A mid summer's night snack

It seems that we are tumbling through summer with lots of somersaults and a a few cartwheels too. The longer days are packed with activities while my husband and I maintain our work schedules. Yep, living life to the fullest in this season is just non stop. Here we are in mid summer and our table has been pleasantly crowded with friends and family- Just how I love it. While entertaining, I like to find a few bites that can easily transition from drinking whites to reds and maybe back again if it gets that late. With our herb garden in full swing, we can impulsively pull flavors to match the wines we are drinking. I've shared a few of my favorites below.

Summer wine bites

Melon with fresh mint

Melon and mint combine refreshing summer flavors to pair with barrel fermented white wines. Creamy and delicious the mint lifts the aromatics from the wines while the melon complements the flavors and texture of the wine.

Figs from our tree with honey and oregano make a savory/sweet treat 

Figs and everything are delicious, but this combination adds some depth to pair with rustic reds like Mourvedre, Zinfandel, and even Barbera. They could be served as an appetizer or dessert.

Castelvetrano olives marinated in olive oil, lemon zest, and rosemary

Marinating olives is really simple and delicious. I buy the big jar of Castelvetrano olives and fill a small canning jar, add about 1 inch of olive oil, zest of one lemon, 2 sprigs of rosemary. Then I rotate the jar for a few days in the refrigerator to coat all the olives. They are so flavorful. So many wines are complemented by lemon that they make an easy transition from whites to reds while you entertain.