The great thing about Easter is that the menu is that no one expects you to reinvent the wheel. Most people want a ham, lamb or brunch. It’s tradition, right? So, I’m not going to post a bunch of complicated recipes. In fact, I usually don’t. Instead, here are some very delicious, easy  recipes that we cooked up for a segment on NBC15 and the wines (and beer!) that go with them.

Of course, there’s going to have to be a cheese tray. This is Wisconsin. For ours we selected 3 cheeses that will also be great on leftover ham sammies. We paired World Champ Havarti with Brennan’s Apricot Spreadable Fruit for a tasty combo, and Marieke’s Foenugreek Gouda with it’s mapley characters is another World Champ. Our best-selling Sweet Swiss perfectly rounds out the trio.

For the cheese platter, I recommend a Prosecco like Italia or La Corte. I think of these wines as work-horse wines because they could really take you all the way through  the meal, including dessert. Light, and refreshing, with low alcohol, you create sparkling cocktails like Mimosas or Bellinis or enjoy simply chilled. If want a drier style Prosecco, the Italia Prosecco is rich with lemony notes. The La Corte is a bit lighter and a bit sweeter, but not overly so.

In my family there wasn’t a choice between ham and brunch; it was both, so that’s what we did here. We made an Apricot Mustard Glazed Ham, Lemony Asparagus, Crustless Quiche and a Strawberry Spinach Salad. Again, could do Prosecco , but if you want to mix it up Riesling is a great choice here. Try Tarkine Forest Riesling is a sweeter style. If you love Rose, try Viu Manent Malbec Rose which pairs nicely with the fruity elements of the glaze and the strawberry salad. If you simply must go red, try a lighter-bodied red like Pinot Noir (Tarkine Forest).

Now I would be remiss if I left out micros because we have a brew from Scuttlebutt Brewery that tastes like it was made for Easter– Scuttlebutt Belgian-Style Tripel. It has huge aromas of pear and clove (yes!). Very much a chameleon beer, it will easily adapt to different foods with ease and your Uncle Larry, if necessary.

I hope that try some of these yummy recipes and pairings. Let us know what you think. Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Happy Spring Solstice!

Hard to believe that Christmas is over. What a whirlwind day! Luckily there are still more celebrations to come with New Year’s, The Rose Bowl and hopefully the SB (sorry, I  don’t want to spell it out and jinx it).  So, here are my picks for “cheers” sparklers and big RED wines.

Cooper Station Zinfandel

This California Zin is the perfect wine for hearty game day faire. It opens with concentrated blackberry aromas. Flavors of rhubarb, strawberry and vanilla with lingering hints of toast and smoke make this wine a great match for grilled or roasted meats, pizza, sausages, ribs, hambugers, jambalaya and chili.

La Corte Prosecco

A light, aromatic and crisp bubbly with overtones of citrus, especially lemon, melon, almonds and honey. Yummy in wine cocktails like Orange Cream Mimosas or a Pomegranate Bubbly Cocktail. Perfect with hors d’ouevres like an anti-pasto platter. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will all need a little extra Sparkling wine left after New Year’s to toast a Bucky win on the 2nd.

Polkadraai Road Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon

This South African Hermitage- styled blend offers exceptional fruit that is complemented by white pepper, spices and a subtle smokiness. Ripe fruit and acid blend with big tannins for a complex and rich red wine with a long finish. Great with ribs or ribeye.

Casali Viticultori Lambrusco Amabile Frizzante

Frizzante means slightly sparkling, and Amabile means semi-sweet. So this Lambrusco is effervescent much like a Moscato d’ Asti, but not as fully sparkling like a Prosecco.  So, this semi-sweet Italian red is packed with aromas and flavors of plums.  A wonderful match for pizza, BBQ and red-sauced pasta dishes.

Have a safe and Happy New Year’s! Go Badgers!

I saw a famous wine writer being interviewed several years back, and she was  asked if she was trapped on a dessert island what kind of wine would she bring. She said, “Champagne. It goes with everything.” Sparkling wine has been relegated to just a holiday or celebratory thing, but it really goes so well with food.  Here are five great sparkling wines from around the world and the foods they love.

To be called Champagne, a Sparkling wine must be made in the namesake region of France, made in the traditional method sparkling (method champanoise) and be made with classic Champagne grapes: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.The first sparkling meets all those criteria except one: It’s from Australia.

Parri Estate Pinot Noir/Chardonnay Salmon Brut Sparkling

• Brut- Dry. This is the typical style of Champagne, with no sweetness
• The color of this wine has the contact of the pressed juice with the skins of the Pinot Noir grapes, hence the name Salmon.
• Aromas of strawberries and bread like character. Smooth, creamy, with dry finish.
• Excellent with hors d’oeuvres like Caramelized Onion Apple Bites.

 Emile’s Extra Dry Sparkling (California)

• Contrary to the name, this Extra Dry has just a touch of sweetness.
• An example of Charmat process, a less costly process of making Sparking wine and making it affordable on a regular basis,
• Made with French Colombard and Chardonnay grapes.
• Try this one with potato chips. Yes, potato chips. We suggest Deep River Maui Onion. 

 Italia Prosecco- Extra Dry (Italy)

• Also made in the Charmat process.
• This Prosecco is delicate and well-balanced with a combination of baked apple, lemon curd and grapefruit, with a lightly creamy mint mineral texture in the mouth. Lively with a lemon & mineral finish.
• Prosecco is traditionally used to make Bellini Cocktails.
• Pairing:  Concorde Pears and Crave Brothers Petite Frere or a Fritatta.

 Soljans Fusion Sparkling Rose NV (non vintage)(New Zealand)

•  Made with Muscat and Pinotage with Charmat process.
• It’s juicy and nicely sweet on the palate with refreshing acidity and a clean fruity finish.  The wine is so easy on the palate with full of luscious fruit flavors, cherry, strawberry and raspberry
• Pair with Salmon, salad and antipasto platter.

 Italia Moscato d’Asti (Italy)

•  While technically not a sparkling wine, Moscato d’Asti has effervescence that sweet wine lovers truly enjoy. This is an incredibly popular wine. Full of tropical aromas and flavors.
• Fresh fruit, fruit-based desserts like fruit tarts.
• Pair with American Grana Parmesan.

 So, don’t wait for the holiday to try sparkling wine. Start enjoying the world of Sparkling wine and food today.

If you haven’t already tried it, now is the time.  Our Italian wines arrived recently, and with them came our previously sold-out Mastro Colombo Prosecco.  And it just so happens that this is the perfect wine for summer!   Drunk alone, it features flavors of apple and pear with a lovely effervescence and a delicate dry finish.  But it doesn’t stop there!  Prosecco is also the key ingredient in a few of our favorite recipes:

I’m sure by now you have fallen in love with our chin-drippin’ peaches, so why not enjoy them by the glass too?  For the best Bellini in town, puree one large chin-drippin’ peach, pour in the bottom of a champagne flute, and add 4 oz. of Prosecco.  Top with a fresh slice of peach and you have a terrific summer cocktail!  (One peach and 4 oz. Prosecco equals one serving, so just multiply by the number of friends you’re having over to serve a patio-full).  For something easier yet, just mix the Prosecco with our Wyman’s Blueberry Juice to taste. 

Also, don’t miss our recipes for Prosecco Popsicles and Strawberry Sparklers.  Hurry in today because once you try these cocktails you’ll want plenty of summer left to enjoy them many more times!