Summer is the perfect time to grab a glass of wine, make an effortless snack and invite friends over to hang out. For this new summer wine series, I went to the most adorable winery, Peace Water Winery, in Carmel, Indiana to do a wine tasting with my two friends, Sara and Monica. Monica works at the winery and has such a wealth of knowledge about wines. We collaborated to pair a rosé, white and red wine with a corresponding dish. All three of the upcoming recipes are easy for summer, can be transported for a picnic or to a wine tasting where it’s bring-your-own-food. First up: Rosé!
Rosé 101
This unmistakable light pink wine is a classic drink of summer. The color of the wine comes from the skin of the red grapes staying on for a shorter time before the liquid is drained and fermented. If the skins of the grapes stayed to mingle longer, we’d be on our way to a true red wine, but they’re removed after just enough time to give the wine a lovely blush color. When you purchase a rosé, look for one that is more dry, meaning not too sweet! You’ll be able to taste the wine’s flavor without it being masked by sweetness.
Flavors
Fruits (strawberries, raspberries, cherry) / melon (watermelon, cantaloupe) / flowers / citrus
Pairings
Fruits (watermelon, berries) / something salty like feta cheese, olives, crusty bread / light fish or chicken dishes / BBQ…yes seriously!
These watermelon feta bites paired perfectly with the chilled sparkling rosé from Peace Water. The strawberry tones helped the flavors of the fruit and cheese stand out, while still complimenting the wine. The bite-size skewers are so easy to create. Simply cube fresh watermelon, cucumber and feta cheese, stack and spear together with a toothpick. The appetizer has a delicious crisp bite from the cucumber, along with a sweet and savory duo from the watermelon and feta. I kept this recipe simple since the assembly takes just a few extra minutes. Trust me, it will be worth it for the wow-factor in your presentation!
- 1 package pre-cut watermelon spears (ideal for ease!)
- 1 cucumber, peeled
- 1 block of feta cheese
- Toothpicks
- After peeling the cucumber, cut it in half to make it more manageable. Take one of the halves and cut a small amount of each rounded side off so the cucumber forms into a four-sided rectangle. Cut one small 1/4-1/2″ piece off the top to test the size of the cube.
- If using watermelon spears, trim the size to match the diameter of the cucumber. Cut one 1/4-1/2″ piece to use in a test assembly.
- Cut one long spears from the feta block and try to match the size of the watermelon and cucumber cubes.
- Assemble one stack with watermelon on the bottom, then cucumber, then feta on top. Use a toothpick to gently insert. Ensure there is still enough space on top so someone can grab the toothpick.
- Adjust dimensions if needed, otherwise, cut cubes from cucumber, watermelon and feta. Then, assemble!
If you are looking for help buying bottle of rosé this summer, just talk to your local wine shop expert or read the labels to find a dry wine with fruit notes to pair with the watermelon feta bites. If you happen to be in Indiana, swing by Peace Water Winery! One of the things I love the most about their business is they donate 50% of all their proceeds to charity. Each of their (8!) children picked a charity and you get to select which of the charities you want to proceeds from your purchase to go to. How amazing is that?
Stay tuned for white and red wine 101 coming your way in the next few weeks with new recipes.
Love food. Love self. Love life.
Gabriela
Photography by Leah Trib Productions / Styled by Simply Audree Kate
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I have been obsessed with this snack for weeks now. Thanks for introducing me to feta in block form. <3
I’m so glad you liked it! Seriously, buying feta in blocks is the way to go!
[…] a one-woman show, I recommend looking for a few recipes that you can prep ahead of time like these watermelon cucumber bites for appetizers or a couscous salad as a […]
[…] a one-woman show, I recommend looking for a few recipes that you can prep ahead of time like these watermelon cucumber bites for appetizers or a couscous salad as a […]