This month I was fortunate enough to receive a complimentary sample of pasta sauces from GL Mezzetta . Mezzetta is a Napa Valley specialty food producer, best known for domestic and imported peppers & olives, and now for their foray into the sauce world.

I must admit, when I started my blog earlier this year, I couldn’t have imagined that people would seek me out, send me samples & ask for my opinions! How great is that? I mean who doesn’t like something gratis? And, I’m always especially tickled when they’re FULL size samples.

My sauces arrived in very clever packaging. I’m a detail girl & I ALWAYS notice the details. It was a wooden wine box and when you slid the top off you had 2 beautiful full size jars of sauces. The wine box was indicative of the appellation Napa Valley Wines that are found in the Mezzetta sauces. Wine always lends a richness to sauces. Always.

I received a classic Marinara & a creamy Marinara sauce for review.

I was, as always, a little skeptical but very intrigued by the “bistro” sauce. I’m not a huge fan of jarred sauces. But as we all know, sometimes we simply don’t have the hours it takes to make your own sauce. I decided for my first tasting I would try the Creamy Marinara. I cooked up some gnocchi, tossed with the creamy marinara and garnished with (what else) fresh parmigiano reggiano (which, thanks to my recent trip to Italy, I am now stocked up on).

I must say that the sauce held it’s own. It had an amazing texture thanks to the chunks of onions, garlic and tomatoes inside (which, by the way, are imported Italian plum tomatoes). Lending itself more to the sauce you would make at home & distancing itself from the over processed oh-so-smooth & bland sauces you tend to find in mass amounts at your local grocer. The flavor of the imported tomatoes really shines through and with the addition of the wine it brings a new level of complexity to the sauce.

Now if they would have just sent me a bottle of that wine to go along with it! Maybe next time…Thanks again Mezzetta for alllowing me to sample your products.

With that said, I would, of course, when I didn’t have time to make my own sauce, happily use a jar of the Mezzetta “bistro” sauces! Hope you’ll give it a try & be sure to let me know which one you sample!