Summer Wine Party – Food Pairings and Party Game

This Summer Wine Party tutorial and shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #Chardonnation #NotableSummer #CollectiveBias

Want to host an easy and elegant summer wine party?  Be sure to check out this wine party tutorial complete with food pairings and a party game for an evening of delicious revery.

I’m no stranger to hosting little get-togethers at my home. And I’m not a stranger to wine, either. But even I have to pat myself on the back for this simple yet elegant, easy and fun wine party idea – complete with food pairings and a party game!

After discovering Notable Wines – the first wines that highlight the flavor profiles on the front of the bottle, I knew I just had to put my foodie-pants family and friends to the test. In a blind taste test, would they be able to distinguish the difference between these Chardonnays? One, oaky and buttery and the other fruity and crisp?

Sounds like fun, right?

From setup to execution, this summer wine party is simple, yet refined enough to impress the most discerning of party guests.

Summer Wine Party Setup

Find a great communal spot in your home to set up. If it’s a nice evening, an outdoor living room or patio is ideal. Pick someplace where guests can mix and mingle, try the wines and nibble on the great food you’ll be serving.

I like to use kraft paper for setting the table for a clean look (and toss-at-the-end-of-the-night ease), but use linens if you like. Another little trick? Use what in you have in your landscaping for floral arrangements. I had blooming roses, so I picked a few, but I’ve been known to clip herbs, tree branches, and the like to get around decorating with more expensive blooms.

Need something to set the mood? Why not try a new station on your favorite music sharing service! I’ve found several new-to-me stations perfect for a wide range of tastes. Stations like the Hipster Cocktail Party Radio, Jazzy Brunch Radio, Laid Back Beach Music Radio, and Sunday Funday Brunch Radio are all great mixes for your wine party.

Summer Wine Party Game

Now it’s time to get down to the entertainment: watching your friends and family put their palettes to the test.  I made the grid based on qualities in the Notable wines.  Feel free to download and print the grid for your own party!  You can get the PDF here.

When it’s time to party, place the wine bottles in a sock sleeve, or pour them into a pitcher. Just make sure one person remembers which is which!  Allow each guest to pour a sample of wine and circle the corresponding descriptors that they believe pertain to each sample.

Have them write down the wine (in my case the sock sleeves defined them as gal or guy) and their name.  At the end of the night, the participant that most accurately described each wine gets a bottle to take home!  Winner, winner!

Wine Party Food Pairings

When serving white wines, I particularly enjoy pairing them with seafood.  In this case, I chose to make a Garlic and Brown Butter Shrimp to pair with the oaky and buttery chardonnay.

To go with the fruity and crisp chardonnay, I served Seared Tuna with Cucumber and Mango.  I also set out steamed asparagus, crackers and a feta dip for munching.  Want to get the recipes?  These are easy to make ahead, keep refrigerated, then bring out when you’re ready to serve them.

Serve this Garlic and Brown Butter Shrimp with the oaky and buttery chardonnay.

Garlic and Brown Butter Shrimp

Yield: 4-6 appetizer portions

Browning the butter in advance of adding the shrimp gives this dish a nice toasted finish, which pairs perfectly with the Notable California Chardonnay.

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Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds Argentinian Pink Shrimp, deveined and cleaned
• 4 tablespoons of butter
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• generous sprinkling of salt and pepper

Instructions

1. In a large skillet over medium high heat, add half of the butter and half of the olive oil.  Once the butter has completely melted and begins to develop brown bits, place half of the shrimp in a single layer in the pan.  Cook on 1-2 minutes per side, until bright pink and cooked through.
2. Repeat the process with the remaining shrimp.
3. Serve immediately, chilled, or at room temperature.

Seared Tuna with Mango and Cucumber – serve with the fruity and crisp chardonnay.

Seared Tuna with Mango and Cucumber

Yield: 4-6 appetizer portions

Enjoy this popular restaurant appetizer at home!  This tuna dish with mango and cucumber is the perfect complement to the fruity and crisp chardonnay.

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Ingredients

• 2 large sashimi grade tuna filets
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• generous amount of salt and pepper
• 1 mango, peeled, pitted and cut in 1/4 inch cubes
• 1 cucumber, pelled, seeded and cut in 1/4 inch cubes
• Garnish: Mixed greens, Asian Ginger Dressing & Sriracha

Instructions

Coat each side of the tuna filets with sesame seeds, salt and pepper, pressing the spices in to stick.

Heat a large skillet over high heat and coat with cooking spray.  Place the filets in the skillet and cook 1 - 1:30 minutes per side, until desired level of doneness.

Remove from the pan and place on a cutting board.  Cut into thin slices.

On a large plate, sprinkle the mixed greens.  Top with the sliced tuna, diced cucumber and mango, then drizzle with Asian dressing and sriracha.

Wines vary in style, region, and taste, yet most labels don’t define the delightful flavor you’re about to sip. So when a wine elegantly showcases its taste prominently on the front label, it can lead you to the wine you want. All you have to do is follow the flavor notes!  Pick up your favorite Notable wines at your local Kroger store.

Which Notable wine are you most excited to try?

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