Judith Henderson’s Wine & Country Living

This weekend, Town & Country Catering Made and delivered a Caramelized Portobello Artichoke Lasagna to a party planner who needed the convenience of a caterer who would make and deliver the dish and suggest a wine pairing: Locati Cellars 100 percent '08 Barbera red wine.

About this wine: Winemaker Michael Locati of Walla Walla understands what the Emilia-Romagna Barbera wine should be; a big chewy, fruity, foodfriendly wine at just $25 a bottle.

Wine Tasting Notes: with nose buried deep in the glass, a high palate of crushed Bing cherry opens the senses. At first sip, giant swooshes of sassafras and rich huckleberry swath the mouth; a squiggle of macerated raspberries soaks the tongue clearing the way for an earthen set of old world tannins.

Because you make a Barbera wine of such intensity, yours truly, Judith Henderson of Wine and Country Living, honors Michael Locati with 98 points of wine perfection for the Locati Cellars '08 Barbera. Congratulations Locati Cellars!

Readers, until next week, "Eat Art Drink Imagination!"

Caramelized Portobello-Artichoke Hearts

Serves 4-6

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

4 cups sliced Portobello mushrooms

3 cups artichoke hearts

2 tablespoons well diced fresh garlic

Juice of 1 lemon

1 teaspoon each: salt and pepper

¼ cup sweet vermouth

Method: Add butter and olive oil to pan over medium high heat; sauté all ingredients to caramelized. Use ingredients as a lasagna Alfred sauce layering paired with Locati Cellars '08 Babera.

Hear Judith's food and wine commentary, recipe and photos at www.chefjudithhenderson.com. The long-awaited "Wine and Country Living Cookbook" is now on sale at the Times newspaper office, downtown Waitsburg, or call: 509-520-8748.