentially, this is an earthy dish accented with nutmeg, spice and browned butter, which are some of the same descriptors I use for the Instinct,” White said. “Also, this is not a small dish, so I wanted to pick something with a little oomph, which the Instinct also has.”

The recipe | Wolf Mountain Vineyards

Grilled Steak With Creamed Arugula and Roasted Potatoes

With Grape Tomatoes and Garlic

6-8 servings Hands on: 30 minutes | Total time: 1 hour

Kevin Gillespie, executive chef at Woodfire Grill, tops a seasoned creamy arugula mixture with roasted potatoes, garlic and tomatoes and slices of grilled steaks. While there are a lot of things to prepare for the dish, the recipe is easy to manage if you parboil the potatoes and blanch the arugula an hour or more before the final preparations. While the steak grills, you can roast the potatoes and heat the arugula, making the final assembly more manageable.

Nicolas Quinones, owner and wine buyer at Woodfire Grill, pairs 2006 Persimmon Creek Cabernet Franc with the dish. Quinones explains: “I find this cab franc to have a very round, juicy profile, with a touch of green herbs and nice velvety texture. Its brambly fruit and supple tannins will go very well with wood-grilled, lean beef and its light herbaceous notes will complement the arugula and tomatoes in the dish.”

Gillespie roasts the potatoes in duck fat, but lard or grapeseed oil, which can be heated to high temperatures, can substitute. The easiest way to peel the tomatoes is to drop them in boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds, but if time is short, you can leave them whole.

The recipe | Persimmon Creek