Chipotle Pepper Chili Paired with De Martino Carmenere

This chili has a few wacky ingredients but those are what make it such a perfect match with the De Martino Carmenere from Chile! It's simple, but I did use freshly ground spices and you may want to adjust the chipotle chilies to your taste, because this is hot!

SERVES 6 -8

Ingredients

* 2 teaspoons olive oil
* 2 onions, chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 lb lean ground beef
* 3/4 lb beef sirloin, cubed
* 2 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
* 1 (12 ounce bottle) Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale
* 1 cup strong coffee
* 1 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
* 1 tablespoon brown sugar
* 1 tablespoon cumin
* 1 tablespoon cocoa
* 1 teaspoon oregano
* 1 teaspoon cayenne
* 1 teaspoon coriander
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans
* 1 (7 ounce) can chipotle chili in adobo, seeds removed and diced with sauce

Garnish Options: fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, diced red onions, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Heat oil.
2. Cook onions, garlic and meat until brown over medium heat.
3. Add tomatoes, beer, coffee, tomato paste and beef broth.
4. Add spices Stir in 2 cans of kidney beans and peppers.
5. Reduce heat and simmer for 1.5 hours

Serve with 2006 De Martino Legado Carmenere

This once neglected grape from France's Bordeaux region, first planted in Chile in the 19th Century, has become a red-hot variety. Until about 15 years ago the Chileans thought is was a strain of Merlot, but it's popularity is on the rise and it may one day reach the fame of Malbec, its other cousin from Bordeaux.

Chile is more known for producing explosive Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but Carmenere (pronounced "carm-men-EHR") has become a signature grape. Major centers for Carmenere production are the Colchagua, Curico and Maule valleys in Chile's central region.

The DeMartino family has been producing wine in Chile's famous Maipo Valley for almost 70 years. The strength of DeMartino wines is in the fruit— resulting in big, rich, extracted flavors that are made in limited production on the family estate using only the ripest hand-picked fruit.

Sweet, red fruit aromas along with rich chocolate and cherry notes with beautiful intense red color, on the palate it has soft, lush tannins but good body.

We'll be featuring this wine in our "South American Treasures" on Tuesday, April 7th.