Is there anything better than fresh pasta? I didn’t think so either! If you enjoy making pasta at home,QB Cucina is a great resource for recipes, artisan pasta-making tools, and so much more. I had so much fun pairing their unique Italian Phrases Pasta Bowls with an amazing Brunello di Montalcino.
I am a bride-to-be, come October 2021, so I already registered for some pasta tools in my registry. I realized I couldn’t make my own pasta just yet, but I decided to improvise with some fresh ravioli!
The pasta
I grabbed some burrata, ricotta, basil ravioli, some fire-roasted corn, basil, olive oil, and because I wanted to do a fusion style pasta, some jamón. I thought this was a great combination. Many people don’t think to use jamón in their pastas… normally it’s pancetta or prosciutto. I like to use Monte Nevado Jamón because the ham is very high quality. Quality is so important in both food and wine, and the Brunello I was pairing with this dish was exquisite, so I needed the best ingredients to go with it!
The wine is just stunning! If you’re a lover of Brunello di Montalcino, you’ll want to get your hands on a bottle of Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016. It’s such an age-worthy wine with great depth, complexity, and aromas. The nose is intoxicating and so fresh with a beautiful bouquet of red fruit and some spice. This Brunello has great tannic structure on the palate, as well as bright acidity and lingering aromas that follow through to the palate. This wine just gives and gives, it’s just so incredibly beautiful! You can find this wine retail for about $83, and it’s totally worth it, every single penny.
I was tasting while the pasta was cooking and while I was on the stove searing all the other delicious ingredients. Once the ravioli was ready, I placed it into the pan which had everything cooking. The ham aromas when cooked with garlic and corn were simply mouthwatering. I am big into meats, so I actually took my big Monte Nevado Iberico Ham Bellota, and took off a larger chunk than you would normally slice, and cubed that to make perfect pasta size bites. Granted, you need a leg to do so, but then again I included the link with the stand and a knife for you above! Once it was done, I topped it all with fresh basil.
The wine pairing
This was just delightful. First off, the ravioli was great: it’s simple and really picks up on the flavors that were added to this dish. The corn, ham, and garlic really play well with the red fruit notes in the wine, while the ravioli ties it all together. Texturally with the tannins in the Brunello, this dish worked perfectly!
If you’re looking for a fun date night idea, or simply want to try this stunning Brunello and need a great excuse to indulge in pasta, I absolutely recommend doing this. Gather some plates, artisanal pasta tools from QB Cucina, and an Iberico Ham Bellota, and you’re good to go!
