WINE & FOOD AFFAIR RECIPES

Soups

Hearty Minestrone Soup

Dutton Estate Winery

8757 Green Valley Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
duttonestate.com

This warming Italian soup pairs perfectly with a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.

Ingredients:
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 6 ounces applewood bacon, diced
  • 2 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
  • 2 cups diced carrots (1/2-inch pieces)
  • 2 1/2 cups diced peeled butternut squash (1/2-inch pieces)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 can (26 ounces) chopped tomatoes
  • 2 cups chicken stock, plus more as needed
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 1 cup Dutton Estate Pinot Noir
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper
  • 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups small bow tie pasta, cooked, drained and cooled
  • 6 stalks Swiss chard, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh pesto
  • Grated Valley Ford Estero Gold Cheese Montasio Style, for garnish
  • Nick Sciabica Basil-Infused Olive Oil, for drizzling

Directions:

In a large stock pot over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and crispy, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the onion, carrots, butternut squash, garlic and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, 8 to 10 minutes.  

Add the tomatoes, chicken stock, beef stock, wine, water, bay leaf, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Add the beans and cooked pasta and simmer until heated through. The soup should be thick but can be thinned with chicken stock if desired. 

Just before serving, add the Swiss chard and cook until the chard is just wilted. Add the pesto and stir until well incorporated into the soup. 

Ladle the soup into large, shallow bowls. Garnish each serving with grated cheese and a light drizzle of basil-infused olive oil.

Dutton Estate Winery

8757 Green Valley Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
duttonestate.com

Karmen Isabella Pinot Noir