Stracotto di Manzo al Vino Rosso + Brachetto d'Acqui #ItalianFWT

Cindy of Grape Experiences is hosting this month's #ItalianFWT bloggers. You can read her invitation here. She's asked us to focus on Brachetto d'Acqui. If you're reading this early enough, feel free to join us for a live Twitter chat on Saturday, April 4th at 8am Pacific time. Follow the hashtag #ItalianFWT and be sure to use it if you chime in so that we can see what you're tweeting. In the meantime, here are the posts that will be live between Friday, April 3rd and early Saturday, April 4th. Cin cin...

• Susannah at Avvinare explores Brachetto d’Acqui – A Treat from Piedmont. 
• Nicole at Somm's Table pairs Marenco Pineto Brachetto d’Acqui and Simple Strawberry Treat.
• Lynn at Savor the Harvest is ready to Brighten Up Lockdown with Brachetto d’Acqui Sparkling Wine.
• Jennifer at Vino Travels is enjoying Brachetto: The Sweet Red Bubbly of Piedmont.  
• Camilla at Culinary Adventures with Camilla pairs Stracotto di Manzo al Vino Rosso + Brachetto d’Acqui.
• Gwendolyn at Wine Predator matches Brachetto d’Acqui and Grandma’s Biscotti with Cherries Poached in Red Wine and Marscapone.
• Wendy at A Day in the Life on the Farm is Whiling Away the Time with Marenco Brachetto d’Acqui Pineto.
• Jeff Burrows at Food Wine Click! finds Piemonte Brachetto: Sweet, Fizzy and Red! 
• Terri at Our Good Life spends An Afternoon of Wine Learning: Brachetto d’Acqui. 
• Linda at My Full Wine Glass is Bingeing on Brachetto, Biscotti, Berries and a Chocolate Bunny.
• Marcia at Joy of Wine is exploring Brachetto: The Sweetie of Piemonte. 
• Cindy at Grape Experiences plans to Bring Joy to the Table with Brachetto d’Acqui and Budino al Cioccolato (Chocolate Pudding Italian Style).

Stracotto di Manzo al Vino Rosso 

+ Brachetto d'Acqui

I decided to push the envelope a little bit and pair a slow-braised meat with a sweeter sparkling wine: Stracotto di Manzo al Vino Rosso +Brachetto d'Acqui. I thought that the decidedly piquant garlic in the meat would counter the sweetness of the Brachetto d'Acqui. However, the two wine-drinkers at my table - that'd be me and Jake - were split down the middle.

I liked it; he gave me a little nose wrinkle when I asked him what he thought. But he happily poured himself another glass as we ate cookies and played board games with the boys. This shelter-in-place order has been good for lots of family time around the table!

In My Glass

I have shared a Brachetto d'Acqui once before - back in June 2017 - when I poured the Braida di Giacomo Bologna Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG 2014 and paired it for a dinner from start to finish: salumi platter to gelato! Beyond that, my experience with the wine is extremely limited.

So, I aimed to counter the sweetness of the wine with the garlicky-goodness of the meat. I was only partially successful. Jake didn't care for the pairing. Oh, well...I liked it!

A little bit about the grape...Brachetto originates from the Piemonte region of northern Italy though it is known as the Braquet grape of southern France where along with Cinsault, it makes some nice Rosés around the Côte d'Azur.

A little bit about the winemakers...Marenco dates back to the early 20th century when patriarch Michele dreamed of planting a vineyard in the heart of the Bagnario Valley. Giuseppe, Michele's son, gradually acquired land and selected indigenous grape varieties to cultivate. Guiseppe built his winery in the center of Stevi, near the train station, so he could send his wines directly to his customers. 

Today, Giuseppe's daughters, Michaela - along with her husband Dr. Giovanni Costa -, Patrizia, and Doretta continue the family business with enthusiasm and dedication. The three women personally supervise and every step of the production process - from grape to glass.

This wine - Marenco's Pineto Brachetto d'Acqui - has a light ruby color that leans more pink than red. It's sweet on the nose and the tongue with heavy aromas of roses and vanilla in the foam. Low in alcohol with delicate bubbles, this wine is easy to drink.

On My Plate

Stracotto di Manzo al Vino Rosso is essentially an Italian pot roast where the chuck roast marinated overnight in red wine, then braised for hours.

Ingredients

• 2 pound roast (I used a chuck roast)
• 1 bottle red wine
• 4 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup diced celery
• 5 to 6 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
• 4 to 5 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 cups beef stock
• freshly ground salt
• freshly ground pepper

Procedure

Heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a large pot. Add the carrots and celery and cook until the carrots are fork tender. Add in the garlic and red wine. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the liquid is reduced by a third. Let the mixture cool completely.

Season the roast with salt and pepper, on both sides, then place it in a lidded container. Pour the cooled wine over the meat to marinate. Let the meat marinate overnight, turning every 6 hours or so.

When you're ready to cook, heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a large lidded pot or a Dutch oven. Remove the meat from the marinade and cook to give it a nice sear, approximately 2 to 3 minutes on all sides. Once it's nicely browned, place it flat in the pot and pour the marinade and all the veggies into the pot on top of the meat. Pour in beef stock and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to a simmer and let the meat braise for 3 to 4 hours. Turn the meat over every hour or so while it cooks. Before serving, remove the pot from the heat and let the meat rest for 15 to 20 minutes before slicing.

I served the Stracotto di Manzo al Vino Rosso with some braised beans and a baby kale salad.