Penfolds Dining
Pasta
Lasagne
A meat lasagne calls for fruity reds, but not heavyweights - a Shiraz or Shiraz blend, for example. A vegetable lasagne relies on the tomato sauce for flavour, which means lighter, not so tannic reds with good acidity such as a young Cabernet Merlot blend. Aromatic white styles such as Riesling, or Semillon blends cope well with the herbs and the acidity of the tomato sauce.
- Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet
- Thomas Hyland Shiraz
- Koonunga Hill Cabernet Merlot
- Eden Valley Reserve Riesling
- Rawsons Retreat Semillon Chardonnay
Macaroni Cheese
For dishes with a creamy cheese sauce, stick to white and not overtly oaked wines. The choice is wide, just make sure they are dry, with good acidity to cut through the cream.
Ricotta & Spinach Tortellini
The mild flavours and creamy texture, plus tannin-hating spinach, point to white wines. Choose an aromatic light style, dry but not tangy on the finish, such as a Riesling or Semillon Chardonnay.
Spaghetti Bolognese
A tasty Bolognese sauce calls for a lively young red, with lots of ripe fruit and good acidity. There are plenty of reds - blends and varietals - that fit the bill; start with a moderately spicy Shiraz, and continue from there (Shiraz Mourvedre, Cabernet Shiraz etc).
Spaghetti Carbonara
A rich Carbonara contains cream, pancetta and Parmesan, not to mention garlic - delicious but rich. Serve clean, refreshing whites from the latest vintage, ideally light Chardonnay or Riesling. Young reds - a soft Merlot, for example - can partner a calorie-conscious, blander Carbonara, made using milk, smoky bacon and Cheddar.
- Thomas Hyland Chardonnay
- Koonunga Hill Chardonnay
- Eden Valley Bottle Aged Riesling
- Rawsons Retreat Semillon Chardonnay
- Rawsons Retreat Merlot
Pasta with Garlic & Oil
Complement the roasted garlic flavours and oily textures with a buttery, oaked Chardonnay or a rich Chardonnay Semillon. In the red corner, serve a savoury Shiraz blend, or a mature Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Thomas Hyland Chardonnay
- Rawsons Retreat Semillon Chardonnay
- Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet
- Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
- Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon
Pasta with Pesto Sauce
Whether light and aromatic in style, or richly flavoured and lightly oaked, Chardonnay and Semillon (straight or blended) are winning combinations with the garlicky pesto.