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Pesto-Stuffed TenderloinWine Choice

Pesto-Stuffed Tenderloin

2 (1" thick) beef tenderloin steaks

2 tbsp. pesto

2 tsp. olive oil

1/4 tsp. pepper

With a narrow sharp knife, make a 1" slit on both sides of steak. Move knife around inside to form a pocket. Spoon pesto in each steak. Brush both sides of steak with olive oil; sprinkle with pepper. Place steaks on a broiler pan; broil 4-6 inches from heat. Cook 7 to 11 minutes depending on how well-done you wish them. Turn once during broiling.

 

WINE CHOICE

 

Karen handed me this one with a comment that we'd probably have baked potatoes with it and something green, probably peas for her and a salad for me.  I smiled.

 

I like foods plain and Karen, well ... she doesn't.  I would probably like this steak just as well with just the olive oil and the pepper.  Karen must be more adventurous than I am.

 

But that doesn't matter.  Here we have a meal that makes the wine choice simple as far as I am concerned.  When I hear steak, I automatically think "heavier red".  For me, this generally means merlot, zinfandel and cabernet sauvignon.

 

Under the stairs I found several likely candidates from small wineries we had visited: Cabernet Sauvignon from Lambert's (WV, 2002),  Demarest Hill (NY, Hudson Valley, 2000); Cabernet Franc from Big Creek (PA, 2001); Merlot from Westfall (NJ, 2000) and Schneider (NY, Long Island, 1998).  There were a few others from various producers, but those caught my eye.

 

I narrowed my choices down.  I picked the Lambert, which we had liked when we visited the winery.  Then I started thinking of wines that might be more available to the people reading this article.

 

Those broad categories should all work.  If I had to run down to my local store right now, I might try for the Courtney Benham Cabernet Sauvignon, brother to this month's Wine of the Month here at the Weekend Winery.

 

Pesto-Stuffed TenderloinWine Choice

 Last modified: August 07, 2007