Penne with Pistachio-Mint Pesto
A lot of folks think that it’s impossible to pair wine with asparagus and artichokes. I'll admit, artichokes can be difficult; they contain a compound called cynarin (Cynar, by the way, is an artichoke-based Italian aperitif that is delicious!) that alters the taste buds, but asparagus is completely doable! This dish reminds me of the Italian Riviera, so I would go with a coastal wine like Laura Aschero Pigato or Sartarelli Verdicchio. If those are too challenging to find, try a Grüner Veltliner. Grüner is an Austrian grape that has vegetal, fresh snap pea-like aromas and is generally a great value. I love Berger which is 1 liter for about $14.