In this episode, we chat with the senior winemaker at Sonoma-Cutrer, Zidanelia Arcidiácono. She discusses Sonoma-Cutrer wines and shares some tasty ideas for pairing them with fresh local produce coming in through our CSA and farmers markets. Disclosure: The wines featured in this article were provided as complimentary samples.

This episode covers:

• How Zidanelia developed an interest in wine while growing up in Argentina.
• Why she was drawn to the opportunity to make wine at Sonoma-Cutrer.
• Sonoma-Cutrer’s Chardonnay that has won many fans for the winery.
• Ways to prepare fresh corn and enjoy it with Chardonnay.
• Preparing shiitake mushrooms to serve with Pinot Noir.
• Sonoma-Cutrer’s vineyards and their commitment to sustainability.

Today’s guest

Zidanelia Arcidiacono – friends call her Z – was born in Texas and moved to Mendoza, Argentina at age three. Growing up in a region where winemaking was the primary industry, she was inspired by the passion of local winemakers and decided to pursue this career.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in winemaking, Zidanelia gained experience at Bodega Cruz de Piedra in Mendoza and in southern France. Her journey then led her to California in 2007, where she started as an Enologist at Sonoma-Cutrer. Zidanelia’s talent and dedication propelled her career forward.

She worked at Fetzer winery, quickly rising to become the Winemaker for several of their brands. In 2015, she returned to Sonoma-Cutrer, where her expertise in reserve wines made her ideal for crafting their renowned Pinot Noirs.Now a Senior Winemaker, Zidanelia finds joy in nurturing wines and seeing others appreciate her work. She resides in Sonoma County with her family, continuing to contribute to the region’s rich winemaking tradition. This condensed bio based on the profile available here on the Sonoma-Cutrer website.

About Sonoma-Cutrer

Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, located in the heart of Sonoma Valley, is known for its blend of Burgundian winemaking traditions and Californian innovation. Established in 1973, the winery has become a symbol of excellence by harmonizing Old World practices with New World creativity. The vineyards benefit from the unique terroir of the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley Appellations, which provides excellent conditions for producing high-quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Sonoma-Cutrer’s winemaking process is a meticulous blend of artistry and science, involving careful selection and handling of grapes to ensure the highest quality wine. This dedication to craft extends beyond winemaking to fostering strong community relationships and a commitment to sustainability.

While Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can be found at restaurants and wine shops nationwide, there are some special wines available only by visiting the winery or their website. As Zida explained on the podcast, joining the wine club “Club Cutrer” provides members the first chance to get select bottles of wine plus other benefits.

Visit the Sonoma-Cutrer winery for more information.

Our Sonoma-Cutrer Pairings

We had fun sampling a variety of wines from Sonoma-Cutrer. Here are the pairings we enjoyed.

Les Plus Haut

I definitely agreed with Zida that this special Les Plus Haut Pinot Noir would be a great match for the shiitake mushrooms that came in our CSA

So I made steak with shiitakes, delicious pairing with the wine! Stay tuned for the recipe.

We also had a nice side salad made with local lettuce and cucumbers.

Russian River Ranches Chardonnay

Corn and Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay definitely sounded like a great match! So we featured the Chardonnay with some fresh steamed corn, plus pork chops made with carrot top chimichurri.

The corn was a natural for the Russian River Ranches Chardonnay. The pork chops with chimichurri, one might think would be trickier. But as Zida pointed out, this Chardonnay has good acidity that lends itself to pairings, and it worked with the pork.

Also on the plate, orzo with cannellini beans and local summer squash. The wine picked up the cheese and basil in that dish nicely.

Sonoma-Cutrer Rosé

The Sonoma-Cutrer Rosé of Pinot Noir is another food friendly offering from the winery! It worked nicely with our new Hakurei Turnips recipe, which we served alongside our Moroccan Chicken Thighs.

The post Ep. 37: Sonoma-Cutrer Wines with Local Summer Produce appeared first on Cooking Chat.