5 Fresh, Easy Recipes with Wine Pairings Perfect for Summer

Entertaining, Wine, Wine & Food Pairings

June 28, 2022

In the summertime, I am always craving fresh, easy recipes with refreshing wines. Over the last month, I’ve taken to Instagram to whip up some of my favorite dishes I’ve been making for years! While the video aspect is fun, sometimes you need a good ole fashioned recipe to follow. Read below for the recent favorites I’ve been making, and the wines to match. 

Southern Pimento Cheese with Provence Rosé

Even though I’m from North Dakota, I grew up eating Pimento Cheese every time I visited my family in South Carolina. While I still love store-bought pimento cheese from time to time, sometimes they are packed with too much mayo, fats, and other unnecessary ingredients. You can eat this with crackers or veggies, put it on a sandwich (hello ultimate BLT), or scramble it with eggs. This is a spread I always love having in my fridge.

pimento cheese and rose wine


Recipe:

  • 2 cups of grated extra sharp cheddar cheese
  • 8 oz of cream cheese
  • 1 jar of pimentos (drained)
  • 1/2 cup of mayo
  • Salt, Pepper, Garlic powder, and paprika to taste. Start with a teaspoon of each and add more if you’d like! 

Directions:

Grate the cheese – grating your own cheese is so much better than pre-grated! Add your cream cheese, pimentos, and mayo. Mix everything and add your seasonings to taste. Enjoy!

Watch the recipe video here.

Wine Pairing

Since Pimento cheese is creamy and somewhat intense it goes with lots of wines. You could have this with Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, or rose! Since it’s warm out I was craving something dry, acidic, and light – and a Provence rose by @chateauminuty hit the spot. A Provence rosé is always a solid choice with any fresh easy recipe in the summertime!

Orzo Salad & Croatian White Wine

This recipe is my go-to easy, fresh recipe that we eat weekly for lunch or side for dinner. It keeps in the fridge really well and my husband loves having it to snack on throughout the week!

mediterranean pasta salad with croatian wine

Ingredients:

  • 16 oz. Orzo pasta
  • 3-4 mini Cucumbers
  • 1 C. Tomatoes
  • 1/2 Red Onion
  • 1 small can of Black Olives
  • 1 C. Feta Cheese
  • Banana Peppers (optional)

Greek Dressing:

  • 1/3 c Olive Oil
  • 1/3 c White Vinegar
  • 1/4 c Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 T. Italian Seasoning
  • Salt & Pepper

Directions:

Make the orzo pasta and set it aside. Chop up all of the ingredients. Mix ingredients with the pasta and toss in the greek dressing. Serve immediately or keep in the fridge!

Watch the recipe video here.

Wine Pairing

Pair this dish with a crisp Mediterranean white wine. I chose Pošip which is a Croatian white grape variety. It has refreshing acidity, and aromatic notes of citrus, blossom, and minerals. 

Melon, Mozzarella and Prosciutto Salad & Gewurtztraminer 

Nothing says summer like a fresh melon with prosciutto! I love the combination of this sweet, salty, and creamy dish. Bonus points are that it’s colorful and makes for the perfect crowd-pleaser at any summer soiree.

melon, prosciutto, mozzarella salad with wine pairing

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 a large Cantaloupe
  • 1/2 a large Honeydew
  • 8 oz pack of mozzarella balls
  • Mint for garnish

Dressing:

  • 1/3 C. Olive oil
  • 1/4 C. Lemon Juice
  • 3 T. Honey

Directions:

Using a melon baller, carve the cantaloupe and honeydew melons. Add the mozzarella balls and drizzle dressing all over. Garnish with fresh mint!

Watch the recipe video here.

Wine Pairing

To go with this dish, try a Gewurztraminer from Alsace. The slight residual sugar brings out those sweet fruity notes in the melon while the acidity stands up to the fat in the prosciutto and mozzarella. 

Bruschetta & Italian Rosato 

Bruschetta is always a go-to appetizer or side dish of mine in the summer. This fresh, easy recipe takes just a couple of minutes to make!

Ingredients:

  • Tomatoes
  • garlic 
  • basil
  • EVOO
  • balsamic vinegar
  • salt
  • pepper

Directions:

Dice your tomatoes and add to the bowl. Mince garlic, chop basil, and add to the diced tomatoes. Drizzle desired amount of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Serve on bread, crackers, or crostini. 

Watch the recipe video here.

Wine Pairing

For the wine pairing, I chose a fruit-forward Rosato from the Colli Fiorentini region in Chianti, Tuscany. We bought this bottle last summer when we visited! It is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes which gives the rosé red fruit notes with high acidity and a crisp finish.

Guacamole & Vinho Verde

Guacamole is another fresh easy recipe that I find myself making all of the time! Have it on it’s own with some tortilla chips, or make a big batch to have with tacos. Having fish tacos? The pairing below would be sooo good with some seafood.

guacamole and wine pairing

Ingredients:

  • Avocado
  • Red onion
  • Tomato
  • Fresh lime juice
  • Cilantro
  • Tajin
  • S&P

Directions:

I love using my mortar and pestle, but if you don’t have one just a bowl will do! Cut and mash-up your avocado. Dice tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro and add to the bowl. Squeeze in lime juice and season with Tajin, and salt and pepper to taste. 

Watch the recipe video here.

Wine Pairing

I paired this with a white Vinho Verde! Made with Loureira and Alvarinho grapes this wine is bursting with citrus and minerality. I add lots of lime juice to my guac so having a wine with bright citrus flavors and acidity to cut through the creaminess from the avocado is key. 

Want some more healthy recipe & wine pairing inspo? Check out my post on Salad & Wine Pairings.

Since we are on the topic of food & wine, I have some recent kitchen favorites to share with you! We also just some awesome things from our registry that I’ve been using so much lately. Linking all of my favorites below!

Reply...