Whether you enjoy your fun in the sun or in the shade, wine is a must-have for the warm weather season. Summer officially arrives on June 20
th, and in celebration of the extra daylight, we’ve put together a list of winning combinations that you can whip up whenever friends stop by. From barbeques to picnics, the Fourth of July to family reunions, summer is packed with good times that call for easy, no-oven-required recipes with simple ingredients. Delicious wines paired with good food never goes out of style, so keep these party pairings in mind for your next Wine Tasting or another special occasion!
Sweet, refreshing watermelon paired with tangy feta, fresh blackberries and a fresh sprig of mint or sage makes for an eye-catching morsel. Pair this combination with a fruit-filled blush sparkling wine like the
Grand Cadeau Rosé Sparkling. Or try it with the
Petit Cadeau Semi-Seco Sparkling, a fun, vivacious wine with a long, sweet finish.
Take a soft, rich cheese like goat cheese and form it into small rounds. Then roll the small bites of cheese into a mixture of chopped walnuts, dried cranberries and fresh basil or dill. Serve these with crackers or toasted bread and you can’t go wrong! The slight tang of goat cheese pairs especially well with wines that have a zing to them. Try this appetizer with the
Lumière de Vie 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, a dry white wine with nice acidity, featuring intense aromas of grapefruit and lime. The young
Moderna 2015 Chenin Blanc offers an opulent attack with spicy notes, that finishes with a nice burst of acidity.
Strawberries, blueberries and slivered almonds piled atop shortbread cookies or toasted bread is a festive addition to any July 4
th celebration. Serve with a drizzle of honey or balsamic if you’re feeling fancy, or peanut butter, as it works just as well and helps keep the fruit in place. The lightness of this fruit bruschetta pairs well with the
Joy Cellars 2014 Chardonnay, a well-balanced wine with intense aromatics of citrus. Or try it with the
Gemme Cellars 2014 Malbec, featuring lots of fresh, red fruit flavors of strawberry, black currant and blackberry.
S’mores – this classic campfire treat is all grown up when you choose a semi-sweet or dark chocolate and pair it with a rich red wine. The bright, sweet and round
Milano Cellars 2015 Dolcetto is a match made in heaven, with a noticeable, jammy weight on the palate. The
Terroir Cellars 2014 l’Ouverture is a Bordeaux red blend with a rich nose of red fruit and complementary aromas of toasted oak, caramel and vanilla.
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