wine

Holiday Sangria Gift Basket and Recipe

’tis the season for gift giving, parties with friends and some good laughs over a bottle of wine. I am sharing a Holiday Sangria Gift Basket and Recipe to bring a little extra joy to your holiday season! If you need a gift to bring a hostess, something creative for a gift exchange or just a great recipe to entertain friends, I have you covered!

The season is full of gatherings with family, dinner parties and work functions. A bottle of Chardonnay is the perfect to bring or amp it up with an entire Holiday Sangria Gift Basket.

Holiday Sangria Gift Basket

Creating a beautiful Holiday Sangria Gift Basket is a breeze! Include as many as the items from the list below within the basket so it can be used same day.

Holiday Sangria Gift Basket Checklist:

Basket
Mixing spoon
Small rosemary plant (I placed mine in a stemless wine glass)
Hand towel
Pitcher (optional)
Fruits- apple, orange, pear, cranberries
Small container with sugar
Small container with vodka or a mini bottle
12 ounce ginger ale
8 ounce bottle apple juice
Recipe card
Wine glasses (optional)
Bottle of chardonnay

Print the recipe card below to add to your Holiday Sangria Gift Basket!

Holiday Sangria Recipe

This Holiday Sangria Recipe is made with freshly diced pears and apples, sliced oranges, cranberries, juice, ginger ale and a chardonnay. Add in some vodka for extra kick and fragrant rosemary to complete the drink. This Holiday Sangria really simple to throw together for entertaining for to enjoy with a friend on the weekend.

Tip

Make sure every glass served has some of the fresh fruit from the pitcher. The fruit soaks up a lot of the alcohol and tastes great!

Holiday Sangria

This Holiday Sangria Recipe is made with freshly diced pears and apples, sliced oranges, cranberries, juice, ginger ale and a chardonnay. Add in some vodka for extra kick and fragrant rosemary to complete the drink.

Course Drinks

Author Amber

Ingredients

1 pear, diced
1 apple, diced
1 orange, sliced
1 cup fresh cranberries
8 ounces apple juice
12 ounces ginger ale
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup vodka
1 bottle chardonnay
rosemary

Instructions

Dice the pear and apple. Slice the orange. Add to pitcher along with the fresh cranberries.
Pour in the ginger ale, apple juice and vodka.
Add sugar. Stir.
Add a bottle of Chardonnay and a sprig of rosemary. Let sit in fridge for one hour.
Serve over ice.

What are your plans for enjoying this holiday season with friends? Let me know in the comments below.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Footballs

This 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. #BlackBoxWines #CollectiveBias

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Footballs are made with fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate and decorated to look like mini footballs for game day to perfectly paired with Black Box Wines.

Football season is starting back up (finally!), which means it is back to hosting friends on Sundays. Black Box Wines is my new game day drink choice for this season, and let me tell you why!

Black Box Wines come in recyclable material and stays fresh 6 weeks after opening.
Portable without a corkscrew required when we want to take the party out of the home and tailgate.
Black Box Wines offers 12 varieties in the 3L box including Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay to make all my guests happy.
Costs 40% less than comparable wines, which saves me money to put towards important things like more chips and dip.
Black Box Wines has over 50 Gold Medals for quality in wine competitions nationwide.
Offers great tasting varieties from the best wine regions harvested in California, Chile and Argentina.

Visit Black Box Wines and follow on social media for great hosting ideas and more!

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Make sure to sign up for Black Box Rewards, a Loyalty Program, offering exclusive member rewards. Earn points for everything from buying Black Box products to following along on social media. You can then redeem your points for an ever-changing lineup of premium rewards.

Get 500 points just for signing up to Black Box Rewards!

Click HERE for more information.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Footballs

Black Box Wines pairs with all of our favorite game day foods from cheese balls, fruit trays, chips, dips and more! How about chocolate covered strawberries that look like footballs? Yea, Black Box Wines pairs perfectly with those too. Chocolate Covered Strawberry Footballs require only 3 ingredients and are really simple to make. Start with chocolate wafers or blocks meant for melting in dark chocolate and white chocolate, plus some fresh strawberries!

Wash and dry the strawberries well. It is important for the strawberries to be completely dry before dipping or the chocolate may not stick. Once the strawberries are dry, lay them out on a parchment covered baking sheet and place them in the freezer for 30 minutes. Placing the strawberries into the freezer makes dipping much easier and allows the chocolate to dry quicker.

Melt the chocolate in coffee mugs- one for dark chocolate and one for the white chocolate. Simply place in the microwave for 30-second increments, stirring in between until completely melted. Set the white chocolate to the side while you dip the strawberries in the dark chocolate. Great Chocolate Covered Strawberry Footballs start with good dipping techniques and the only one that is important is patience! Patience counts as a technique, right? Hold the strawberry by the stem, dip into the melted chocolate and then let the chocolate run off before flipping it over and letting the chocolate set up at least half-way before placing on the parchment paper to dry completely.

Once the strawberries are all dipped in chocolate, go back to the white chocolate, which has now had some time to set up. If the chocolate is too hot, it will just run everywhere and be a big mess. Place the white chocolate into a pastry bag with a small tip. I used a #3 tip, and an even smaller one could be used if you have it. Make your football design on each strawberry. Between strawberries, I like to wipe the tip clean on the parchment paper just for better handling and so chocolate doesn’t build up on that tip.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Footballs

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Footballs are made with fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate and decorated to look like mini footballs for game day to pair perfectly with Black Box Wines.

8 ounces melting chocolate, dark chocolate
4 ounces melting chocolate, white chocolate
1 pound fresh strawberries

Wash and dry strawberries.
Once strawberries are dry, place on a parchment covered cookie sheet and put into freezer for 20 minutes.
Remove strawberries from freezer.
Heat up chocolate. Using coffee mug, place chocolate inside and heat in microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between. Make one mug for dark chocolate and one mug for the white chocolate.
Dip each strawberry into the dark chocolate one at a time. For best results, go slow with each strawberry. Hold by the stem and dip, let the chocolate run off, then flip over and let dry before placing on parchment paper. Repeat until strawberries are covered.
As you dip the strawberries, have the white chocolate rest. Then, place into a pastry bag with a small tip. I used a #3 but you can go smaller.
Decorate each strawberry like a football with the white chocolate with a line towards the top, a line down the middle and small horizontal lines. Clean the tip of the pastry by wiping it on the parchment paper between each.
Serve with Black Box Cabernet Sauvignon or Black Box Chardonnay.

How do you see yourself using Black Box Wines this football season? Do you enjoy tailgating before game time or hosting within your home? Maybe you have a friend that does the hosting and you supply drinks! Let me know in the comments below.

Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers

This 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

Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers are a classy but simple appetizer for many occasions. Cream cheese and goat cheese fills a fresh jalapeno with crisp, delicious bacon. Today, I am having just a few friends over to the house for a little get together to enjoy some food and taste a bit of wine. I found Notable’s buttery and oaky chardonnay and their fruity and crisp chardonnay at my grocery store that pair beautifully with my jalapeno poppers.

A successful wine tasting party starts with the hostess knowledge of the wine they are serving. Wines vary in style, region and taste. One of the really great things about Notable Wines is the flavor profiles are defined on the front of the label making the wine aisle less confusing. Even if you don’t have a ton of knowledge on wine, you can still have a wonderful wine tasting party because all the information you need is right on the bottle. These wines are accessible, refined and expressive. Just the type of wine I am looking for to make this party amazing!

I am featuring two wines today:

Notable California Chardonnay : Oaky and buttery with flavor notes of butter, oak and vanilla.
Notable Australia Chardonnay : Fruity and crisp with flavor notes of citrus, melon and peach.

That is the basic information you need to share with your guests! Ask for opinions. See if there are any other flavors people are tasting. I also like to give food pairing ideas with the wines. This way, they can purchase the wine and have a great meal in the near future in their own home.

The oaky and buttery chardonnay will pair well with grilled salmon or a light chicken dish. A dish with toasted nuts is a phenomenal pairing. Perhaps a Pistachio Crusted Salmon.

The fruity and crisp chardonnay will pair well with seafood, even sushi. I also enjoy the fruity and crisp chardonnay to sip while relaxing on the deck after a long, hot summer day.

Visit Notable Wines online for more details!

Follow Notable Wines on Social Media :

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Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers

I chose the Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers for an appetizer today because it is delicious and light in flavor. Plus, cheese always pairs with wine. Why does wine pair so well with cheeses you ask?

Astringent drinks like wine create a natural balance in your mouth when combined with fatty foods like a cheese. You get a perfectly balanced mouthful! I always try to remember the basic principle that mild cheese pairs well with fruity wine. Goat cheese is considered a mild cheese. My days of waiting tables and cocktail serving supplied me some life knowledge after all.

You have a bit of wine knowledge now and a great recipe for Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers, what else do you need to make this wine tasting party a hit?

The finishing touches. Notable Wines have a beautiful label with music notes so I played off the design to inspire my all around feel and look of the party. A simple tablecloth with music notes, calming music playing in the background, gorgeous wine glass tags to add a touch of glam and a really fun guitar cutting board to serve as an appetizer platter is all it took. Invite your guests to dress up. You don’t have to do a suit and tie event but summer dresses for the woman and a button up for the men will help set the tone. Plus, as a mom, I literally never get the opportunity to dress up and have a nice night with friends so I am taking full advantage.

Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers

Yields: 8 poppers

4 ounces cream cheese
2 ounces goat cheese
3 tablespoons diced bacon
4 jalapenos
salt
pepper
honey(optional)

Pre heat oven to 375 degrees.
On the stove top, cook your bacon until crispy. (3 slices per 4 jalapenos)
Dice bacon. Set to side.
Slice the jalapenos in half and remove all the seeds.
In a mixing bowl, add cream cheese and goat cheese. Use a hand mixer to blend until creamy.
Add 2 tablespoons of bacon and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix well.
Fill each jalapeno with your cheese mixture. (I use a frosting bag and large frosting tip to fill)
Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon chopped bacon on top.
Place in oven for 16-17 minutes.
Serve.
You may drizzle a bit of honey on top before serving for an extra note of flavor. Give it a try!

What will you be pairing with Notable California and Notable Australia Chardonnay? These Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers or do you have something else in mind for your fabulous wine tasting party?

Visit Notable Wines for inspiration and to locate a store near you!

20 Summer Drinks for 21+

We have another round up today for 20 Summer Drinks for 21+. A list of 20 ahhh-mazing summer drinks that were created for hot summer days! There is a mix of everything from whiskey, vodka, to sangria and tequilas.

I just have one question. Which one will you pick to sip by the pool first?

Peach Whiskey Iced Tea from Serena Bakes made with fresh peaches that is perfect for days lounging by the pool.

[Click HERE for recipe]

Vodka Mint Lemonade Cocktail from Honey & Lime made with Stoli vodka and fresh berries.

[Click HERE for recipe]

Passionberry Kombucha Martinis from Stacey Homemaker. Kombucha is something I have never had before but apparently tastes like a bubbly sweet tea. Yum!

[Click HERE for recipe]

Tropical Moscato Sangria from Living Sweet Moments with dragon fruit, kiwi and blackberries.

[Click HERE for recipe]

Best Ever 2 Ingredient Watermelon Vodka Slushie from my friend over at Easy Cooking with Molly. You guessed it- watermelon and vodka!

[Click HERE for recipe]

The Crazy Good and Easy Sangria Recipe that you will want to make all summer long from Eze Breezy.

[Click HERE for recipe]

Fresh Blackberry Mango Mojito from Diary of a Debutante . Mojitos and summer are just the perfect pair.

[Click HERE for recipe]

Skinny Wine Spritzer from Hungry Hobby with wine soaked fruits.

[Click HERE for recipe]

More Great Summer Drink Recipes

Rhubarb Mojito from Living Sweet Moments.

Strawberry Grapefruit Whiskey Iced Tea from Serena Bakes.

Hibiscus Sangria from Immaculate Ruemu.

High Tide Cocktail from Ann’s Entitled Life.

Mango Jalapeno Margarita from Easy Cooking with Molly.

Pineapple Upside Cake Mixed Drink from The Neighborhood Moms.

Rose French 75 from Nomageddon.

Strawberry Thyme Margaritas from My Wife Can Cook.

Mezcal Margarita from Emma Eats and Explores.

Homemade Fruity Red Wine Sangria from Happy Foods.

Strawberry Lime Vodka Tonic from here at Simply Made Recipes.

9 Cocktails for the Best New Years Eve Yet

Bring in the New Year with class and simplicity. Here are 9 alcoholic drinks from some of the best sites around. Whiskey, vodka, champagne, root beer, wine… a little bit of something for everyone to make this NEW Years Eve the best one yet!

Need some Non-Alcoholic ideas too? Check out the round up of 7 Non Alcoholic New Year Drinks!

Orange Raspberry Sparkling Wine Cocktail from Living Sweet Moments is beautiful and delicious.