Pasta with Tuna and Capers

4 ounces bow tie (farfalle), linguini, or spaghetti pasta
2 Tbsp olive oil (plus more)
1/2 medium onion, chopped
Pinch chili pepper flakes
1 (6-ounce) can tuna packed in olive oil, drained
1 tablespoon capers
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup dry white wine
2 Tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt (1 teaspoon for every quart of water), return to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until cooked through, but still firm (al dente).

2. While the water is coming to a boil and the pasta is cooking, prepare the rest of the recipe. In a large, wide sauté pan, heat a couple tablespoons of olive oil on medium heat. Add the chopped onion and chili pepper flakes and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes or so. Mix in the canned tuna, the capers, and the salt. Add the wine, bring to a simmer then lower the heat to low. Cook for 10 minutes or longer, while the pasta is cooking. If the mixture begins to dry out, add a little more wine.

3. When the pasta is ready, drain it and add it in to the pan with the tuna. Toss to mix. Drizzle on a bit more olive oil over it all, then add the chopped parsley and a few grinds of black pepper to taste.

Serves 2.

Mauro Sebaste • Roero Arneis • 2009 • Piedmont, Italy • 3313442

Grape: Arneis

appearance - bright, clear

color : pale yellow

aroma - subtle

flavors (smell + taste)

sweetness - dry, slight sweetness

acidity - round

oak -

fruit - golden delicious apple

earth - mint

body - medium-light

tannins -

alcohol - 13%

serving notes - remove from refrigerator and allow to stand for al least 15 minutes. Opens up as it warms.

• Arneis is both the name of a wine and the grape from which it is made.  The name means “little rascal” in Piemontese dialect, so named because it can be difficult to grow.  Historically that difficulty was because the better situated vineyards were planted with the “more important” red nebbiolo grape leaving the “lesser” sites for Arneis. While it is grown elsewhere in Piemonte, Arneis is grown most famously in the district of Roero named after the family which ruled the area long ago..