Wines That Pair Well With My Garden

By Nikki Berglund
Staff Writer

The cold chill in the air today leads me to believe we are quickly approaching the end of our gorgeous summer. For me this means putting to bed my crispy summer white wines, along with my beloved French rosés. It also means the end of outdoor entertaining in the back yard.

Before it officially ends though, I plan on one last shindig including all of my favorite chilled wines that will mostly retire to the basement for the winter. This will also be a perfect time to clean out our overabundant garden, the result of our first and surprisingly successful attempt at gardening.

To compliment all of my preferred summer wines, here are a few of my go-to party dishes, for which many of the ingredients can be found in your own garden, local farmers’ markets, or hopefully the garden of a generous friend or relative.

Guacamole Tres Estilos

(Guacamole Three Ways, adapted from Food and Wine Magazine)

2 medium-ripe avocados, cut into small pieces and then mashed with a fork
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped or crushed through a garlic press

To make it herby, add:
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
About 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

To make it luxurious, also add:
Fresh hot green chile to taste (I like 1 serrano or ½ to 1 jalapeño—take out the seeds if you don’t want it too spicy), finely chopped
1/4 small white onion, finely chopped
1/2 medium tomato, chopped into 1/4-inch dice

Our herb and pepper garden has come in handy so many times this year. It sucks when you have to buy your own herbs, usually for a ridiculously inflated price, only to use half of them and then find the other half rotting in your fridge a week later.

My very favorite type of wine in the whole wide world, French rosé, makes a great accompaniment to guacamole. It is light and refreshing like a white, with some of the more complex characteristics of red wine. These wines are typically a drier style so don’t let the pink color fool you into thinking this will be sweet. They are served cold and since they have attributes of both red and white wines they are incredibly versatile.

Fargo has yet to embrace the French rosé craze but these truly are some of the best summer wines you will ever try. They are also usually fairly inexpensive, although there are some pretty fabulous ones that might cost you a bit more.

To get an accurate picture of what French rosé is all about and to see whether this style is up your alley, try the Red Bicycle Rosé which usually retails for around $9.99.

If this does not sound like your cup of tea, what about something with a touch of sweetness? The New Age White, a white blend from Argentina, has been flying off store shelves. It has just enough acidity, with a semi-sweet base that balances the richness and the spiciness of the guacamole. When you can find this one, it retails for about $9.99.

George’s Tuscany Bread

1 large loaf of French bread
1 container of pesto (or make your own if you have basil in your garden)
4-5 tomatoes, chopped and seeded (this gets some moisture out)
1 bag fresh spinach (I use baby spinach), chopped
1 medium to large package of Muenster cheese
2 lemons
Salt and pepper to taste

Lay out 2 sheets of tinfoil, the same length as the bread. Cut the loaf of bread lengthwise and place crust side down on the foil. Spread pesto onto each side- you should have just enough to cover both.

Layer the chopped spinach on top of the pesto and then the tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

The Muenster goes on top- you decide how cheesy you want it!

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wrap the bread in the tinfoil and bake for about 15 minutes. Open up the tinfoil and bake or broil for another few minutes to get the cheese nice and gooey. The most important step in this recipe comes after it is cooked. Slice up a lemon or two and squeeze the lemon juice all over the bread. It may sound strange but it truly does make the dish!

I got this recipe from my dear friend George a long time ago, and every time I make it I am asked for the recipe. Usually I am making it for a party, so instead of cooking ahead of time, I put the two halves wrapped in tinfoil on a cookie sheet to transport them. Then when I get to where I am going, I just pop them in the oven. It does help to ask the host ahead of time if this is cool or not.

A nice unoaked Chardonnay (a little less buttery and a little more acidic) is perfect for this bread. Toad Hollow Chardonnay from Mendocino County in California makes a great little version which received 90 points from The Wine Enthusiast for the 2007 vintage. This wine runs right around $13.99. A nice bottle of sparkling wine, such as Chandon Brut out of California for a reasonable $21.99 would also make a decadent match.

Rhonda’s (My Mother’s) Cilantro Salsa

8 tomatoes, diced and seeded (optional)
2 large white onions
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp red pepper
Salt and pepper to taste

This recipe can get kind of spendy with the price of tomatoes, so this time of year, when tomatoes are in season, is perfect for this recipe. I usually find that this salsa is even better the day after I make it when all of the flavors have had a chance to mingle, so making this a day ahead for a party works great.

If you are sick of all of your white summer wine choices and are up for something a little different, try a bottle of Torrontés. This native white grape of Argentina is similar to a Viognier with a little more acidity. It is a medium-bodied, fruity yet floral wine that pairs fantastically well with spicy foods. The Gaucho Club Torrontés is an affordable example at around $9.99 for a bottle, while expanding your wine horizons just a little bit further.

It may be the end of summer, but I for one am ready to cozy up to robust red wine season and all of the delicious hearty foods that come with it.

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