What's for Dinner? Pork Tenderloin with Bacon-Onion Jam and Rhône

What pairs with Rhône wines?

Rhône blends are super food friendly. Syrah is full-bodied with medium-high tannins, alcohol, and acidity. Grenache feature juicy red fruit flavors, medium to full body, and moderate tannins. Blended together in traditional Rhône blends you get a wine that covers a range of dishes but loves anything roasted (meats or veg) and can handle dishes with a little spice or brininess of olive and capers or a little sweetness from fruit sauces.

Lamb, bacon, duck, tagine, goat curry, and game meats are all great pairings with Rhône, but while we like Wednesday Dinner to be special, we don’t want to spend the day cooking and shopping and cleaning, so this suggestion is a little easier but still special.

Rhône with Pork Tenderloin and Bacon-Onion Jam

Roasted pork goes well with Rhône wines especially with some sauce that brings some smokey tartness like this Bacon-Onion Jam. Try Trisha Yearwood’s Pork Tenderloin with Bacon-Onion Jam as a starting place. Since it is that time of year in Florida and I have a fridge full of strawberries, I am adding a couple chopped strawberries to the onions and cooking them down to bring some more fruity acid to the jam that Syrah/Grenache will love.

Try to hit Publix today for the last day of a pork tenderloin BOGO - love a good BOGO. I admit, I always cook my pork tenderloin sous vide (set your water bath to 140F and cook at least an hour) and then sear it, but Trisha’s method is my second favorite. Searing in the pan and then popping in the oven to finish makes great flavor (and one pan cooking). An oven-safe temperature probe is an absolute must for roasting lean meat like tenderloin and hitting the target 135F temp. If you don’t have one, buy one and use it every time.

I like serving this with some sautéed mustard greens. The bitterness and spice in this match well with the pork and the Rhône.

Wines

I always like to start with some white wine while cooking and getting everything ready. This Guigal Rhône Blanc’s Viognier keeps you on theme, is super floral and an amazing deal for the quality of wine. Or try this American riff from McPrice Myers for something leaning more to acid and mineral.

For reds I am going for the under-appreciated Rasteau area and this Grenache-dominant blend from Domaine M. Boutin - 94pts - and backing it up with Cristia Collection’s Vacqueyras - also Grenache heavy. These wines are both graceful examples of this style of old-world wine making.

Of course, if you are more of a new world rich and bold drinker, we have two for you. This Shiraz from Mitolo is a fan favorite every vintage, and big and bold is the name of the game at Caymus Transit and their Schooner #3 blend. Both will pair great with this dish.

Get 15% Off

Spend more than $75 on any assortment of these bottles online and use code DINNER in check out and get 15% off.  You can order now for in-store pickup and pick up any time - don’t miss the deal! Or stop by the store and buy any 3 bottles of these wines and get 15% off.  Deal good until Saturday Mar 9.