2009 Zonin Pinot Grigio with Grilled Sesame Salmon, Kale & Asparagus

Since it is Spring time I figured I would try a light, refreshing and healthy meal complimented by a fruity and smooth Italian Pinot Grigio.  I came across the recipe for a sesame coated grilled Salmon, marinated simply with salt, pepper, and some fresh-squeezed lemon which I figured would be perfect for this dish, since it is both delicious and fairly light sounding.  

I also did a bit of research as to interesting side-dish flavors which I have not experimented cooking with before and I chose to make a marinated Kale salad, whose bitterness would bring an interesting twist to the smoothness of the Pinot Grigio. 

 I also grilled some fresh asparagus with olive oil, crushed red pepper, and some sesame seeds.  To top everything off I cooked some white rice and added a little bit of soy sauce to it for taste.  

The wine is a 2009 Zonin Pinot Grigio from the Delle Venezie region of North Eastern Italy.  It received a Wine Spectator score of 87 and is 12% alcohol content.  While preparing the meal I uncorked the wine and poured two glasses to breathe for approximately 10 minutes before sipping. (Photo of my boyfriend, who helped me out a bit with the meal & wine drinking..)

The meal was complete after a pretty short prep and cook time.  We got our wine and began to eat & drink!

My first sniff of the Pinto Grigio reminded me of an extremely ripe and almost tart pear.  It was a pretty strong bouquet and mostly of sweet and kind of sour-like smells, mostly all fruity (however, my nose certainly isn't the best with determining this..) I tasted the wine and was immediately pleased by the crispness of the flavors.  It tasted almost exactly as it had smelled.  Very fruity, pear-like, with hints of juicy white-grapey flavors.  When I bit into my sesame encrusted salmon then took a sip of the wine the flavor was pretty complimentary and added an overall sharpness yet in a way the salmon made the wine flavors a bit more delicate.  I next tried some salmon with some kale salad and was really happy with the deliciousness of the bitter kale and the sweetness of the wine mixing together quite well.  Overall, as we finished our meal and continued to drink the Pinto Grigio, we were both pretty pleased with how the food and the wine complimented each other.  The take home for me was that the sweetness of this Italian Pinto Grigio and the bitterness and light fishiness of the kale and salmon were a pretty perfect balance for one another.  I'd definitely recommend this pairing, especially because the meal was so easy and quick to prepare!