Sequoia Grove Chardonnay + Swiss Watermelon Dip

Thoughts of summer are often filled with beach trips, popsicles, and sunshine. But thoughts often gloss over the inconvenient realities, like the sweltering heat. You know the type of day:  you look outside at the bright blue sky, put on a nice outfit for a day in the sun, and then you go outside where you’re hit with a wall of fire. Within a few minutes your overheated and look like a wet dog that got trapped in a Roman bath house. The last thing you want on that sort of day is a heavy meal and drink.

Feeling refreshed and having a semblance of civility is not always the easiest task in the summer months. Well fear not my sweaty friends! I have put together a foolproof (and ridiculously delicious) wine and food pairing that is guaranteed to help you beat the heat. Happily teaming up with Sequoia Grove, I have created a Swiss Watermelon Dip that perfectly complements their Chardonnay. The delicate flavors of pear, lychee, and citrus zest in the Chardonnay converges with the honey, rose water, creamed swiss cheese, and watermelon of the dip for an overwhelmingly refreshing experience. Add some sea salt crackers to the mix and you have just enough contrast with the fruity flavors to satisfy your hunger.

But before we get to the full recipe, a quick note about Sequoia Grove. This family-owned winery in Napa Valley has been in business for over 30 years. Sticking to the philosophy that the wines should reflect the land, they take great pride in their vineyard in Rutherford, California and are considered a “hidden gem amongst the giants”.  Personally, I prefer to support family-run businesses and often find the love put into the product above par. So naturally I was very excited to team up with Sequoia Grove for this project. Alright, time to get to the good stuff. Make sure to pour a glass of Chardonnay and whip up this super easy recipe before the summer is over.

Serve the Chardonnay and dip poolside or on the patio once the sun goes down… and do not forget to invite your favorite food writer for some professional “taste testing” (*wink wink*). Happy summer! 

This post was sponsored on behalf of Sequoia Grove via One2One Network. All opinions stated are my own.