07/14/05 Food and wines - Fruits and cheese

Welcome to Vine to Wine, this is your host Linda Moran and today is food & wine pairing day. With the summer in full swing I want to share one of my favorite combinations of fruit and cheese in one great summer salad, and of course, the wine that goes with it. Many of us think of watermelon as dessert after a picnic or barbecue. But I propose thinking of it as a refreshing salad to accompany those grilled foods. When the watermelon is at its peak the flavor is naturally sweet and rich. Many years ago I was in a restaurant that emphasized seasonal cuisine and a watermelon salad was a feature. The melon was cubed and tossed with feta cheese and deep fried sage. It was memorable. Fo years now I have experimented with different watermelon salads and all of the best have included the feta. Believe it or not watermelon combined with fresh Roma tomatoes is also a treat when tossed with the feta cheese served plain or with a citrus dressing. Now obviously the choice of whether or not to dress the salad will effect your wine selection. But for the most part semi-dry or dry whites such as Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio, unoaked fruitier styles of Sauvignon Blanc and of course dry Rose' are all excellent choices for a salad of this type. One variation that I like best is made by tossing the salad in a dressing that contains lime and mint. Try doing something unique with your watermelon this season. For variations of my favorite watermelon salads visit our website at vine to wine dot net and thank you for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.