RISI E BISI and Lugana DOC CA' DEI FRATI
Cheers to all dear friends of Wine at Wine, today I'll tell you about a typical dish of Venetian cuisine:
Risi e bisi is one of the most well-known dishes of Venetian culture.
It is an easy-to-prepare dish and very flavorful, especially when made between April and July, when it is possible to find fresh Bisi peas.
Venetian tradition sees it as a dish to enjoy on April 25th, the feast day of Saint Mark, patron of Venice.
Ingredients for 2 people
100 g risotto rice (preferably vialone nano veronese)
Carrot, celery, onion
EVO oil (extra virgin olive oil)
10 cl dry white wine
30 g butter
40 g parmesan
200 g peas
A little parsley
let's get to the preparation...
Tradition calls for it to be made with fine small peas, that is the most tender and slightly sweet ones.
For this recipe I used riso vialone nano, typical of the Verona area, and the first harvest of fresh peas found at the greengrocer's (I trust him blindly!).
In a small saucepan prepare a "bouillon de légumes", that is a vegetable broth with carrot, celery and onion.
Sauté in a pot a finely chopped onion with a tablespoon of olive oil and a knob of butter, add the peas and parsley and season with salt.
Then pour in about half a litre of the prepared vegetable broth and cook for 10 minutes over medium-low heat.
Bring all the remaining broth in the pot to a boil and let the rice cook in the mixture.
Stir carefully from time to time so it doesn't stick, and when the broth has completely evaporated, remove the pot from the heat and mantecate with butter and grated parmesan.
For this preparation I recommend two wines: one from Veneto and one from Lombardy!
The first is Soave DOC Terre Lunghe from the winery Vicentini; the second is a Lugana di SIRMIONE del Garda produced by the azienda vinicola Ca' dei Frati.
The winery, located in Sirmione, was founded in 1782; at that time it was actually more of a house with an attached cellar, which effectively became a "winery" thanks to Felice Dal Cero in 1939.
The vintage I tasted is a 2013
It is a DOC white wine produced from uva Trebbiano di Lugana locally called Turbiana.
It is aged for six months in stainless steel and another two in the bottle before release.
Visually it appears in the glass as crystal clear, with a beautiful intense straw yellow colour and good consistency when swirled.
On the nose it comes across as fruity and floral with hints of ripe yellow apple, apricot, hazelnut and exotic fruits; lovely floral notes of rose and white flowers with a light balsamic note.
On the palate it is fresh, savory and mineral, fairly smooth.
The body of this wine is supported by its freshness and savoriness.
Good persistence with a slightly bitter and almond-like finish for a fine and elegant aftertaste.
Other recommended pairings: tagliolini al salmone, dishes with white sauces, poultry and white meats, fresh or lightly aged cheeses
Price at wine shops from €9 to €12
I bid you farewell as always, wishing you only the best
Salute e Bollicine
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