5 Great Things to Eat with Pinot Grigio This Summer

Last week we gave you 5 recommendations on what to eat with Sangiovese, the red wine in your current shipment, all summer long.  Today we pay homage to its partner, Pinot Grigio.  A classic summer wine, Pinot Grigio is refreshing, crisp, fruity and definitely something you should keep in stock during this warm time of year.   “But my bottle is already gone!” you may say…

No problemo.  This month, Pinot Grigio and Sangiovese are 30% off for Wine Club Members, so piling up is easy.  Shop for them here.

Pinot Grigio

1. Melon & Ham.  On a particularly warm day, take a slice of ripe melon and wrap it with some prosciutto.  Then serve it with a cool glass of Pinot Grigio.  You’ve got the sweet from the melon, the salty from the ham and the crisp acidity from the wine.  So very Italian.  So very delicious.
   Janet wrapping honeydew with prosciutto
2. Lobster Rolls.  Okay, so lobster rolls are a bit of a splurge but anyone who has ever tasted one knows that they’re worth the cost every once and a while.  When you combine chunks of lobster meat with mayonnaise and a little salt and put that on a toasted, buttered roll, something magical happens.  When you pair it with Pinot Grigio, something miraculous happens.  (P.S. you could also try jumbo shrimp instead of lobster)
3. Artichoke Dip.  Step aside, chips and dip, there is a contender in the running for best summer appetizer and that’s our lemon artichoke dip.  Creamy, warm, and tangy, it is so good slathered on slices of baguette.  Pinot Grigio compliments the spicy garlic and lemon flavors.  Get our recipe here.



4. Sushi.  Warm sushi, cold sushi, hand rolls, nigiri, sashimi…Pinot Grigio works with them all.  With fresh fish, rice and crunchy vegetables, you don’t want to drink anything that will overwhelm the delicate flavors which is why Pinot Grigio works so well.  It’s refreshing with the perfect balance of dryness and fruitiness.
5. Summer Soups.  While fall and winter soups are hearty (think beef stew or butternut squash) and call for equally bold red wines, soups for the summer are all about being fresh and cool.  Gazpacho, tomato basil, chilled cucumber soup and corn chowder all come to mind.  What do these have in common?  A need for a light, delicate wine, i.e. Pinot Grigio.  See our recipe for Green Gazpacho here.

–What do you love to cook in the summer and what do you drink with it?