Last Sip of Summer With Rueda Verdejo Wine

Ohhhhh, how I do love my wine… Whether I’m having a glass of red while I cook dinner, rosé while watching The Bachelor, or a glass of prosecco while I’m out on the town with my sister, I really do not discriminate! I love the cultural and social aspects of wine; it brings people together, it facilitates conversation, and promotes wanderlust (Think of Napa, Bordeaux, Tuscany, Cape Town.. virtually every corner of the world offers unique and beautiful wine tasting experiences). As excited as I am for fall, I will definitely miss those easy, low key summer nights, spending time outside with friends, grilling out, the evening never complete without a killer bottle (I love the lightness of a great white wine in the warmer months). To celebrate the ending of summer and the changing of seasons, I am sharing a few of my favorite Rueda Verdejo wines, as well as sharing my top tips for throwing together a charcuterie board for your own end of summer wine bash.

Rueda Verdejo Wine

Verdejo is a white grape that has been growing all over Spain, predominately in the northern Rueda region, for over 1,000 years. Present day Rueda Verdejo wines are known for their bright citrus and melon qualities, as well as their balanced acidity, freshness, crispness, and versatility. These flavor profiles make this kind of wine great for any kind of occasion and pair well with shellfish, cheese, vegetables and spicy foods (keep reading for some charcuterie board inspo!). A glass of Spain’s most popular white wine is also great on its own as a pre-dinner apéritif.

I had a ton of fun doing a little at home wine tasting with three different bottles of Rueda Verdejo wines (see below for the full list). All of them were delicious, but I think the Jose Pariente was my favorite! The flavors were complex— definitely strong fruity notes, but there was also a slight touch of fennel and bitterness which kept it from being too sweet. Make sure you keep your eye out for the Rueda logo when you’re shopping at your local wine store. I got all of the wines from wine.com; they were delivered straight to my door, which was THE best (use the code “RUEDA” to take 10% off your order!)

Try these 3: 

• Jose Pariente Verdejo 2015

• Lo Nuevo Lunares Verdejo 2012

• Telmo Rodriguez Basa White 2015

How To Make A Charcuterie Board

Image: Pinterest

What I love about making charcuterie boards is you really can’t go wrong! They are 100% customizable and dependent on whatever your taste preferences are. Personally, I usually will load up with tons of dips/spreads and different kinds of crackers/cheeses because I don’t eat meat. Sometimes I’ll add in some smoked fish or even grilled shrimp! But, some general rules of thumb:

• Start with picking out your cheeses. Think about what kind of wine you are serving to ensure that the flavors are balanced and pair nicely together. You’ll want to get a range of different types of cheeses, mild to bold flavors, a mixture of soft and hard cheeses. I love me some spreadable brie and a sharp cheddar
• Get a good mix of things to put the cheese on! Get a couple different boxes of crackers so you can mix and match all the flavor combos.
• Throw in some seasonal fresh and dried fruit. I love figs, apple slices, and dried apricots. I like using a mix of dry and fresh fruit to vary up the flavors and textures.
• Don’t forget to bring the jam to the party. I love using fig preserve, just a little something to add some sweetness and to balance out the dryness of certain cheeses.
• Add in your savory. I love adding a little bowl of olives or pickles, (or other kinds of pickled veggies).
• Go crazy on the nuts! Raw or seasoned cashews and almonds are always a great go to.
• Add in some spreads. I like adding in some toasted pita and then getting hummus, crab dip, spinach and artichoke dip… Spreads and dips are one of my greatest loves so I always have a ton of fun with this.

 

*Please note that this post is sponsored; as always, all opinions are my own*