WINELINE PETITE SIRAH, PORK A MOST PLEASING PAIR.

Byline: LARRY LIPSON

Palate-pleasing pork and praiseworthy petite sirah.

Sounds like they were made for each other.

Evidently both the National Pork Board and a number of petite sirah producers would have us believe so.

They have teamed up to sponsor cooking competitions, educational seminars and tastings for chefs throughout the country. The participating petite sirah wineries include Concannon, EOS, Foppiano, Langtry, Michael-David, Parducci and Rosenblum.

Petite sirah pairs well with dishes like pan-seared pork tenderoin with savory corn and apricot pudding; pork wrapped in cabbage with prawns, apples and red currant sauce; tangerine and coriander spiced pork tenderloin; pork chops with roasted baby potatoes, olives and garlic.

With my next pork chop, you can guess what wine I'll be drinking.

P.S. Chefs can enter the ``Taste of Elegance'' competitions in Phoenix, San Diego or Palm Springs early next year. Call Larry Cizek at [phone] for information.

ZINFUL ZABACO: Now, when barbecued pork (or any barbecued meats, for that matter) grace your plate, zinfandel -- another big California red wine -- comes to mind.

And when zinfandel is discussed these days, the name Rancho Zabaco jumps to the forefront.

The label has grown rapidly, currently presenting seven different options for zinfandel fanciers.

Rancho Zabaco winemaker Eric Cinnamon crafts zins from Dry Creek Valley (a reserve, $18), Russian River Valley ($24), Lodi (due for release for on-premises sale only at $6.50 per glass), Sonoma's Heritage Vines ($15), Dry Creek's Stefani Vineyard ($28), Sonoma's Monte Rosso Vineyard ($35) and Toreador, from Monte Rosso's Rattlesnake Hill grapes grown high in the Mayacamas mountains ($50).

Certainly enough zins to have a Rancho Zabaco party.

And just in case you want to kick off such a party with a white wine, winemaker Cinnamon obliges by producing a single Rancho Zabaco Russian River sauvignon blanc ($18).

One refreshing white, seven lusty reds.

Information: [phone] or www.ranchozabaco.com.

NEW RELEASES: How young is young? Marilyn Wines, produced by Nova Wines, is presently selling the 2005 Norma Jeane ($10.50), subtitled ``A Young Merlot'' and taking orders for the 2006. (Don't forget, that really young stuff, beaujolais nouveau 2006, comes to us from France next month.) Meanwhile,Marilyn's Velvet Collection 2004 and other Monroe-inspired wines are also on hand for collectors. Information: [phone] or www.marilynwines.com. ... With Thanksgiving around the corner, Joseph Drouhin brings us a trio of his 2005 ``Cru'' Beaujolais wines for upcoming festive turkey and chicken pairing, Brouilly ($17), Moulin-a-Vent ($20.25) and Morgon ($14.50). Information: [phone] or www.drouhin.com. ... Also a possible accompaniment for turkey, the 2005 Monterey County pinot noir ($14.99) from Jekel Vineyards is out. Information: www.jekel.com. ... Latest Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi offerings are four 2005s, pinot grigio ($8), sauvignon blanc ($6), shiraz ($8) and zinfandel ($6). Information: [phone] or www.woodbridgewines.com. ... Also with new 2005s on the shelves is Rodney Strong Vineyards with a Russian River Valley pinot noir ($20) and a Sonoma County chardonnay ($15). Information: [phone] or www.rodneystrong.com. ... And Kendall-Jackson has released its 2005 Grand Reserve chardonnay ($20) and Grand Reserve cabernet sauvignon ($26), both made with grapes grown on Jackson Estates. Information: [phone] or www.kj.com. ... More 2005s are here, these from DeLoach Vineyards: Its premium Green Valley pinot noir ($45), California pinot noir ($12) and limited production Durell Vineyard chardonnay ($32). Information: [phone] or www.deloachvineyards.com. ... And being distributed as you read this are the good wines of Verona, Italy's Fabiano. Brought in by wine entrepreneur Mark Newman, Fabiano's 2005 Lugana Argillaia ($16), a crisp white; 2001 Storica amarone ($49) and 1999 I Fodatori amarone, the former a more delicate version of this rich Valpolicella-area red; and Dezzani moscato d'Asti ($15), a dessert bubbly, were tasted at a recent Il Tiramisu wine dinner attended by winery owner Nicola Fabiano. Information: [phone] or www.accoladebrands.com.

FINAL SIP: Roy Raymond Jr. of Raymond Vineyards has retired, leaving brother Walter Raymond, also a co-founder of the winery, as president and CEO. Information: [phone] or www.raymondvineyards. com..

Larry Lipson, [phone]

larry.lipson(at)dailynews.com