Smoke, Sweet, and Southern Italy

This week‘s wine and food was a bold and surprisingly cozy pairing: a 2022 Salice Salentino Rosso alongside a BBQ Chicken grilled cheese served on sliced ciabatta. The sandwich brought together shredded BBQ chicken, melted cheddar cheese, jalapeños, and red onions pressed into crispy grilled ciabatta - smoky, sweet, spicy, and rich in all the right ways! Mmm… mmm… mmm.😋 The Salice Salentino Rosso delivered dark berry notes, soft spice, and enough earthiness to balance the sweetness of the barbecue sauce while standing up beautifully to the sharp cheddar and heat from the peppers.What really worked was the contrast: • smoky + fruity • sweet + savory • creamy cheese + structured red wine • spice + dark fruitThe cheddar especially helped bridge the wine and food together, making the pairing feel fuller and smoother with every bite. This pairing felt relaxed, comforting, and perfect for a casual night that still felt a little elevated. Cheers,B & D 🍷💜