The Sweet Taste of the Seasons

There is just something so delicious about the correlation between food, wine and the seasons. Specifically speaking, a sweet Strawberry and Pear Phyllo tart, our new 2009 Late Harvest and a crisp autumn day. Savor the last few weeks of the strawberry and pear season by preparing this easy dessert. It pairs perfectly with the newest release of our popular 2009 Late Harvest. With notes of blackberry compote and baking spices, our 2009 Late Harvest is one of the most requested wines of fall at Ponte. Generally, wine should be sweeter than the dessert it is paired with. A fruit based bite like this is naturally sweet and a minimal amount of added sugar is used. This leaves the sweetness of the Late Harvest to dominate. Enjoy!

Inspired by Taste of Home

Ingredients

• 12 sheets phyllo dough (14 inches x 9 inches)
• 3 T butter, melted
• 2 T brown sugar
• ½ T raw honey
• 1 tsp lemon zest

Filling

• ¼ C muddled strawberries
• 2 cup ripe pear slices
• 2 cup sliced fresh strawberries
• 1 T brown sugar
• 2 teaspoon lemon juice
• Powdered sugar (optional)

Directions

• Roll up phyllo dough and cut into 1/4-in.-wide strips. Place strips in a large bowl; toss with butter, 2 tablespoons brown sugar and honey until coated. Divide strips into six portions; shape into bowl shapes by placing strips criss-cross in a muffin pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 5-7 minutes or until golden.
• In a small saucepan, heat muddled strawberries, sliced strawberries, pear slices and 1 tablespoon brown sugar until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Just before serving, spoon onto phyllo. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired. Serve with Ponte’s 2009 Late Harvest.

Yield: 6 servings.

Elyse Barton,
Wine Club Coordinator