Risotto makes a great first course, with smoked trout adding salty complexity and asparagus adding color and crunch. The dish calls for a dry, but fruity white wine. Check out my notes on Gewürztraminer and Muscadet, wines you need to get to know!
Rice
Rioja and Valencian Paella
Valencian-style Paella, where meat is used instead of seafood, presents itself as a colorful blanket of yellow-golden rice redolent of savory saffron and spicy chorizo. . . the perfect pairing for Rioja!