Pair it Up! GreenLane Estate Wines with Italian Cuisine

I recently read an interview that Lidia Bastianich did for Western Living Magazine to promote Una Bella Notte con Lidia, a fundraising gala she'll be hosting in Vancouver later this month. Her new book Mastering the Art of Italian Cuisine came out late last year to rave reviews. In honour of this week's free shipping offer from GreenLane Estate Winery on 6 or more bottles, I wanted to pair up their wines with three of Lidia Bastianich's recipes from her most recent book.

Shrimp Buzara or Gamberoni alla Buzara - This dish originates from the Adriatic coast—shrimp cooked in a tomato, garlic, and fish stock, and topped with breadcrumbs and parsley. This is a perfect pairing for the 2013 Winemaker's White, a wine that blends the richness, citrus, and minerality of Chardonnay with a touch of sweetness and fruitiness of Riesling. This wine is made for Mediterranean seafood dishes. ($16.95, 12.5% alcohol).

Spaghetti with Garlic and Oil - The perfect bowl of pasta is all about simplicity. This recipe's flavours revolve around roasted garlic, chili flakes, and grated Italian cheese. Lidia suggests adding anchovy filets if you're looking for a little more bite. Try this dish with the 2013 Unoaked Chardonnay. I really like this wine from GreenLane—it has all the refreshing qualities you want, but also offers a little depth in texture, minerality in the finish, and great balance. This wine won't overpower the simplicity of the pasta, plus Chardonnay tends to works well with garlic and aged Italian cheeses. ($17.95, 13% alc.)

Rigatoni Woodsman Style (Rigatoni alla Boscaiola) - this is a thick rigatoni pasta with the herbs and spices of Italian sausage and the earthiness of mushrooms. Pair it with the 2013 Cabernet, a medium-bodied Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. This wine should be the perfect weight so as to not overpower this dish, but with plenty of spice notes to complement the sausage and a slight woodsiness to play off the mushrooms. ($16.95, 12.3% alc.)

Get free shipping on 6 or more bottles from GreenLane this week only! Click the bottles below and add to your cart.

Jake Skakun is a writer and sommelier from Vancouver, currently living in Toronto. He can be found most days pulling corks and twisting caps at the Black Hoof. He Tweets and Instagrams @jakeskakun.