Wine on the Radio - September 22, 2004

Barbera                          Recipe        Recommendations

Barbera and burgers?  Try it with turkey burgers on the grill.  It's the ideal wine for them.

Italy's Barbera is bright, fruity, cheery, spicy, not snooty, fun to drink and easy on the wallet.  The perfect wine experience.

Barbera comes from the Piedmont region of Italy . . . Home of the great Barolos and Barberescos.   But Barbera is the "drink now" everyday wine of the Piedmont.

What's really great about Barbera is that it doesn't pretend to be more than that.   You just buy it, open it, and drink it.

So here's what you might want to try this Friday night:

Turkey burgers with Swiss cheese, grilled onion, lettuce, tomato, and spicy brown mustard with a healthy glass of Barbera right next to it.

Check below for Barbera choices and Ken's turkey burger recipe.   Then . .

Pop the cork™.               Listen to the show

“Ken’s” Famous Turkey Burgers       Wine Recommendations

Serves 6

Ingredients:

2 lbs fresh ground turkey

1 large egg

1 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced

¼ cup worcestershire sauce

½ cup chopped parsley

¼ cup ketchup

1 tsp Tabasco or other hot sauce

Kosher salt

Pepper

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl
Work and mix thoroughly
Form into 6 large balls of approximately 1/3 pound each
Place on waxed paper and hand flatten to desired size of burger
Preheat grill and cook until done all the way through… approximately 8 minutes on each side.
Serve on Kaiser rolls with favorite cheese and toppings.

Enjoy with some Barbera from the Piedmont region of Italy - like these!

Some Barbera Choices. All Prices Approximate

Ceretto 1999 Barbera D'Alba Piana $25
Piedmont , Italy
Winemaker's Notes
"Super smooth and supple, with very ripe fruit and tasty oak galore

Michele Chiarlo 2000 Barbera dAsti $12
Piedmont, Italy
Winemaker's Notes
Pure, ripe plum and strawberry fruit flavors underscored by a crisp acidic note and a hint of earth make this charming

Vietti 2000 Barbera d'Asti Tre Vigne $20
Piedmont , Italy

Prunotto 2000 Barbera d'Alba Pian Romualdo $25
Piedmont , Italy
Winemaker's Notes
Lively, ruby red in colour with violet reflexes

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