Maryland softshell crab, sweetcorn & tasso ham succotash with Terre Nere Rosato ($14)

When I think of a dish for my menu at Urban Union there is always one step that has been taken prior to that: a wine selection. When I create food, I always have a wine in mind. Most Chef's will make a dish, then try and pair a wine with it. This makes no sense to me at all, because if you know what the wine's aroma and taste profile are, then you can make a dish specific to it. It's harder the other way around. It's harder because you can't adjust what's in the bottle. It is what it is, you know? You can however adjust a dish of food, you can make it fit perfect with the wine. So, my inspiration here was Rose' or as the Italians say, Rosato. Summer time is the time for Rose' and it is a great wine because it's not white and it's not red. It's pink and it has a foot in each category. Rose' is a very good pairing for a lot of dishes because it straddles that line and can work in both worlds. I have several rose's on my wine list right now, but this one is one of my favorites. Tenuta delle Terre Nere, from Sicily. My friend and wine importer extrodinare Marco Degrazia happens to own this estate and makes this wine. All of his wines from this estate are fabulous. I have 4 different wines of his at Urban Union and they all rock! Softshell crab is like the Rose', a summer dish. Summer dish summer wine. Get it?  Now, with this dish I do sweetcorn, and Tasso ham. The sweetness of the corn and the smokiness of the ham play wonderfuly with the Rosato. Rich, salty, crunchy crab and the slight berried fruit and mild acidty of the wine work very well here. When it's hot, grab a Rose' at Urban Union. You can't go wrong.

Pairing: Tenuta delle Terre Nere, Etna Rosato 2011