Backyard Entertaining: Grilled Dessert & Wine Pairing Station

This content is for 21+ only. Thank you, Line 39 Wine, for sponsoring this post! The opinions and text are my own.

If you are an avid follower of The Frosted Petticoat, then you know that I laugh in the face of the ordinary. Why think inside the box, when you can think outside?! From whimsical twists on traditional dishes to magically decadent entertaining ideas, life is too short to not mess with convention. So join me, breaker of traditional boundaries, as we add a unique twist to your backyard entertaining arsenal. With the help of Line 39 Wine and Weber® Grills, I have the recipe for a Grilled Dessert & Wine Pairing Station.

When it comes to backyard BBQs, we all know the deal – someone’s serving up hot dogs and burgers grill-side, condiments and chips are haphazardly placed about, and eating takes place standing up as you wander around the yard. I like the idea of reimagining this scenario with a bit more structure. Stations, to be exact! With a few tables, benches, and a smidgeon of planning, you can transform the party into an organized smorgasbord. The stations can easily be applied to dinner fare, but I’m going to focus on dessert and drinks. After the meats have been consumed, pick a scenic section in the backyard for the Grilled Dessert & Wine Pairing Station. Let’s walk through the set-up process together…

STEP 1: Set up a seating area with a table and set out the accessories. I think it is fun to choose an area away from the rest of the party, so that the night is topped off with a bit of a destination station. Put out plenty of wine glasses for your guests and add a fun summertime charm to them so they don’t get confused as to which glass is whose.

STEP 2: Set out the wine! In particular, Line 39 Wine. It is always a good idea to give your guests options and have both a red and white available. For this station, we’ll be grilling up a unique summertime dessert (recipe below!), so I’ve paired it with two delicious bottles from the brand. For the red, Line 39 Cabernet Sauvignon is an excellent choice. With warm scents like ripe blackberry and a finish of currant, plum, blackberry, and dark chocolate, it is a perfectly rich wine to pair with a grilled dish (either sweet or savory!).

For the white, Line 39 Sauvignon Blanc is ideal, especially if it is a particularly hot summer’s day. The wine has refreshing aromas of grapefruit and lemon with a clean, crisp finish that is lovely with a fresh fruit dessert. Which leads us to the next step…

STEP 3: Grilled dessert! You often don’t think of pairing these two things together, but when you do the results are phenomenal. Of course, at the height of this dessert category there is the perfected s’more. However if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, I suggest my Grilled Watermelon Pound Cake with Rose Cream. But before we get to the recipe, let’s talk about the grill itself. The Weber® Q®1200 Portable Grill, to be exact. This is the finishing touch on the Grilled Dessert & Wine Pairing Station. Why? Because the station has its very own, personal grill!

The Weber® Q®1200 portable grill is lightweight enough to bring it with you anywhere in the backyard (or on a hiking trip, for that matter!). Besides coming in a variety of stylish colors (hello, violet!), its features are impeccable: porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates; infinite control burner valve; built-in lid thermometer, removable catch pan; stainless steel burner tube; folding side tables; a cast aluminum lid and body. Plus, it’s the perfect size for a backyard dessert station. What more could you ask?! Alright, now that all the elements are in place, let’s get to the dessert recipe…

There you have it! A whimsical and out-of-the-box grilled dessert & wine pairing station to elevate your backyard entertaining.

If putting together this station wasn’t exciting enough, I have even better news. Line 39 Wine is teaming up with Weber® Grills for a fun summer sweepstakes! Visit line39bbq.com or text BBQ to 797979 for your chance to win a Weber® Q®1200 portable gas grill for all your outdoor adventures and backyard barbeques. See line39wines.com/sweeps for official rules and look for displays in store. So tell me, which Line 39 Wine, Sauvignon Blanc or Cabernet Sauvignon, would you pair with the Grilled Watermelon Pound Cake?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Line 39 Wine.