WINE PAIRINGS FOR SPINACH CANTALOUPE SALAD & OTHER MELON DISHES
as recommended by Karen Bonarrigo
• The sweetness and highly aromatic nature of melons make it a great match with highly aromatic wines.
• Semi-sweet wines can match toe-to-toe with melons, though dessert-style wines can also provide an enhanced food and wine pairing. Dry white or rose options allow for structure, especially as melons are paired with other more savory or herbal ingredients. Stick to un-oaked wines that are characteristically aromatic and fruit-forward.
• Muscat wines blend with perfection with melon as both have beautiful luscious fruit aromas. Muscat wines can range from Moscato, Muscat Canelli, Orange Muscat and even dessert style Muscat wines. Port and melon is a classic French pairing from decades ago that works for its juxtaposition of flavors.
Recommended Wines:
as recommended by Karen Bonarrigo
Pair with any of the following:
Messina Hof Moscato
(beautiful, easy to drink semi-sweet white wine)
Messina Hof Private Reserve Orange Muscat
(off-dry white with orange blossom notes)
Messina Hof Viognier
(dry white wine with tropical fruit notes)
Messina Hof Gewürztraminer
(fun and spunky semi-sweet white)
Karen Bonarrigo, Director of Administration for Messina Hof Wine Cellars, Inc, is an expert in wine and food pairing.