Figs Poached in Spiced Red Wine with Mascarpone

Beautiful maroon-hued figs and a spiced honeylike sauce are an intriguing pair. Vanilla ice cream or a semi-firm sheep's cheese would also be ideal partners instead of the mascarpone mixture.

Short Ribs with Mushrooms and Red Wine Sauce

Mushrooms add earthy flavour to this slow-cooked dish. Dried shiitakes are a good substitute for the porcini.

Roast Leg of Lamb with Red Wine Jus

Summer Sangria

With all the enthusiasm for white wine in the last few years, sangria, a delightful red wine fruit punch, has been overlooked for summer parties. Serve frosty pitchers at barbecues and picnics.

Roasted Birch-Glazed Salmon

Roary MacPherson, executive chef of the Sheraton Hotel in St. John's, N.L., created this sweet and savoury glazed salmon dish to highlight a local product: Lady of the Woods Birch Sap Wine. You can order this wine at sapworld.ca, or use a sweet white wine, such as Riesling or Sauternes, in its place.

Lemon Roasted Salmon with Creamy Dill Wine Sauce

Pork Stew with Fennel and Squash

Sweet squash and anise-flavoured fennel make this stew particularly satisfying on cool nights. Instead of the wine, you can use sodium-reduced chicken stock mixed with 1 tsp (5 mL) wine vinegar.

Clams in White Wine, Butter and Parsley Pasta Sauce

Canadian Maple Bacon Jam With Jackson-Triggs Sparkling Wine

Brisket Braised in Wine with Dried Fruit and Potatoes

Dried apricots and prunes not only sweeten the sauce but also break down slightly, helping to thicken it. Make the dish a day ahead to allow flavours to combine and to ease preparations.