Summer Party Menu

Sizzlin’ summer is upon us and there's no better way to enjoy it than with family and friends around the table. Fire up the grill for some of these dishes. Many can be made ahead of time to get you out of the kitchen so that you can enjoy your party too. 

Appetizers
Cold Avocado Soup
Rosemary and Lemon Shrimp
Crostini with Goat Cheese and Pancetta
2006 Joseph Phelps Sauvignon Blanc
2005 Fogdog Chardonnay

Main Course
Pesto with Trofiette Pasta
Arugula, Tuna, and White Bean Salad
Asparagus with Lemon and Butter
Grilled Italian Sausages and Vegetables
Beef Tenderloin Niçoise
2005 Joseph Phelps Napa Valley Syrah
2005 Fogdog Pinot Noir
2005 Joseph Phelps Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Dessert
Fresh Seasonal Fruit
Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Cookies
2004 Joseph Phelps Insignia

Welcome your guests with three appetizers.  The Cold Avocado Soup is a perfect match for our 2006 Joseph Phelps Sauvignon Blanc.  With its refreshing acidity, this wine plays well against the creaminess and richness of the chilled soup. The citrus notes of our 2005 Fogdog Chardonnay  provide a lovely complement for Rosemary and Lemon Shrimp, and Crostini with Goat Cheese and Pancetta.

Now for the main dishes! There is an assortment of salads, pastas, vegetables and meats to please everyone.  The Pesto with Trofiette Pasta, the Arugula, Tuna, and White Bean Salad, and the Asparagus with Lemon and Butter work well with the white wines, and these dishes also play well with our 2005 Joseph Phelps Napa Valley Syrah and our 2005 Fogdog Pinot Noir.   Keep the Fogdog Pinot Noir at about 58 – 60 degrees if it is a hot day.  The bright acidity with red fruit and spice notes makes it a refreshing wine on a hot day and perfect with the richer salads.

Once you dive into the Grilled Italian Sausages and Vegetables and the Beef Tenderloin Niçoise, it's time to bring out our 2005 Joseph Phelps Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  The Beef Tenderloin Niçoise is a variation of a classic recipe.  The beef with ripe, summer tomatoes creates the perfect balance of umami, acid and sweetness that comes around once a year when tomatoes are ripe.  A careful balance of traditional Niçoise ingredients enhances the richness and depth of our beautiful Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  This is a great dish and a great wine to enjoy with friends.

Finally for dessert, serve whatever fresh fruit might be available – peaches, melons, berries, plums – and no one can resist fresh, warm, gooey Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Cookies, a marvelous treat when enjoyed with our 2004 Joseph Phelps Insignia.

Enjoy your summer party!

Cheers!

Duane Harris
Director of Customer Service