South American Wines with South American Faire

10 Windy City Guide ◆ December 2003

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I love wine with dinner. And, I like to serve wine with dinner. Whether cooking for the family

or inviting friends over, wine is a part of our table service. When we call up our friends who love to dine out and ask their choice of restaurant, invariably a choice of restaurant is made not just by the type of cuisine, but by the selection of wines as well. When we choose to dine at the Sal & Carvão Churrascaria in either Schaumburg or Downers Grove, we are able to select from more than 180 dif-ferent types of wines from their inven-tories of 10,000 bottles. The Brazilian Gaucho carvers serve us continuously with fourteen different cuts of meats, while our eyes pour over the wine list. Often times, we choose a South American wine to go with our Brazilian faire - mainly from Chile or Argentina. While South American wines are also produced in Brazil, Uruguay, Peru and Bolivia, it is the wines of Argentina and Chile that are most renowned – and it’s no surprise. The history of Argentinean wine began in the middle of the 16th century with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, who planted the first vineyards at Santiago del Estero. Vines were introduced to Chile as well by these “Spanish mis-sionaries”, and legend has it that the first vintage was produced as early as 1551. Due to climatic conditions, the industry soon reached important dimensions, providing wine to different regions, such as Peru and Rio Grande. Rich, fertile conditions provided for the development of Chile's most famous winegrowing regions, including

the Maipo Valley, Rapel Valley, Curico Valley and Casablanca Valley. These varied regions have well-drained, clay-loam soils that are particularly good for Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, to deep loam soils, best known for the cultivation of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. As well, other regions offer sloping vineyards that are planted on well-drained, sandy soils and that are widely recognized as Chile's best areas for cultivating Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

With many choices from these regions and countries offered at Sal & Carvão, it may be hard to choose. However, a clear alternative to choos-ing one wine is to choose several and sample the regions with your own “South American wine tasting”. With larger groups of friends – the larger the opportunity to taste several varieties. Chilean wines have gained in popu-larity over the last several years and Concha y Toro is one of the market

leaders. Their range of wines cater to those that seek an inexpensive and yet delicious wine to premium wines. Their middle range of wines comes with the ‘Casillero del Diablo’ label and like all the wines from Concha y Toro, they’re varietals – each wine being made from solely one grape variety. Exceedingly popular are their Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. My pick with Sal & Carvão’s Picanha (Rump Roast) or Costela de Boi (Beef Ribs)…or any of the other 12 cuts is Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon! This bright red, medium-bodied wine is well balanced and priced just right. And like a good wine should, it has a lingering aftertaste that soothes the senses. Not only is it avail-able at Sal & Carvão, but it is as well at most wine retailers. Casillero del Diablo means "Cellar of the Devil," a name derived from a nine-teenth-century rumor that the devil himself lived in the deep cellars where the founder of Concha y Toro stored his best wines. The rumor was started by the founder himself to keep his winery workers from sampling his best wines. Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon gets consistently good rat-ings year after year from a wide variety of press ranging from Wine Spectator Online to the Wall Street Journal. So, if you like wine as I do, why not try a South American varietal from Argentina or Chile, and why not try them with a Brazilian Steakhouse din-ner at a Sal & Carvão Churrascaria.

Carl ClouseContributing Writer

Frequent South American Traveler and consultant to Sal & Carvão

Editor’s Note: Sal & Carvão has received great reviews from the local press. The staff is from Brazil, and both the food and wine are excellent. You’ll find Sal & Carvão at two locations; in Schaumburg at 801 East Algonquin Road: 847-925-0061, and in Downers Grove at Butterfield and Finley Roads: 630-512-0900.