I recently picked up an issue of Everyday Rachel Ray, and I love this magazine. One of the cool things on the accompanying site is a wine pairing tool:

Our wine promise: We recommend wines that deliver exceptional value, so you get the most delicious bang for your buck. All of our picks cost $20 or less and are widely available; look for them at your local wine store.

I've been eating a lot of vegetable soup lately in an attempt to lose a little weight, so I checked to see what the site suggested. Of course, her soup recipe has bread in it, Pappa al Pomodoro, which is a major no-no on my current diet, but her wine choice looked interesting, a $13 bottle of Italian La Sera "Il Falo" Barbera 2004.



I found this same wine over at Select Wines:

La Sera Barbera, "Il Falo" is a versatile red wine to be enjoyed with good food and friends. Barbera is one of the most popular Italian red grape varietals, and it thrives in Piedmont.

La Sera Barbera, "Il Falo" is garnet red in color with a nose of plums, black cherries and spice. Light-medium in body, it is dry with bright acidity, light tannins and no oak. It offers flavors of plum, cranberry, black cherry and spice. Ready to drink now and over the next 5-6 years, this wine is smooth and pleasing on the finish.

Enjoy La Sera Barbera, "Il Falo" with roast pork, pasta with meat sauce, and sharp cheeses.