Lockdown 3 meanders on with no end in sight. I only leave the house to go for a walk. Haven’t been near a shop for over three weeks and of course all hospitality is closed and we’re not allowed to socialise. It’s tough.
On the up side, it means I’m spending more time in the kitchen. It’s keeping me sane and satisfying my taste buds. Even better news, I received a bottle of beautiful Italian wine from Tuscany. The multi award-winning Ridolfi Fiero 2017 is produced at the Ridofli winery in Montalcino where they pride themselves on their innovative wine-making and bottling techniques. Ridolfi have been named the Up and Coming Winery of 2021 and this masterpiece of a wine received the remarkable score of 94/100 from acclaimed wine critic James Suckling who described it as a “new wine to watch out for”.
It’s a mix of Merlot from Chianti (60%) and Sangiovese from Montalcino (40%). And it’s delicious with its beautifully intense plummy flavours and a smooth, long finish. An absolutely perfect companion to our grilled steak dinner with Monkey Gland sauce.
Coming from Southern Africa, I’m a real lover of barbecues, or braais (short for braaivleis which means roast meat in Afrikaans). Of course it’s winter in London so I’m not so keen to head out into the garden to cook. My solution? To buy an indoor grill. Okay, it’s not quite the same but now that I’m getting the hang of it I’m very happy to be getting some barbecue flavours in my winter-time life. Tonight we braaied sirloin steaks to go with our Fiero.
One of my favourite sauces for steak is Monkey Gland – again of South African origin. Mentioning this often elicits gasps of horror – but don’t be alarmed, no monkeys or glands are involved. You can read all about the history behind this delicious sauce here – which is when I made it for the first time. Today’s version is slightly different as I’ve blended it so it’s smooth rather than the chunkier one I made previously. I prefer this version – it’s delectable – and the Fiero is perfect with the sauce’s spicy tomato and onion flavours.
Here’s a printable version of my recipe for you. Make up a batch and keep it handy to spice up many meals. I’m going to be trying it on a pizza later.
Monkey Gland Sauce
Ingredients
Method
- Peel the tomatoes after immersing them in boiling water for one minute. Chop and put into a saucepan.
- Add all the other ingredients and bring to the boil. Turn down to a simmer for 10mins.
- Blend with a hand blender to achieve a smooth consistency.
The wine facts
Ridolfi wines are available online from Italian wine specialists Independent Wines who offer free next day delivery and free gift wrapping on all orders. Find out more here.
The Ridolfi Fiero 2017 from Toscana retails for £19.90. A truly special wine.
