A good steak and a glass of red wine offer a pleasant traditional pairing. The way to enhance the experience is to choose Amarone della Valpolicella, a conventional red wine from Italy, to accompany the perfect cut of steak with high marbling content for added flavour.
Why Amarone?
Considered the gentle giant of Italian red wine, Amarone has bold yet subtle traits that pair well with good cuts of NY strip steak.
Produced with native grape varieties (Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara) from the Venice region, Amarone wines are full-bodied, rich and balanced red wines. Since Roman times, winemakers have used a special technique called the Appassimento method, which consists of drying grapes on straw mats during the winter months to concentrate the aromas and flavors of the fruit.
Producer of the iconic 200 year old Amarone, Masi Agricola, known around the globe for the quality of its wines produced over seven generations, has revolutionized the Appassimento technique. The winery has combined historic winemaking methods with modern research and technology: brewing their own handpicked yeast, replacing straw mats with bamboo racks and drying the grapes in a temperature and humidity controlled environment, in addition to carrying out a double fermentation process. The result is an Amarone offering of five wines steeped in history and personality.
Another notable portfolio of wines is the 2011 Masi Agricola Costasera Amarone della Valpolicella, with a proposed retail price of $63.99. This deep ruby red wine has strong and complicated aromas of dried plums, notes of roasted cherry, chocolate and cinnamon. The taste is dry on the palate, with a soft, bright acidity; refined, structured tannins precede a long finish.
Choose the Right Cut
Choose rich cuts with visible marbling, which will have a higher fat content to pair with bold red wines. An excellent choice is a New York or Kansas City strip steak. This cut is affordable, has texture and is flavorful.
Buy strip steaks that are 1 inch thick. Season with salt and pepper and grill over high heat for 2-4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium until desired doneness is reached, such as medium or well done.
Pair your strip steak with Amarone wine. It is full-bodied with balanced tannins, which would stand up superbly for this flavorful cut. The high tannins will also act as a palate cleanser during meals.
Serving you an attractive steak and a glass of prime quality Amarone will take your experience to the next level.
