Chester River Wine & Cheese Recommends Summertime Pairings

Sips and noshes from John Laucik and Jennifer Laucik Baker from Chester River Wine & Cheese

What we’re drinking:

Try a Provence Rose. A house favorite is Chateau Pigoudet, L’Oratoire. For us, this wine is the essence of summer. A quick nose of strawberry gives way to apricot and melon. We love its bright, but delicate, citrus flavor. This is not the wine for a big steak dinner, but it is the wine to sip after a hot day in the garden while you make dinner.

And eating with it…Gorgonzola and Sunny’s Honey (Harvested here in Chestertown) with French breakfast radish dipped in butter and sprinkled with sea salt to start; Homemade walnut pesto drizzled over freshly picked tomatoes and grilled Portobello marinated in garlic and balsamic over herbed cous-cous for dinner; Fresh berries and whipped cream for dessert

What we’re drinking:

Try a Tannat, any Tannat. Historically grown in Southwest France, Tannat has found a second home in South America, particularly Uruguay where it is the national grape. Full-bodied and complex, these wines are worth adding to your regular rotation. We’ve had a number of scrumptious Tannats circulate through the shop from not only Uruguay, but Bolivia and Peru.

And eating with it…Cucumber cups filled with a smoked salmon spread topped with horseradish creme fraiche to start; Seafood paella for dinner (We buy all of our seafood from the Bay Shore Steam pot in Centerville); Lemon and Olive Oil Bars for dessert.

What we’re drinking:

Grab something sparkling, sit back and watch the fireflies. For this we’re grabbing an Italian Prosecco from Clara C. Fiori Di Prosecco. Because bubbles and summer go hand in hand.

And eating with it…Wisconsin Cheddar to start; Fried chicken (from The Freeze, of course!) with deviled eggs and cucumber salad for dinner. John’s mom’s apple pie recipe for dessert.