Left Bank

The term refers to all of the appellations of Bordeaux that are on the left side of the Gironde River as it flows out to the Atlantic Ocean. The main grape variety used for Left Bank wines is cabernet sauvignon. Many famous communes are on the Left Bank, such as Margaux, St.-Julien, Pauillac, St.-Estéphe, Graves, and Sauternes.

What is su filindeu?

A. An Icelandic delicacy made from whale meat

B. A handmade Italian pasta served in mutton broth

C. A French-style soufflé filled with quail eggs and crème fraîche

D. A Nordic side dish with potatoes and commonly served with Swedish meatballs

Su filindeu meaning “the threads of God” in local dialect, is a rare pasta dish from the island of Sardinia. The pasta is made by pulling and folding semolina dough into thin threads, followed by placing the noodles into sheet-like layers on a tray to dry. The dried sheets of noodles are broken into pieces and served in a mutton broth with pecorino cheese. Because of its time-consuming and challenging nature, su filindeu wasn’t readily available to the public. In fact, originally only three women— matriarchs of the Abraini family— knew how to make it. The recipe has been passed down to subsequent generations for over 300 years. Additionally, su filindeu is on the Ark of Taste list— an international directory of endangered heritage foods. The list is designed to preserve at-risk foods that are a part of a distinct region, sustainably produced, and unique in taste. Have you ever had a bowl of su filindeu? Neither have I.

“Greatness is in the eyes and perception of the beholder. I know what I like and I’ve always tried to make the kind of wine I like. So is it great? I can’t say. But I do have a lot of fans and that’s all I can go on. In the end, that’s what feeds me—trying to get a wine right, trying to get it to be better than right.”

—Merry Edwards, Founder of Merry Edwards Winery

—Merry Edwards, Founder of Merry Edwards Winery

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