My Vineman created this dish that echoed the best of the Argentine Viognier he served with this dinner tonight. The flavors of this composed plate are clean and simple—the essence of a perfect August dinner. I’m so please to be able to share it with you:

Viognier on a Plate:

Ingredients:

• scallops
• baby frisee
• local peaches, sliced
• pre-made polenta
• finely chopped garlic
• finely chopped green onions
• red wine vinegar
• Viognier wine
• soy sauce
• sesame oil
• chives to garnish

Instructions: In your saute pan, drizzle olive oil (use a light touch) and saute the green onions and garlic then remove the green onions and garlic, leaving the olive oil. Add them to your oiled saute pan (medium-high heat) a chug or two of red wine vinegar and Viognier. The red wine vinegar we used was soft in taste—so if yours is sharp, use one less chug and add another chug of the Vio. Add a quick tip of soy sauce and bring the sauce to a boil. Add several slices of the local ripe, peach. Saute until the peach is easy to mush with a spatula. Pour off the reduction—Ger strained the peaches out, so you may wish to do the same.

In the same pan, saute the scallops until the outside has a little crust and the inside is just this side of opaque gelatinous. Fish the scallops out and put them aside on a saucer. Drizzle a little sesame oil in the pan and when its hot, add thin slices of the pre-made polenta and quick-fry until gold brown.

Dress the plate: make a small bed of frisee and sprinkle the red wine vinegar/Viognier reduction over it. Put the scallops atop the frisee. Add several of the polenta and peach slices until you have an attractive plate like you see above. Garnish with long stems of chives—just because its beautiful that way.

Enjoy with a loved one and the best Viognier you may find. We loved Santa Julia’s Sustainably Grown Viognier. Ger says this Argentine Viognier did not disappoint and I agree. It had a lovely nose and best yet, there was an agreeable acidity level that I haven’t been tasting in other Viogniers lately. At $6 a bottle, its an affordable weeknight pleasure!

Peace, love, and satisfying food to you all.