Thursday, September 1 is Tempranillo Day. Tempranillo is a red Spanish wine. Tempranillo is found in the Rioja region of Spain, Argentina and California. Consider setting aside a cup of your Rioja wine and using it as a marinade in the following recipe. Alternatively, pair the Tempranillo with your dinner!

Cheers! Kathy

Grilled Skirt Steak

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb skirt steak
1 c red Rioja, preferably a Reserva or Gran Reserva
1 T olive oil
1 garlic clove, peeled and halved
2 T butter
Sea salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Using a fork, make a series of holes on both sides of the steak to help the marinade penetrate more effectively. In a sealable bag or non-reactive bowl, combine steak and wine; allow to marinate for a least 1 hour, the longer the better.
2. Remove meat from marinade; season liberally with salt. Reserve marinade for later use.
3. Brush heated grill with olive oil; cook steak until medium-rare, about 4 minutes on one side, then 3 minutes on the other. Remove steak from grill; rub with garlic; let rest 5 minutes.
4. While meat is resting, transfer wine marinade to small saucepan over high heat; cook until liquid has reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Wisk in butter, salt and pepper. Spoon over sliced meat and serve.

Yield: Serves 4-6

Suggested Pairing: Tempranillo

Recipe provided by Vibrant Rioja in “At Home with Rioja”